The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Rocker panel replacement .....

So when I get tired or frustrated with doing mechanical repairs/upgrades on our 55.2 3600, I walk to the other side of the shop and dig back into the bodywork on our 51 310 currently under the knife.
I have the drivers floor and rocker panel off and was lining up the new rocker panel. My question is can the forward and back placement vary a bit without affecting the front end body panels lining up? And yes, I do realize that the attaching bracket that holds the inner fender to the firewall has a large hole and two bolt holes that needs to line up with the ones in the front of the rocker panel. BUT..... WHat if I dont use the original clutch setup and just bolt the bracket to the firewall wherever it needs to be to make the fenders line up? Would that work ok? I can't see where there is anything else that needs to line in a certain place on the rocker panel? Brian

the rocker needs to go in so the fender gap to rocker is correct
you need the door installed & fitting the cab perfectly first to get the proper gap from bottem of door to top of rocker & so the in & out positioning is right
allso i use weld through primer on all inside areas of the cab & rocker so when your done you dont have bare welded steel trapped inside were you might not be able to get a corrosion ressisance coating the key to long lasting repair is to seal the metal on all sides from air water etc..