My worst fear just came true, I just found a rust spot on the rocker panel just below the drivers door. Has any one had any experince in this area. I am A good welder and have a good mig for the job but have done very little body work. Trying to decide if this is a job for me or the body shop?

 

Get it before it reches the cab corners. Haven't done it myself(screwed up something else not making it worth whie to invest in the current cab), but it looked pretty simple. Check the cab corners too, I think you'd be better off getting them all at once if they're starting at all.

 

How big is the spot?

 

From Alaska, it's probably coming through from the inside like most in the salt belt.

 

about the size of quarter but its all the way thrue the paint was hideing it. I'm going to pull up the carpet as soon as the weather lets me to see if there is more surprizes. this sucks I've only got 180,000 and I realy like my truck.

 

Need to cut out all the rust and make patch just smaller than the hole. It’s better to TIG it if you have one available, better heat control and no spatter less grinding. Fill it, grind it, mud it, sand it, primer it, and paint. The paint was the hardest thing for me. Good luck

 

I agree. Cut out the rust and weld in metal. Use good primer and paint, then rust proof it on the back side of the welded area or it will rust thru again in the same spot. I was born and raised in Michigan, I've seen what the salt does. It makes me cry thinking about all the nice muscle cars I had as a teen in the 60's and 70's. I solved that problem when I moved to Southern New Mexico. I'm getting a collection of good streetrod material.

 

i have sprayed oil in cavities like door pannels and rocker pannels on other trucks i have had, seems to keep the rust at bay. i will do my dodge this winter with penetrating oil.

 

They make primer for welding panels on which are unreachable with paint too. I have seen it on Saab net, another forum type site that I follow for my ladies car. Saab replacement fenders are welded on and once on you can not get to them on the inside so they use this paint which evidentally heals over the welds. I will look for the link.
I too have bad rockers, big holes, so I am looking to do the repair (whole new rockers and cab corners) probably next spring.
Good luck

 

Flashdancr,

Sweet paint, who did the work? Is it hard lined or a "transition" from the red to the driftwood?

McMopar

 

I had rust in my rocker also, I being cheap ordered the rocker panel from J.C. Whittney (+/- $15). It was an exact fit and heavy gauge, good deal IMHO.

Just my .04 (inflation)

 

Thanks
Dixie Custom in LA did the paint. Some of it is hard line and some fade.
I like your flames.

 

Thanks, I love that old girl!!

 

The rocker panels were not too bad at pricing at: www.cooltruckparts.com