GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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01-15-10 04:43 PM - Post#1842979
I've started replacing the inner and outer rocker panel on the driver side of the '57 today. It's amazing how much more rotted the driver side is than the passenger side. The passenger side only has holes in two braces, otherwise looks fine. The drivers side is a mess. One brace intact, inner rocker almost completely gone, outer rocker is swiss cheese. Of course the bottom fender bolt broke off right away.
One question I have. Is it really necessary to disassenble the most forward part, where the fender bolt attaches? Mine is solid. It looks like I can fold the new rocker around that portion and weld after sandblasing that part. Looks like that's how the factory did it. I'm sure I am missing something here. Any comments welcome.
Thanks.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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67SS427
Ultra Senior Member
Posts: 12498
Loc: Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Reg: 05-26-01
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01-15-10 06:35 PM - Post#1843045
In response to GaryC
Over lapping the new rocker flanges over the front of the front bracket, with it still on the car, might work. Thinking about it, the front bracket pieces are spot welded to the front flanges of the old rocker. If you grind off the old rocker metal from the bracket, you can probably overlap the bracket with the new rocker's flanges and weld. The bracket should stay in place for you to do that, as long as it remains attached to the inner rocker side. You probably would have to straighten out the new rocker's flanges so it will slide over the bracket and then bend them back down over it.
Or, you could leave the entire front face of the old rocker on the car with the original flanging intact, cutting the old rocker off just behind the front face edges. Then cut off the front flange metal from the new rocker and butt the new rocker up to the old front front rocker face and weld it together along the corners.
Or if the front few inches of the old rocker are still good, you could even splice the new rocker in further back, leaving the entire front part of the old rocker in position and intact. In that case, I'd cut the old rocker, make some 1" wide strips of sheet metal, and weld them to the inside of the old rocker so that the metal strips create a 1/2" flange around the old rocker's cut opening. Then the new rocker can be overlapped and welded to the flange strips, as well as the old rocker edge.
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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01-15-10 07:59 PM - Post#1843085
In response to 67SS427
Thanks for the reply Steve. I'm gonna try to preserve the front part as much as possible, and fold over if I can , and weld. There's alot going on in that front portion, just trying to keep it as simple as possible if I can. Thanks for the tips and suggestions.
Thanks again.
Gary
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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02-02-10 03:16 PM - Post#1855016
In response to 67SS427
Steve,
After cutting everything apart, I may just go ahead and replace that portion as well. I'll know more when I cut it apart. I can look at it from the inside rocker side, lots of it is sold but I do see a rust hole. I'm guessing after sandblasing it will be weak. Best case would be I'll need to reinforce it. Worst case is I'll get a repro piece and weld the fender bracket onto it.
I'll grab some pictures next weekend when I'm working on it again....
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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67SS427
Ultra Senior Member
Posts: 12498
Loc: Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Reg: 05-26-01
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02-02-10 05:07 PM - Post#1855103
In response to GaryC
Gary, before you cut apart those front pieces, you should take some location measurements. When you go to put them back together, you'll need to install that lower fender bracket back in the same position it was in. It will have to be the same distance forward in relation to the front end of the rocker and the same distance outboard from the cowl. And up and down too. Basically all 3 dimensions  . Otherwise you could have a fender fit problem on the bottom.
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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02-02-10 09:10 PM - Post#1855309
In response to 67SS427
Good advice Steve. It would get ugly fast if that fender bracket ended up in the wrong place.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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 wagonman100
Super Senior Member
Posts: 12937
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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02-03-10 05:25 AM - Post#1855390
In response to GaryC
Even with careful measuring, it may be a good idea to place the fender up ther to see if the hole lines up the way it should. You should be fine as long as you're careful in the measuring and placement of the bracket. But it never hurts to verify it with the part that will attach to it. Of course this would mean you need the door and core support installed. If that is not an option, just measure, check and recheck.
Jay
Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon |
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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02-15-10 12:49 PM - Post#1863296
In response to 67SS427
Here's what I ended up with. I decided there wasn't enough good metal on the inner bracket to save the front portion so I cut it all out after taking my measurements..
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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67SS427
Ultra Senior Member
Posts: 12498
Loc: Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Reg: 05-26-01
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02-15-10 03:09 PM - Post#1863374
In response to GaryC
I don't blame ya...pretty ugly .
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Pistol
"11th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 3557
Age: 66
Loc: Terryville, Ct.
Reg: 11-11-02
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02-15-10 03:36 PM - Post#1863394
In response to 67SS427
I had that same problem but one side was better, I was able to save one of the reinforcements and bought a new set from East Coast Chevy but sent them back because of poor fit and the $80.00 price
I ended up making my own out of stainless and also did the rockers, I bought new rockers also and those fit very badly, I ended using just the top part and making the rest, you can see how much of the rocker I made and the reinforcement I had left over, I still have these around somewhere, maybe I'll frame them and hang them on the wall
Pete
Awl speeling misteaks r myn
57 BelAir 2DRHT My-Pics |
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 2dr150
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 321
Loc: eastern S. C.
Reg: 07-16-06
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02-15-10 07:15 PM - Post#1863553
In response to Pistol
Gary, I'm sure you already know this but you can get an outer rocker panel that already has the fender bracket welded in place. It is the Tiawan made version and it looks pretty good. I'm doing the right side and bought the outer, inner, front floor, toe panel. I took the fender bracket out of the old rocker. I am still fitting them and waiting for it to get a little warmer to finish the project. I went ahead and bought the left side with the bracket installed. After getting into the repairs on the l side I decided to repair that rocker. If you haven't bought your parts I think the rocker with the bracket welded in place would be the way to go. Just my opinion Tom
1950 deluxe coupe
1966 chevelle, ss396
1957 2dr 150,owned 6 yrs
1933 master 5 window coupe (sold),my chevys |
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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02-16-10 05:43 AM - Post#1863750
In response to 2dr150
Gary, I'm sure you already know this but you can get an outer rocker panel that already has the fender bracket welded in place.
No, I didn't know that. I bought my drivers side rocker a year or so ago. When I replace the passenger side I may try one of those. Thanks for the heads up!
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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Edited by GaryC on 02-16-10 06:07 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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GaryC
Very Senior Member
Posts: 2639
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A
Reg: 02-28-03
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02-18-10 07:54 AM - Post#1865074
In response to GaryC
Has anyone here on CT used these Taiwan outer rocker reproductions yet? If so, how was the fit,location of the pre-welded fender bracket?
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe, 300hp 327, M20 4 speed
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