Reproduction Rocker Panel
 

Well today was one of those days where I ask myself, (Why am I even doing this?). I got over it real quick though. Upon removing the front part of my inner rocker panel, (on my 1970 LeMans convertible), I discovered that my outer rocker will also have to be replaced. It does not look bad from the outside but has rusty thin spots on the inside. So my question is about the quality and fit of the aftermarket rocker panels. Has anyone had any problems with the fit? Is there one company whose rocker is better than the rest or worse than the rest? Any opinions are welcome.
My first picture is from under the car.
My second picture is inside the rocker. It doesn't look too bad but the rust you see on the right has left me with paper thin metal. I pushed my thumbnail through one spot.
Thanks
Paul

Anybody?
 

Anybody know anything about reproduction rocker panels?

Hello Paul,
I went through this a few years ago ,almost no info on the net , I got mine from Goodmark ,it was tagged with the GM restoration part approval,no fitting problems ,the steel is quality , I think there is only one manufacturer of the rockers alot of companies have them drop shipped from goodmark and tag on a percentage for themselves so I ordered them direct.

Thanks Keith
 

Thanks Keith. That info helps because I might by mine from Tamraz on ebay because that seems to be the best price. I know that they get a lot of their stuff from Goodmark. Thanks for the pictures too, that helps me.
Paul

Thanks for Pix Keith but would like to chime in or hijack .. I have to replace a rocker panel due to looks to be a hit .. Have the rocker already but how eazy or hard is this to replace Is it just looking for all the spot welds and drill drill drill???/// Any tips or inprog pix before that appreciated...
Thanks
Eric

Attached some pix of damage I uncovered :(

No problem ,glad I could help ,if you need more photo's or have question's just ask.

That's just about it Eric ,a little with an air sawzall ,a little with an air cutoff tool, what I did was trim off the old rocker down to where you can see the spot weld's ,and then peel off the old metal ,before you remove anything take alot of reference measurement's ,I used my digital cam and the ruler before I dug in ,I'll find some in progress photo's and post for all ,you can see in one of the photo's the brace I welded up ,from both hinge mount's and they both meet at the striker ,this way you are sure the car does'nt flex when you cut out the rocker

Hey eric65
 

Looks like we are neighbors. Whoever takes the plunge first can help the other guy. Sound good? Just from the information standpoint, not really physical labor. I am not ready to cut mine off yet but it will be this summer.
Paul

Take alot of reference measurement's and photo's and it should go well.
Good Luck ,I hope this helps

The holes you drill to remove the spot's come in handy when you plug weld the new rocker in place ,I used an air punch to make the plug holes where the rocker lay's over the floor pan ,also along the very bottom where it's pinch welded ,you might look into borrowing one of thoes tool's ,you won't want to use a hand punch ,or a drill it would take forever it's a heavier than stock steel.

Thanks again Keith
 

It's amazing how many questions can be answered with a picture. Of course, it also raises more questions too. It looks like your floors and inner rockers were ok. The inside of my kickpanel will also need to be fabricated. I have the floor removed as well as the inner rocker, but only at the front drivers kick panel.
In my picture, I have put a transparent blue shade over the rusted area. If I make my replacement panel to cover the shape of that blue area, would that look right. With so much metal missing, its hard to know the details of that panel. Is there supposed to be any cut out hole or relief's in it? Is there any other shape to it other than flat?
Thanks again.
Paul

Paul that's it a flat piece ,you can see it thru the holes in what's left of the outer rocker.

Hay Paul didnt realize we are close as that.... We will have to get together and check out projects...

Keith those pix are great help . One thing I didnt know is the inner rocker and outter... They I reckon are attached by a lot of spot welds all needing drilled .... I am just wondering how to start this and the extent of the drilling to get the old rocker off... Kinda wondering how much is involved in getting the welds off in the area behind the door and forward of the wheel well.. Is there spot weld underneath??? The pix are a great help though and i am going to do some measuring and maybe more braceing... I have to do floor pans also on this side but think putting the rocker in 1st is the way to start..
Thanks
Eric

Here are a few more shot's to give an idea where to drill ,and saw cut ,it's pretty easy when you see the new rocker what has to be peeled away ,I started by drilling the spot weld's.

Here are a few more shot's to give an idea where to drill ,and saw cut ,it's pretty easy when you see the new rocker what has to be peeled away ,I started by drilling the spot weld's.

Two more shot's of the drill/ cut line ,you can safely cut with a saw once your brace is installed then peel away the rest

rocker
 

WOW thanks Keith great info with the text added is great I owe you a 12 pack :)

Also thinking about area behind door included pix of area I am kind of guessing now to cut this area out then drill out or grind out connector spot welds

But wondering how this is attached

Thanks
Eric

O.K. I see what you are asking ,photo 1 ,the rocker ,the floor, and the inner panel is like a sandwhich if you look from inside the car you will see the three together ( or at least that's the way it was on my car)that's why it's very important to make reference measurements. photo2, the area circled is the rocker itself ,if you look toward the right of your circles (The leading edge) you can see the pinch weld ,that's the rocker ,and inner backing ,what I did in that area is I used a small air sawzall and sliced it from back to front cutting the pinch weld's,the rocker came off in almost one piece from where I cut the top (sill plate) I can go snap some photo's if would give you a better idea ,let me know

Thanks for that I would appreciate it greatly So in words just saw horizontal a litte under that seam and then cut once thats off

Thanks a lot
Eric

In that area it's from inside the car and the area you lined ,you could cut that line then carefully grind off what's left ,once you get the new rockers you will see it a little clearer ,look at the panel covering the rear side window track ,it along with the rocker and floor are spotted together ,you could cut it there but you would still have to seporate the floor ,rocker and inner panel,again take alot of reference photo's and measurement's This is an old photo but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Hey Eric you are welcome to stop by and look at mine. I have the car apart and body lifted off the frame and placed on 7" extensions. There is no interior so all is visible. I also have two short sections of rocker panels from a donar car that you can look at to see the construction. Send me a PM if you are interested.
Paul

A little suggestion, if part of the rocker is good, don't take off any more than you need to. You can make a vertical cut just beyond the area of damage. Using part of the new rocker that you will not need cut a sleeve. Drill holes on the old rocker section close to the cut, and in the new rocker close to the cut. Isert the sleeve, should go at least 8 inches past the cut on each side. slide the portion if the rocker you are replacing and weld together and weld the holes.

On this subject, my 66 gto rockers are both rusted out the first 2ft from the front fender all the way through to the frame. Do the new repro rockers go to to the frame or what are options. thanks, larry

Some companies sell patch panels for the outer rockers ,it's easy enough to do the complete outer ,the metal is stronger than the original ,and since your's are rotten through to the inner I'd replace the whole rocker.

Keith, do you know who sells rockers with inner included? Thanks, Larry

I haven't seen any as yet, It's a flat piece of steel that ties the floor to the outer rockers it should be easy enough to make.

Just a follow up
 

Well I was lucky enough to find a real GM NOS rocker panel on Ebay which I did purchase. The seller shipped instantly so I recieved it in 3 days. Anyway I used a micrometer and this piece is 14 gauge galvanized. There is no paint only galvanize. It is heavy and a perfect match with my old rocker only without the rust. I would like to know how thick the aftermarket rockers are if anyone can measure one.
I will take the proper percautions when welding on.
Paul