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Rocker Repair Plan
- Thread starter Norton47
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TR6oldtimer
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Re: Not all rockers are equal
Norton, this was my first ever attempt at body work with a dolly and hammer and I have to admit I screwed up one rocker on my first attempt. The second went better.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
What did you use to form over to sharpen the long runs, seems like hammer and dolly work would be hard to keep even enough over such a long run. [/QUOTE]
These were a challenge. The first thing I did was to get the step bends under the door to the 90 degrees of the original. I did this by running an oxy/acet flame along the back side of the crease just enough for it to start turning blue. As the metal cooled, it shrank, causing the bend to tighten. I then used the sharp end of a heel dolly and off dolly carefully worked the metal to flatten and crisp the edges. A similar technique was used on the front extension under the fender once the crease lines were established.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
The lateral bending, do the ends bow away from the car or does the center bow out? I would guess this is due to the stamping process?
[/QUOTE]
Each end flares out from the depression for the fenders. On the rear extension I initially cut (vee notched) excess metal out so I could pull it in to fit the end caps then welded close the notched seam. I also used the torch to shrink the metal in places. On the front, I just worked the metal (with some shrinking) and allowed the excess to flare out toward the top, which when trimmed was welded to the outside of the foot-well bulkhead.
When I finally got the rocker to where I wanted, it fit without having to force anything.
Think it through and go slow, it looks like a lot of work, and is time consuming, but I got a lot of gratification out of the effort.
Norton, this was my first ever attempt at body work with a dolly and hammer and I have to admit I screwed up one rocker on my first attempt. The second went better.
I tried to, but finally just bit the bullet and used a little short fiber glass strand filler on each end to gain the fit and shape I needed. I also used body filler over some of the dings I made while shaping.Norton47 said:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
What did you use to form over to sharpen the long runs, seems like hammer and dolly work would be hard to keep even enough over such a long run. [/QUOTE]
These were a challenge. The first thing I did was to get the step bends under the door to the 90 degrees of the original. I did this by running an oxy/acet flame along the back side of the crease just enough for it to start turning blue. As the metal cooled, it shrank, causing the bend to tighten. I then used the sharp end of a heel dolly and off dolly carefully worked the metal to flatten and crisp the edges. A similar technique was used on the front extension under the fender once the crease lines were established.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
The lateral bending, do the ends bow away from the car or does the center bow out? I would guess this is due to the stamping process?
[/QUOTE]
Each end flares out from the depression for the fenders. On the rear extension I initially cut (vee notched) excess metal out so I could pull it in to fit the end caps then welded close the notched seam. I also used the torch to shrink the metal in places. On the front, I just worked the metal (with some shrinking) and allowed the excess to flare out toward the top, which when trimmed was welded to the outside of the foot-well bulkhead.
When I finally got the rocker to where I wanted, it fit without having to force anything.
Think it through and go slow, it looks like a lot of work, and is time consuming, but I got a lot of gratification out of the effort.
