Rocker Pannels

[1993blazerlt]

how do you install rocker pannels on a 1993 S-10 blazer

[T Man]

superglue, lots and lots of superglue

[PitchBlackBlzr]

I would use gum...I'm cheap like that! :D

[bvr775]

this works for all body work you need to cut the old ones off first.
first you drill out the spot welds. then use a cutoff wheel and cut the rest out{ be carefull not th cut trough any of the substuctor} leave about 1/2" althe way the around the area. most replasement rockers will fit the same way as the original which is just spot welded in so al you have to do is drill out the spot welds you just drill holes in the new peise and spot weld it in.

now test fit the new peise and trim for a good fit. now tack it in place to ttst fit everything .close your door make sure all the lines are right all the seals seal and so on. don't get it to hot are the metal will warp. i recomend a stich weld. this is where you run a very short bead then anoughter a foot down and so on untill the hole panel is welded.

just one more thing for a rocker you need the weld in some braces in the cab to keep it from saging and warping when you cut out the rocker.

[1993blazerlt]

where are the spot welds located, where should i weld the braces this is a 4 door and should i replace the inner rocker while i am in there. If i need to replace the inner rocker where can i buy them because i have not found them any where

[T Man]

oh sure, bvr has got to do it right. anyway, you should be able to tell where the spot welds are once all of the paint is gone, just MAKE SURE YOU BRACE if you dont you are gonna be fooked

[1993blazerlt]

where would i put the braces in the car? what would you use for the braces?

[bvr775]

you'll have to remove most of the interior trim and probally the seat cause I would remove the carpet to keep it from blazing up while i'm welding.
I use 1x1 square stock (steel) for braceing. I X brace the b pillar to the a piller and the right b pillar to the left b pillar. you weld the braces.
Do you own a 'GOOD' mig welder?? A $99 walmart speical won't do the job in this case. my HTP240 cost $1100 and it's a cheap one, but it's a good mig.
Here's the best peise of advise I can give you..take the truck to a couple of body shops and have them explain to you how they do it. Then you decide if your going to be comfortable doing it.

[rlith]

1993: No offense but with all the questions you're asking it sounds like you don't have a lot of experience with body work. I too thought it would be a relatively simple job until a body work friend of mine showed me different. Doing bodywork is more of an art than a technical skill. If you are not familiar with how to properly weld, grind, shape, smooth, bondo, primer, paint then I would in all honesty have to reccommend you go to a good body shop in your area. You could probably have both rockers done for under 300 bux. Not slamming you or anything, just offering up a bit of advice :)

[BlazinLow_inORE]

Here's the best peise of advise I can give you..take the truck to a couple of body shops and have them explain to you how they do it. Then you decide if your going to be comfortable doing it.

I agree this might be something that you dont even want to attempt. If you get started and then decide it isnt something you dont want to do... then you still have to go find someone to do it for you. While your askin about the job... get some prices on how much it would cost in case you decide not to do it yourself

[Hammer]

it's a lot of welding because you are basically installing a complicated filler panel, and filler panels aren't easy. i'll let the others finish up with this but i agree with bvr and the rest of the crew here. I think you will find this a very daunting task, not impossible but time consuming and challenging.

good luck

[bvr775]

I'm 30 and have been restoring old cars since I was too young to drive them. I learned by doing. Before I ever went to Tech school I knew the fundmentals of engine and body repair, but that's me. like most body guys, I do certains things my way(well really the way I was taught) I was fortunate enough to have very skilled people to teach me. In return I teach outher people and encourage them to do their own work, but I also warn people that if you don't have the tools or the time to learn don't do it.

Here's my suggestion to anyone who want's to learn. Get a $25 beater or get a part time job in a you-pull-it yard(they won't pay much, but there are benifits to working your weekends at a salvage yard). you'll learn more in a day by doing something than you'll learn in a year by talking about it.