I may be crazy, feel free to call me such if I am, but i believe that the rocker panels on my car are galvanized. A few months ago, I stripped the paint off the passenger side rocker panel, and it appeared to be galvanized. I thought I was seeing things, prepped it, and primered it. Tonight I stripped the drivers side rocker, and it also appears to be galvanized. They have that "unmistakable" galvanized appearence. The car is original, and the factory pinch welds are all there where the cowl area and quester panel attach. It definitely appears to be factory. From what I've found and from discussions with the original owner, the car has never been repainted. As I chemical stripped the rocker, I noticed there was no primer at all, just the cranberry red top coat. The panel was also brazed with brass at the junction where it meets the quarter panel.

Is this possible? I did a search here and found nothing on galvanized rocker panels. I did find it odd that there was no corrosion on either rocker panel anywhere. Your thoughts?

I know what you are talking about. I think you may be right. They used various parts that were galvanized. Mine looked like they were too. The forward area still rusted out. That was because of the moisture holding areas GM created and didn't treat with anything. I don't understand why they didn't use more. When I removed the quarter panels I noticed there are several different parts under and around the side window area. The forward brace the the panel is welded to, where the door striker is, this is also galvanized. There is no rust at all on any of the panels. You can clearly see which ones are galvanized. I did look down the length of the rocker and it is clean with minor powdery corrosion on it.

Rocker panels were galvanized.
The brass was called "silicone bronze" in the Trade at that time.
No matter what they called it, it was still seemed like brass.
We were told at the time it was used in flex areas.
Made no sense to me, as the brass we had in the shops would crystalize the adjacent metal, make it harder and subject to cracks.
Maybe the factory, had a different "brass" and way of applying it that accomplished their aim.

Never could make the old lacquer based paint and primers stick to those galvanized panels. They were a pita at the time.

Karl

Somewhere around '85, GM started using silicon bronze for the quarter panel to roof joint on the Monte Carlos. This material takes less heat than straight brass or bronze, so I was told. They clamped heatsink coppers either side of the joint, to stop warpage, while they flowed in the bronze. Surprising how good the guys got at the process.

Thanks for the input guys. So were all rockers galvanized then? Or was this just what was available during the month my car was assembled?

It could explain why the paint on my rocker panels hasn't stayed on good since paint job. Is that possible too, paint not adhering to galvanized metal? Just some input here on the subject.

Thanks, rws 1969 chevelle

All of my 66's are galvanized.

My recollection is, that galvanized rockers were common, in other words the "norm".

Remember feathering back paint on a lot of 60's vintage cars, not just chevelles.

With todays quality of refinish products, making the paint stick is no longer a huge problem.
Tha closest thing we had then to todays self etch and E-coatings was a Zinc rich primer.
It was a pain to use, unless you spent the extra bucks and purchased aerosol.

Remember in the 60's and early 70's we were using a lot of Lacquer and Enamel based products.
Ford, Chrysler, and American Motors were all using Enamel on their cars.

GM was using Acrylic Lacquer.

Karl

hey 7DSS, hows it comming along? havent seen ya in the forums lately. I need to come out and check yours out. ive just about have the engine put together on mine, and the body work is almost done, been a slower process than i had hoped. i lost your number email me if ya wouldnt mind me checking yours out sometime soon, anthony_hopkins_13@hotmail.com

GM did use some galvanized parts..use caution when welding them it puts off a toxic gas.
TROY