I am looking at a car (non-Chevelle, but full perimeter framed GM - 1961Pontiac) and the seller says it has rust in the rockers, quarters and trunk floor, but the rest of the body/floor is okay. The seller seems up front and wants someone to look at the car before buying.

I have never dealt with significant rust/rot, and while I know anything can be fixed with enought money/time, I am wondering how do I determine if Rockers are too far gone to be reasonable repaired???

I figured 1/4s and trunk aren't usually structural, and could hopefully be patched/replaced, but I worry because the rockers can be a structural part of the car... I know the seller said he found another clean body to use for his build...

Thanks


I am looking at a budget fun car, not a concours resto...

Not a problem. Have a body shop look at it if you can and are concerned about the cost to repair.

Can you get replacements for a 61 Poncho? - Might be a difficuly piece to fab depending on how bad they are.

LK

If that stuff is rusted, be prepared for what lies underneath all the seam sealer and other hidden goodies that the seller may or may not know about.

I'm just speaking from experience, my car was "perfect" except for a couple bubbles in the quarters and lower fenders.
Now it has both fenders patched, new doors, new quarters, outer wheelhouses, rear floor pans, patched the firewall/cowl area, new trunk extensions and trunk weatherstrip channel as well as patching the inner wheelhouses and trunk floor.
Go over that car with a fine tooth comb, I sure wish I had.

i was just going to post a. how hard is it to change a rocker. lol i got a 67 chevelle and the drivers side rocker is toast. i was going to try and do it myself.

Check the cowl area and lower front fenders. If the rockers are rusted they are most likely in bad shape as well. Rockers aren't so much hard to replace as they are a PITA ;-)

fenders are new . i need to pull it off to get a look at the rest of the car.

I think the rockers might be the same as a 1 Impala.Go to Team Impala and search for a member called SKIM .He has numerous photos of the resto of a 61 impala convertible. I believe he used a buick for parts. His pics will show you what is involved with rust repair on any area of that car.http://www.impalas.net/forums/showthread.php?t=686

well took off the fender pulled the door. cut the rocker out . what a pain!!! i have to replace the floor also. man this is going to be hard to put back together!! good news is my frame is good lol

This might not help any, but for what its worth, this is how the floors tie into the rockers on a 69 chevelle. http://www.1969supersport.com/floorpn8.html

Rob

nice. that will help. i need to pick up the floor pan then its welding time.

Check mi sig. There are some rocker dissection pics. This is my first resto so it is possible. But time consuming. -MATT

thanks for the info. i am not trying to do a show car just a driver. the rocker wasnt a part that i just wanted to replace it had to be done. it was all most in half. the floor was stiing on the tranny. i have the new rocker mocked up right now i have to put the door on to get the lines right. (repo door) but i have to get the floor in also. what a mess lol

what a mess lol
Isn't body work fun?
I'm still waiting on my driver side 1/4 to come in then I get to start all that bliss over on the other side. Woohoo!?

oh yes. i hate it. but it had to be done. i got the floor cut out (drives side all the way to the back.) replace the supports welded them in. now i need to get the inner and outer rocked welded together. i cant figure out where to set it (the inner to the outer) front to back.

trying to make the lake george car show this fall. hope i get it at least in primer buy then.

ok update. i got the inner and outer rocker welded together. i have it installed in the car (just tacked in) i installed the door and i have a pretty big gap between the door and the door jam. i ajusted the door all the way back its still to big. has anyone use and aftermarket door yet? i think its the door and not the car. anyone got a good drivers side door they want to sell?

Measure the re-pop to your original door & see if the length is the same.

LK

i just did its about 1/8 shorter. lol theres my gap. the funny thing is the the door is to tight to the fender. i am going to have to make the slots that ajust the door back longer.

ben a wile since i have ben on here but im back!!!this is the 67 divers side done.crappy pic but you get the idea

Looks good, how did you fix the gap?

I didn't the front gap is not correct.I shimed the door back untell the rear gap was good. it is what it is. i need a good gm door!