Rockers getting bad...
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Rockers getting bad...
Hi All,
I have an 89, 3.0L and I love it, but the body is starting to show it's age a bit...
This is mostly in the rockers - the drivers side worse, and worse part is right around the drivers side door, and the lower part of the door too... I'm also getting some bubbling around the wheel lips, etc...
my question is: does anyone (aerocolorado) have some good info on a DIY solution? I have gotten 2 quotes from good places to do this repair, and they want 2 grand range.
My biggest concern, is that if I do take this on, that I'm not just masking the problem. I don't know what to do. I don't know if I want to put $2K into a 17 year old vehicle, but I do love her so - and she only has 127K on her.
Should I cut my losses and move on? or are these easy to do? I know I won't be painting anything, but perhaps I could have them painted once I did all the fill work, etc... Lot of guys here won't even do rust.
Ideas?
I have an 89, 3.0L and I love it, but the body is starting to show it's age a bit...
This is mostly in the rockers - the drivers side worse, and worse part is right around the drivers side door, and the lower part of the door too... I'm also getting some bubbling around the wheel lips, etc...
my question is: does anyone (aerocolorado) have some good info on a DIY solution? I have gotten 2 quotes from good places to do this repair, and they want 2 grand range.
My biggest concern, is that if I do take this on, that I'm not just masking the problem. I don't know what to do. I don't know if I want to put $2K into a 17 year old vehicle, but I do love her so - and she only has 127K on her.
Should I cut my losses and move on? or are these easy to do? I know I won't be painting anything, but perhaps I could have them painted once I did all the fill work, etc... Lot of guys here won't even do rust.
Ideas?
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
The age and the mileage have liitle to do with anything in my book . I would be cheaper for me to spend a couple thousand on my truck that to make payments and pay insurance on a newer vehicle. My Mazda pickup has over 500,000 miles. I pay about 70 per month insurance (PS I'm younger than you might think.) My truck needs about $3K worth of body work.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Yeah, I know what you mean - I know the whole history of that van, unlike buying a used car... I know I will never find a more reliable Van, and I need the space for work - I was just looking to save money on the body work by doing most/some of it myself, even if it was only to prep the panels to be re-painted, etc...
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,013
Likes: 205
From: SoCal
Mediaman,
Look at the recent postings by Mr. Titleseventeen, who replaced his rusting rockers with patch panels by riveting them in place and then bono'd it over. Looke pretty good.
Of course, it's best if you can weld it.
Look at the recent postings by Mr. Titleseventeen, who replaced his rusting rockers with patch panels by riveting them in place and then bono'd it over. Looke pretty good.
Of course, it's best if you can weld it.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
riveting sounds more realistic to me, as something I could at least do - never even tried to weld anything - I'm great at soldering - but welding - um
good tip by Pablo on taking out the ecm and the power on the car, since welding a panel will distroy everything connected to the frame ground, etc... maybe I'll see if my neighbor will do them for me... body work always scares me - it's one of those things that looks easier to do, than it really is I think :-) but, lucky that the rockers are not really seen at all, so if they are not perfectly done, it's not the end of the world - I just want to not drive a rust bucket -
good tip by Pablo on taking out the ecm and the power on the car, since welding a panel will distroy everything connected to the frame ground, etc... maybe I'll see if my neighbor will do them for me... body work always scares me - it's one of those things that looks easier to do, than it really is I think :-) but, lucky that the rockers are not really seen at all, so if they are not perfectly done, it's not the end of the world - I just want to not drive a rust bucket -
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote