Replacing panel in the cab.

[Big70]

So I have a 70 C10 And on the passenger side I think you call that a kick panel is rotting out it’s the piece of metal right below the vet under the dash where the passengers right foot would be touching. So my question is a guy at the shop are usually go to says I need and on the passenger side I think you call that a kick panel is rotting out it’s the piece of metal right below the vet under the dash where the passengers right foot would be touching. So my question is a guy at the shop I usually go to says that’s a floor pan part but I didn’t think it was I thought it was at its own type of panel. Does anybody have any experience replacing this panel end it is rotted down to where it meets the floor.... any help is good help I’m learning as I go I’m not really a good welder or fabricator but it needs to be done

[landarts]

Yes that would be a kick panel repair part. Best if you take a picture so we can advise properly. If it is a kick panel here is one for right side at Amazon, it is made by AMD and is like $21.00. Here is a link to one at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Footwell-Kick...RMKVQZ61EGYQ1V

[bill3rail]

No experience replacing it but I think you are referring to item number 3?
Bill

[cornerstone]

The way I see this situation is this... Most often when the kick panel is eat up, there is more to it than you realize. So... it depends on what you want and what you can afford. As a high school kid with no good tools, I used to cut out as much rotted metal that I could get to and rivet in a stop sign or whatever scrap metal I could find, seal it up with caulk or tar, again whatever was on hand, and move on. Granted this is not a real "repair", but it got me through state inspection and kept the wind noise down a bit while driving. Now that I don't have to rely on a junker to get me around and I'm not nearly as broke as I was then, I like to do it right. Doing it right is not really any harder, but it does take good tools and more time.
I looked into having a bunch of metal work done on a 69 mustang about 30 years ago and when they told me it would cost $3000. my decision was made. I would rather spend the money on nice tools instead of pay someone else to do this kind of work, since I knew I would be messing around with this sort of thing for many years to come (Lord willing).
Learning to do it right these days is SO much easier than it was in the 80's. I say get a decent MIG welder, watch as many how to videos until you feel confident, practice on scrap, then fix it right by yourself. That's how most of us on the forum did it, I bet. Like the OP said "I'm learning as I go."

[cebra]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

The way I see this situation is this... Most often when the kick panel is eat up, there is more to it than you realize. So... it depends on what you want and what you can afford. As a high school kid with no good tools, I used to cut out as much rotted metal that I could get to and rivet in a stop sign or whatever scrap metal I could find, seal it up with caulk or tar, again whatever was on hand, and move on. Granted this is not a real "repair", but it got me through state inspection and kept the wind noise down a bit while driving. Now that I don't have to rely on a junker to get me around and I'm not nearly as broke as I was then, I like to do it right. Doing it right is not really any harder, but it does take good tools and more time.
I looked into having a bunch of metal work done on a 69 mustang about 30 years ago and when they told me it would cost $3000. my decision was made. I would rather spend the money on nice tools instead of pay someone else to do this kind of work, since I knew I would be messing around with this sort of thing for many years to come (Lord willing).
Learning to do it right these days is SO much easier than it was in the 80's. I say get a decent MIG welder, watch as many how to videos until you feel confident, practice on scrap, then fix it right by yourself. That's how most of us on the forum did it, I bet. Like the OP said "I'm learning as I go."

I agree, I suck at welding but it is super easy to replace panels on your own if you take your time. My welds look awful but once I use a grinder on them you can't tell the difference. That is a pretty easy panel to repair...make sure you clear your drain holes in your lower fenders as I am sure that area is clogged up. Also, go to lowes and get a $10 gutter screen, cut it, and put it under your cowl panel to keep stuff from going in there in the future. I pulled almost a 5 gallon bucket full of debris out of my kick panel areas. I wire brushed them (from above down through the cowl and through the kick panel vent as best I could) and coated with spray rust sealer. Replaced the same area you are describing with scrap metal as mine wasn't that bad but leaked water on my carpet. Then did the cowl screen and painted the inside of the cowl. Lastly, I stuck a screwdriver in the drain holes under the fenders and bent them open more to allow small debris to pass through. I think this issue is pretty resolved for me now.