Paint and Body - Rocker Panels

[68BRONC]

IΓÇÖm sure this will sound silly to all the seasoned paint & body guys in the club, but IΓÇÖm eyeing my next project and want to make sure I know (or at least think I know) what IΓÇÖm doing. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, right? If you buy into this sentiment then I must be downright hazardous and should probably consider taking up knitting, basket weaving, or something else.

Ok so hereΓÇÖs the deal. IΓÇÖve got new inner/outer rocker panels on the way and I know IΓÇÖve got to protect them on the inside as well as the outside right? If they go unprotected on the inside, wonΓÇÖt I just end up with the same mess in a couple of years that IΓÇÖm dealing with now? The sealing/painting will eventually dry out and crack and then IΓÇÖm back in the same spot I started. The only difference is that IΓÇÖll be livid because I didnΓÇÖt fix it right the first time. So, whatΓÇÖs the best way to think about this task? I read a lot of DYI type repair articles and blogs but do not recall one that addressed how to protect an enclosed and sealed space from future rust and corrosion.

Since the objects of our affliction have a propensity for rot in this area, I feel certain there is plenty of wisdom out there with respect to this issue. Hopefully someone would be willing to enlighten those of us who are less affluent.

Thanks!

[Gunnibronco]

You could also coat the inside of the rockers with undercoating or ambercoat (a wax) after the rockers are installed. A body shop supply house should have cans of undercoating that accept a tube on the tip (like brake cleaner, but a much longer tube), drill a couple holes in the inner rockers when you are done & spray away. Then you could go back & put rubber body plugs to fill the holes. If you go this route & need more info, let me know & I'll get you part numbers & manufacturers of what we use.

[777mechanic]

i switched mine out and epoxy primer and painted the insides except for the area i welded on , those areas where shot with weld primer . that being said i won't be alive when it rots through again . the first ones took 35 years to rot with fords paint . also i used 3m seam sealer to block water from coming into the front of the rockers , but still left the drain holes . i used over 6 tubes on the whole body to seal in better than ford ever did .

[hockeydad4-22]

You could always do what we did....


Cut them off and dont worry about them no more!

[68BRONC]

Thanks to all for your responses.

I didn't know if I was just over-thinking things but I do appreciate the feedback. I like Zilla's silver weld-thru suggestion. That and a healthy slathering of seam sealer ought to do the trick. I thought about undercoating the inside but since I'm fighting the battle of removing 40 year old undercoating now, at this point it's hard to imagine putting more back on. Then again, to 777's point, I guess I won't be around to worry about the next time the rockers rust through. The only caveat is that because I'm so poor, my rig is the only inheritance my son can expect. It'll be the "family heirloom" to pass down through generations if I ever get it done. "....it belonged to your crazy old great-great...". HockeyDad, really? no rockers? Might get a little flexy around the door openings, but I'll take it under advisement.

Thanks again!
-Andy

[ZOSO]

Thanks to all for your responses.

I didn't know if I was just over-thinking things but I do appreciate the feedback. I like Zilla's silver weld-thru suggestion. That and a healthy slathering of seam sealer ought to do the trick. I thought about undercoating the inside but since I'm fighting the battle of removing 40 year old undercoating now, at this point it's hard to imagine putting more back on. Then again, to 777's point, I guess I won't be around to worry about the next time the rockers rust through. The only caveat is that because I'm so poor, my rig is the only inheritance my son can expect. It'll be the "family heirloom" to pass down through generations if I ever get it done. "....it belonged to your crazy old great-great...". HockeyDad, really? no rockers? Might get a little flexy around the door openings, but I'll take it under advisement.

Thanks again!
-Andy

Yep cut them rockers off!!! Mine are gonna get cut off really soon. Along with the fenders. Got some fresh blades for the saw....

[Justin]

You can just weld in some tube. Using 2x6 steel tube to make rock sliders in place of the rocker panels is a common mod.

[hockeydad4-22]

You can just weld in some tube. Using 2x6 steel tube to make rock sliders in place of the rocker panels is a common mod.

And this is exactly the plan for Drew's little pony!

[68BRONC]

This one is going to be a resto-mod but I'll keep it in mind for the next one. Wish I'd pulled the trigger on that $1500 project rig on CL a few weeks ago. Would have been a great starting point. Any idea who picked it up? Just curious.