Rocker Panels

[bballmac42]

I am having a very mild winter here in wisconsin and am itching to get back out and work on the truck. My rocker panels are pretty much gone, any info on how to replace these or the steps to take would be appreciated. thanks

[mrein3]

I've posted these pictures before.
This is my first externally viewable welding job.

You need a welder. MIG is best for this job.
You need a spot weld cutter.
You need a new rocker panel. I got mine from GMC Pauls. They are NOT NOS. The aftermarket ones are just fine. I think the panel is $15 or less plus shipping.

Be prepared to replace parts of the floor and/or the rocker panel backer plate. When I did mine the backer was ok but I had to make a small patch for the floor.

I used a wire wheel in my drill to locate the spot welds in the panel. I cut them out with the cutter. Along the bottom lip there is a spot weld every one to one and a half inches. I simply drill from the inside out on all those spots.

On the new panel you drill a few holes in the same location you cut the spot welds - but not along the bottom lip.

When the panel is lined up tack it in place. Then check for alignment with your door. When everything looks right you can weld it in place.

Unless you are a really bad or messy welder, you are now ready to paint it. This is where you want to use MIG verses a gas-less flux core welding process. If you made a mess while welding you'll need to do some grinding before you paint.

[John @ BROTHERS]

In the January 2006 issue of Classic Trucks you can find an install of article rocker panels we did on our 1970 4x4 shop truck.

[boundstaffpress]

I know this isn't my pic, but I've held on to this link since I saw it posted by VTBlazer.

I wish we all had spot-welders.

[boundstaffpress]

I'd love to see more people's pics and hints on this topic as I will be attacking the same issue.

thanks in advace

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by boundstaffpress

I know this isn't my pic, but I've held on to this link since I saw it posted by VTBlazer.

I wish we all had spot-welders.

I'm just guessing here but I bet those aren't welds made by a "spot-welder".

The person who did the work probably did what I did. That is drill holes in the new panel where the old panel had spot welds. Then when welding the new piece in you just fill the holes. Except on the bottom lip. For that one you get underneath and fill the holes in the rocker panel backing plate, welding it to the lip on the new rocker.

[BigMike]

If you go to my webpage, you can see different stages of the rocker replacement. There are a handfull of pictures of both sides.

Mike

My Webpage

[bballmac42]

hey thanks, it looks like i know what to do for the passenger side, but my driver side is a bit worse, there's not much there. When sitting inside, with the door closed, right on the inside of the door, the area is rusted, ill try to post pics, should i just fit in a piece there, if so how? im obviuosly an amateur at this.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by bballmac42

hey thanks, it looks like i know what to do for the passenger side, but my driver side is a bit worse, there's not much there. When sitting inside, with the door closed, right on the inside of the door, the area is rusted, ill try to post pics, should i just fit in a piece there, if so how? im obviuosly an amateur at this.

Simple.
You buy the rocker and the front and rear floor sections. The floor sections have the rocker backer on them.

Cut your floor out back to good metal.
Trim the new patch panels to fit what you just cut.
Weld them in.
Then proceed to weld on the new outer rocker.

Take a good look at your cab supports before you order patch panels. With that much rust in the floor they are likely to be shot too.

Do the supports first. Floor second. Outer rocker last.

[g_goble1967]

put the rocker in with self taping sheet metal screws first, it will save a few headaches