Rocker Panel Replacement

[pontiac6269]

Replacing the drivers side rocker panel on my 87 T. Thought I would share my progress in this thread. I didn't take a picture before I cut the rocker off but you can see how rusty it is. The inner panel is rusty along the bottom. Had to cut the rear quarter to access the rear portion of the rocker panel which I have to reuse as my replacement was cut where the quarter over laps the rocker panel.

 

[pontiac6269]

These three pictures show the rocker removed and how rusty the inner panel is, the lower part of the door jam hinge area rust, the underside where one of the body mount brace and floor pan are rusting along the seam..

 

[pontiac6269]

Removed the inner part of the rocker today and a picture of the floor pan under the rear seat below the quarter window.

 

[chopped39]

Thats how It started for me too. then out came the seats and then the , well you get the idea. the bad part is I dont do body work But I am learing

 

[pontiac6269]

Here I had to cut the floor where it meets the rocker under the rear seat above the body mount. As you can see the body mount brace is needs to be rebuilt. Atleast the body mount hole in the frame is clean.

 

[chopped39]

My under body brace is just rusted at the ends. I was gonna rebuild the ends and then spray that stuff eastwood sells for inside of frames. It looks like it turns green . The bad part on mine was the inner rocker at the floor. That was fun to get out and gonna be more fun to fab up and install. With all the money I spent in body tools I should have paid someone to do it:biggrin:

 

[pontiac6269]

I was lucky and found someone that was parting a rust free 87 Regal that was wrecked. Asked them how much to cut the full rocker off and sell. The person cut it just below the lower door hinge and right where it meets the rear quarter so I have to use some of my original that needs some patch work. Here is couple pics of the replacement.

 

[pontiac6269]

Made the body mount brace and welded it to the rest of the brace.

 

[HOT ROD-GN]

Made the body mount brace and welded it to the rest of the brace.

That nice work..

 

[pontiac6269]

Thanks, HOT ROD-GN. Made the floor patch to cover the brace and another patch that goes under the sill plate. Also made the piece to extend the inner rocker panel that is covered by the quarter. My replacement was cut in the door jamb at the quarter.

 

[pontiac6269]

Spot welded the inner rocker in place. Also welded and patched the back part of the rocker together were it goes behind the quarter panel.

 

[pontiac6269]

Rocker all welded together and clamped in place, started spot welding and ran out of welding wire.

 

[HOT ROD-GN]

Rocker all welded together and clamped in place, started spot welding and ran out of welding wire.

MAN.WISH you were working for me my life would be alot easier.:biggrin:

KUDO for you brother awesome work...

 

[pontiac6269]

The rocker panel is all welded in and all welds ground down and coated with weld through paint to cover bare metal for now. Next is to patch the wheel well, then weld in the quarter piece that was cut out and also patch it.

 

[pontiac6269]

Wheelwell patched and quarter piece spot welded in place.

 

[Tom Tom Turbo]

nice work my friend....now come fix mine!

 

[pontiac6269]

Thanks Tom Tom Turbo. Quarter and patches all welded in place, welds ground down, now time for some filler and paint.

 

[pontiac6269]

Filled, primed and painted. Now while it's still on jack stands I going to pull the transmission to install my PTC 2800 stall converter.

Thanks,
Eric