Help! New guy - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Imadad · 03-12-2014, 01:11 PM

So this is post number one.
I recently picked up a 72 blazer. I talked to the owner alot before i drove to go pick it up. He told me that he knew it had holes in the floorboards. He knew it had "surface rust" on the rocker panels, but nothing bad.
Attached is the pictures of what I found. All the rocker panels are totally rotted through. the pans need replacing, and it appears even more does too.

I dont know the names of the pieces i need. I have looked online and seen rocker boxes, interior rockers, exterior rockers, etc etc.

can someone help me understand what to order, and how to put it together?

I have been thinking that it may be better to come back with some steel plate rather than factory reproductions, and then mount a reproduction exterior rocker over that to keep the same look. Can you share thoughts please?

Thanks! Glad to be here.

**landy** · 03-12-2014, 02:17 PM

Check out this link. It has info regarding the body part terminology.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=25

Looks like a lot of potential work. Can you do the welding and body work yourself? If not, it may not be worth trying to repair it to any semblance of stock. Your idea of using steel plate and fabing up sort of rock slider-type rockers may be the best option.

72freak · 03-12-2014, 02:45 PM

I love those minimal rust trucks....with that said, pretty common unfortunately.

Imadad · 03-12-2014, 03:09 PM

more pics. youll notice one of them has one of my sons helping me fill the radiator. I am a single dad and this truck is serving as a text book for one our classes in "Man School."

and a video:
View My Video
http://tinypic.com/r/4liy6c/8

Imadad · 03-12-2014, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landy

Check out this link. It has info regarding the body part terminology.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=25

Looks like a lot of potential work. Can you do the welding and body work yourself? If not, it may not be worth trying to repair it to any semblance of stock. Your idea of using steel plate and fabing up sort of rock slider-type rockers may be the best option.

yes i can cut, weld, grind, paint, and finish the sheetmetal myself. maybe not as good as a pro, but I am confident in it.

imjeff · 03-12-2014, 03:45 PM

Definitely a great man school project! Those boys should be good to go after completion.

Imadad · 03-12-2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landy

Check out this link. It has info regarding the body part terminology.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=25

Looks like a lot of potential work. Can you do the welding and body work yourself? If not, it may not be worth trying to repair it to any semblance of stock. Your idea of using steel plate and fabing up sort of rock slider-type rockers may be the best option.

Thanks for the link. that is the exact type of link that is confusing me. I'm not sure how all those pieces go together, how they connect, etc.

Do you know of any page or video that shows how all the supports and pieces fit together?

Thanks!

NTR72GMC · 03-12-2014, 06:13 PM

Welcome from SLC! Here is a very good thread with lots of pics of the rocker area.

**pound41** · 03-13-2014, 06:55 AM

There are multiple threads showing others work. Do you have a hard top. Hard top holds a rusted body together. I know from experience. You are going to need to attach a bar from the front door jamb to the back to keep the 2 sections in place when you start cutting out the floor. Otherwise after its all welded back in place body panel gaps could be off. Learned that by reading others posts. Lots of great info on here. If you are willing to weld you can do it.
Good Luck

Imadad · 03-13-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pound41

There are multiple threads showing others work. Do you have a hard top. Hard top holds a rusted body together. I know from experience. You are going to need to attach a bar from the front door jamb to the back to keep the 2 sections in place when you start cutting out the floor. Otherwise after its all welded back in place body panel gaps could be off. Learned that by reading others posts. Lots of great info on here. If you are willing to weld you can do it.
Good Luck

thanks for the tip! no hardtop, only the soft top.

Imadad · 03-13-2014, 10:16 AM

well i couldnt wait to start welding and grinding so i fixed the light tabs on the light bar.

now i need to fix something that actually matters...

sockalaminski · 03-17-2014, 07:28 PM

I thought mine was bad. You are in for some work indeed. The patch panels available are decent but require quite a bit of coaxing to make fit. After repairing my rust with patch panels (over $800 worth), if I were to do it again, I would use Your idea of fabbing up sheet metal. Probably be the best option. Windshield to bed braces will be required as mentioned before and if the body can be taken off and placed on a dolly, even better.

