Rust Question

[xzz0195]

Living in North Country we fight a lot of rust issues, I noticed yesterday I need to pay attention to rusting which is happening right underneath the driver and passenger doors, and extends back to the passenger sides. This area has a nice contour to it, the rust is south of the stainless rocker panels on the 3" of exposed panel itself.

 

Question:

What is best way to repair this?

 

1) Fiberglass

2) Putty

3) New panels

 

What's the difference in cost?

[splat10]

if you have a welder the full rockers from LMC are $150 each and are the only way to fix rocker rust. if you putty or glass them you are just covering it up and it will come back. These trucks rot from the inside out so what you see is just the tip of the iceburg.

[xzz0195]

if you have a welder the full rockers from LMC are $150 each and are the only way to fix rocker rust. if you putty or glass them you are just covering it up and it will come back. These trucks rot from the inside out so what you see is just the tip of the iceburg.

 

 

Thanks. I can pick up a welder. Next question where will the welds go? Long beads that get ground down, or spot welds in certain places?

[SavageNFS]

if you have a welder the full rockers from LMC are $150 each and are the only way to fix rocker rust. if you putty or glass them you are just covering it up and it will come back. These trucks rot from the inside out so what you see is just the tip of the iceburg.

 

 

Thanks. I can pick up a welder. Next question where will the welds go? Long beads that get ground down, or spot welds in certain places?

 

about a million spot welds that get ground down later. Too much heat in one spot will make the metal warp.

[Willshire]

If you live in Canada or maybe the US, NAPA sells them parts too. The rocker is separate from the cab corner and probably another 100 bucks a side. You gotta cut out all the old rusty crap too. After smoothin the spot welds use some fibreglass body fill to seal it up and a little finishing puddy. After paint, get a no drip oil undercoat and make sure the guy gets inside the rocker really good.