Rocker Replacement Question. (Weather stip rail?)

[REPO1]

I have to replace the passenger side lower rocker panel on my truck. So today I decided to pull out all the interior floor stuff, like seat, mats, and underlay to see what I would find. All looks really well, but the passenger side channel rail that the weather stripping clips onto in toast on the pass. side. Now does that little rail come as part of a complete rocker? Or is it something that I would have to build on there once the new rocker is in place?

Reid

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Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper
402BB Turbo 400 trans.
A/C, P/S, manual brakes.
75,800 Original Miles!!
'71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto
'97 Z28 -- Runs 11.5 @ 118mph.

[Shane]

I can't speak for all rockers....but the weather stripping "lip" was on the rockers that I bought.

Hope this helps....

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Keep On Truckin'

Shane
slecroix@bellsouth.net
Athens, Alabama

[72MARIO]

The lip for the weather stripping is part of the new rockers.

[REPO1]

Excellent! I thought it might, but wasn't sure.

Anyone here done their own? I am sure if I was really careful I could pull it off. I am pretty good with the mig welder.

[71402BB]

Yes I have done rockers! there very easy. You need to remove the old rockers. Slip the new ones into place (dose not take much to line the new one up) and weld into place.


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71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's

72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!)

68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi

[REPO1]

Is there anyway you could describe a step-by-step process to do this? Like where to start, best tools for the job, pointers, etc?

I would be forever in your debt!!

[Gee_Emm]

They are held on by spot welds, so what I would do is drill the welds out and replace the rocker then plug weld it back on.

How come you are replacing it, I thought that truck was rust free?

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1969 Chevrolet Custom Camper 20 350/400 70k original miles

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Gee_Emm's Page

Help me get my truck on a soda bottle!!!!!




[This message has been edited by Gee_Emm (edited April 07, 2002).]

[REPO1]

I got all the carpet and all pulled out and found a couple of small holes in the rocker, where the weather striping sits. Packed full of mud.

[chevy71super]

I did mine and made a couple of mistakes I hope you can learn from. First pay the few extra dollars and buy the GM ones. I didn't and the doors don't fit the rocker as well as they should. Pop the spot welds as a prior poster suggested on the front and rear of the rockers and under the lip that holds the weatherstrip. You will also need to separate the welds under the cab. Set the rockers WITH THE DOORS ON THE CAB. Don't miss that step. Use a weld through primer when welding the new ones one.

[REPO1]

Thanks for the info! I have a couple more questions though. What do you mean by weld through primer? Also how is it attached at the seams? Is that just caulked? What about where the rocker meets the cab corner, is there some sort of lips that you have to bend open first?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I don't have the new rocker to compare with yet, and I am just going by what I can see on the truck.

[Gee_Emm]

Mmm as I recall, the spot welds are only at the top lip and the bottom lip. The joint and the cab corner is just "floating" I think.

[chevy71super]

Weld through primer is a primer you spray on the backside of your work before welding to help prevent rust from reoccuring. Go to your local welding shop and ask them about it. You are right, there is calk in the seam where you can see the rocker joins the cab corner. (Below the VIN plate.) I used an air chisel to separate the welds. Just be careful you don't cut holes into the supports you are cutting the rockers from. I'm trying to think if I have any pictures that will help you, if I do I will e-mail them to you.

[chevy71super]

Repo - I e-mailed a couple of pictures that should help.

[hobby67stepside]

I just went thru welding in new rockers, toe kicks, outer parts of the front and rear floor panels, lower parts of the front and rear door jambs, removed and totally rebuilt the main rear support structure beneath the rear of the cab (a part that I think many guys are not aware of because I asked about this once on the board and got "1" response) and if you can restore yours with only new rockers you are fortunate. BTW to remove this rear support I had to drill out more than 70 spot welds. I'm hoping this will add another 35 years to the pickup. I almost forgot - new cab corners and I beefed up areas that I think GM purpously left weak.

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• '01 2500HD 4X4 Silverado 8.1 engine Allison tranny (for sale)
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  Hobby 67 Stepside

[This message has been edited by hobby67stepside (edited April 07, 2002).]

[REPO1]

Thanks for the info guys! I really appreciate it.

I also did get the pics. Thanks!

As for cab supports, mine are all perfect. Just a bit of rot under the weather stripping, because mud had got in there. It could be fixed, but why? I am more for replacing than patching, so I am just going to replace the entire rocker and be done with it.


Reid


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Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper
402BB Turbo 400 trans.
A/C, P/S, manual brakes.
75,800 Original Miles!!
'71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto
'97 Z28 -- Runs 11.5 @ 118mph.