03-12-2014, 01:11 PM	#1
Imadad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Norcross, Ga Posts: 6	Help! New guy So this is post number one. I recently picked up a 72 blazer. I talked to the owner alot before i drove to go pick it up. He told me that he knew it had holes in the floorboards. He knew it had "surface rust" on the rocker panels, but nothing bad. Attached is the pictures of what I found. All the rocker panels are totally rotted through. the pans need replacing, and it appears even more does too. I dont know the names of the pieces i need. I have looked online and seen rocker boxes, interior rockers, exterior rockers, etc etc. can someone help me understand what to order, and how to put it together? I have been thinking that it may be better to come back with some steel plate rather than factory reproductions, and then mount a reproduction exterior rocker over that to keep the same look. Can you share thoughts please? Thanks! Glad to be here. Attached Images

03-12-2014, 02:17 PM	#2
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Re: Help! New guy Check out this link. It has info regarding the body part terminology. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=25 Looks like a lot of potential work. Can you do the welding and body work yourself? If not, it may not be worth trying to repair it to any semblance of stock. Your idea of using steel plate and fabing up sort of rock slider-type rockers may be the best option.

03-12-2014, 02:45 PM	#3
72freak Rottenwood Garage Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 4,321	Re: Help! New guy I love those minimal rust trucks....with that said, pretty common unfortunately. __________________ 2004 Chevrolet Suburban C1500 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD Crew 6.0 1999 Harley Davidson Electra Glide 1972 Chevrolet C-20 Custom Camper "Dump Truck" 1972 Chevrolet C-20 Suburban "Big Green" 1969 Chevrolet C-50 Wedge Hauler "Leonidis" 1966 C-10 2x4 short fleet 327 4 speed "Race Truck" 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook "Rican" (my grandfathers) 1931 Ford Model A Coupe "Black Beauty" 1930 Ford Model A truck "Club Cab" 4x4 Rottenwood Garage and Speed Shop.....where everything must be racy! *It's not just a hobby..It's a LIFESTYLE!!!* Thanks for nothing Barrett-Jackson You cant fix stupid or teach accountability! Time wasters, looky Lous and tire kickers are everywhere!

03-12-2014, 03:09 PM	#4
Imadad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Norcross, Ga Posts: 6	Re: Help! New guy more pics. youll notice one of them has one of my sons helping me fill the radiator. I am a single dad and this truck is serving as a text book for one our classes in "Man School." and a video: View My Video http://tinypic.com/r/4liy6c/8 Attached Images Last edited by Imadad; 03-12-2014 at 03:32 PM.

03-12-2014, 03:45 PM	#6
imjeff Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tacoma Washington Posts: 890	Re: Help! New guy Definitely a great man school project! Those boys should be good to go after completion. __________________ I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time. 72 K10 396 75 Cj5 MPI 350 Chev 67 Chevelle 396, 4 speed 74 FXE 08 Tahoe

03-12-2014, 06:13 PM	#8
NTR72GMC 2wd FTW!!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SLC UTAH Posts: 673	Re: Help! New guy Welcome from SLC! Here is a very good thread with lots of pics of the rocker area.

03-13-2014, 06:55 AM	#9
pound41 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,269	Re: Help! New guy There are multiple threads showing others work. Do you have a hard top. Hard top holds a rusted body together. I know from experience. You are going to need to attach a bar from the front door jamb to the back to keep the 2 sections in place when you start cutting out the floor. Otherwise after its all welded back in place body panel gaps could be off. Learned that by reading others posts. Lots of great info on here. If you are willing to weld you can do it. Good Luck

03-13-2014, 10:16 AM	#11
Imadad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Norcross, Ga Posts: 6	Re: Help! New guy well i couldnt wait to start welding and grinding so i fixed the light tabs on the light bar. now i need to fix something that actually matters... Attached Images

03-17-2014, 07:28 PM	#12
sockalaminski Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 88	Re: Help! New guy I thought mine was bad. You are in for some work indeed. The patch panels available are decent but require quite a bit of coaxing to make fit. After repairing my rust with patch panels (over $800 worth), if I were to do it again, I would use Your idea of fabbing up sheet metal. Probably be the best option. Windshield to bed braces will be required as mentioned before and if the body can be taken off and placed on a dolly, even better.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.