I have to rebuild about 2 ft of the inner rocker on a 68 gto. It is the front edge on the right side and the factory was .060 or 16 gauge and what I have is .040 or 18 gauge. Think this is going to be to thin? I wanted to work on it tomorrow [Sunday] If I wait to go pick up thicker it would have to be monday.
Dug through my scrap metal pile and low and behold I found a peice of .060 16 gauge metal 2' long and wide enough to build the inner rocker. So I made that and tacked it on for now untill I get the outer built. Painted it with some high zink weld though primer and will seam seal all the seams and undercoat inside of the rocker all but the bottom 3/4" because I plan to glue the bottom of the rocker patch. The sides and top I will weld and try to rust proof as good as possible when done. The underside of the floor and inner rockers will get a heavy coat of bed liner when all the welding and priming is done just before the body goes back on the frame.
This is what it looks like after I made the rocker panel and welded it on. The inner was welded in and seam sealed and undercoated. Then outer welded and filled. Also did the lower fire wall repair and undercoated it. and the rt side floor welded up where rusted.
I got the rt 1/4 panel cut off today and everything cleaned up to start putting on the new panels. I'am going to use the rt trunk floor 1/4 extension thats there after sandblasting it looks real good and the replacement although they look right dont fit at all. I primed everything inside 1/4 panel with a high zink primer that also works as a weld though primer. Got the outer wheel well drilled for plug welds and fit and clamped in place. Will fix the few spot on the inner wheel houshing when done with that. Now to just weld it on,hang the door and fit the outer 1/4 panel. Also found another rust spot on the rear of the rocker that I didn't know was there. Maybe should have put a new rocker on this side but into it to far to cut it off now. Did get all the mouse nest blown out of the rocker.
Got the inside of the new 1/4 panel undercoated all but where I will need to weld or glue to install. Undercoated the inner 1/4 panels on the car and the trunk floor extensions and got the inner wheelhouseings welded up and seam sealed. Also got the last patch panel done on the rocker panel and frist coat of filler. Have the rest of the old 1/4 cut off and should be able to fit the new one tomorrow. Hope to start on the trunk floor and trunk lid to rear window panel tomorrow also.
Got started on the trunk floor. Both wheel housings are done and the trunk to 1/4 extensions. Also built both sides of the trunk floor that didn't come with the new panel. I cut it right at the brace under the floor so when its all welded up you wont see any seams from the bottom side. There will be some on the top side but once it's welded, seam sealed and undercoated and sprayed with trunk splatter finish it should look pretty good. Got the floor all cut out and ready to put in the new panel and it's ready to fit and weld.
I got the trunk floor welded in and primed and seam sealed both the top and bottom sides. Undercoated the bottom and bed linered the trunk floor inside. will give it one more coat when this is good and dry. Should end up with about a 1/8" of bed liner on the floor and it'll be like rubber when dry out. Just after I paint the car I'll give it a coat of the factory splater finish so it has the color it did when new. Started to weld up the drivers floor rust today For some reason the pictures got kind of fuzzy..
I got the drivers 1/4 panel on and found some real issues. These china panels are bad news. These Gm bodys where not fun to put 1/4's on back when they where new and you had Gm 1/4's this china built stuff is almost inpossible. You would think the feed back to these companies would be bad enough that they would find a way to build them here in the states and make a much better product. Even if it cost a little more. The front edge at the top next to the door you can see where they have beat on it and ground it and thats where the gap is to wide. Not sure if they try to make it fit some kind of jeg or what but what ever it dosen't work. I'll have to try to use a stud gun and get a better fit. Got it all glued across the bottom and welded at the rear window. Only thing left on this 1/4 is at the trunk opening and at the rear that looks like it may need some work to fit. Next going to install trunk lid and see if I can get the rt 1/4 panel on. Did a trial fit and it goes on like putting a saddle on a sow. Oh and one more thing it looks like they cut the bottom end of the wheel opening off at the rear and cant for the life of me see why they would do that. Will have to make a new peice and glue it on before it's done.
The only way the manufacturer is going to improve their product is if EVERYBODY stops buying their crap. As long as it keeps on selling, they don't give a ****..... That's the way it has been for 15-20 years....
AMD is making a big dent in the foreign junk with much better quality and fit panels BUT, they haven't gotten around to Pontiac for much yet. They really need to look into full quarters for all the A bodies from '64 thru '72.
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