[Gearhead forever]

I think I botched my rocker installation......I assume the flange for the door seal should be at a consistent distance from the door all around. The flange to door distance is good on the upright sections, but almost doubles along the door bottom. The rocker also looks like its mounted too far inboard, as the bottom door edge (outer skin) does not line up properly. I think I have no choice but to redo it.....Can anyone recommend a source for QUALITY body panels? These off shore parts I used are too rough.

[MARTINSR]

Well, first of all you need to look at the other door to see if it is the same. Not all will fit evenly, I just installed a rocker on a 2005 Honda CRV and the bottom "pinch weld" was in about an inch compared to the sides. This is because the rubber on the door meets the rocker at another point.
So first you have to look at the other door.

1. What kind of car?
2. Did you replace the inner rocker or floor?
3. Was the rocker replaced because of rust or was it damage?

If you did not replace the inner rocker or floor, how could that pinch weld be in? I can understand that the rocker may not be made right, but how could that cause the adjacent panel to be in as well?

[Gearhead forever]

Its an 87 Chevy p/u. I replaced floors inner and outer rockers and cab corners due to rust. I didn't have a good cab for comparason and the rust was extensive. (corners were gone so bad I needed the higher length corners.) I rebuilt the door using another factory door as a comparason. After posting I worked on it for a while. I only had the door skin tacked on, so I finished the door skin and found the fit to be much better. My next plan is to re-install the rad support and fender to check the over all fit of the door. It still appears that I will have to modify the rocker because the gap from door bottom to rocker edge is 0" at the latch side and 1/2" at the hinge side. The seal flange distance didn't change. All and all it came together about 50% better than it was.

[S10xGN]

Martin,

Do you have any advice for replacing the rockers on my '47 Ford "sedan coupe"? I'm trying to find out whether to use B i t c h i n or DMS rockers (I've heard good on B i t c h i n and bad on DMS - so far), both are 3 pieces per side. Will I be drilling out spot welds? Things are rusty enough that it's hard to tell.

Thanks!

Russ

[MARTINSR]

Russ, I don't have any specific info for you on your '48, I have never done rockers on one. But yes, they are spot welded on as near as I remember. If there is heavy rust it can be very hard to identify spot welds, VERY difficult. If you use something like a Roloc "surface conditioning disc" it will clean up the metal pretty good and leave the spot weld to see.

B i tchin rockers? I have no idea, personally I don't think the fire walls I have installed were that great, very "angular". They don't match the smooth "rounded" shapes of the rest of the car. Going by that, picture house "rain gutter" looking rockers.

[S10xGN]

Thanks Brian! I ordered the DR side rockers today (the "B..." ones) and Bob there said the instructions are sparse, mainly because the install is "self-explanatory" once you see them. On that note, we'll see! I'll BOLO for the Roloc's...

Thanks,

Russ