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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 09:59 PM
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Default Hey Willcox

Any updates on the correct 70-77 rocker panels.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 03:35 PM
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Interested also
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 04:17 PM
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Nope.. They still don't fit... (shaking my head)

There is no set promise date either!

My suggestion would be start looking for a good used pair to restore.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 04:42 PM
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Hay is for horses
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 04:49 PM
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And grass is for people! I couldn't resist.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 04:59 PM
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Hi,
I really can't imagine that any manufacturer is going to pay for new tooling when the just "so-so" trim panels being made now are selling.
This is an example of someone making a part that's 'close' but not right; and many restorers accepting it since it's the only part available.
Besides the shape of the arch, the way each end is formed, (or not formed), is far from original too.
Ernie,
You mention restoring them... have you seen any that look original? All the restored panels I've seen have the surface too polished compared to the matte finish of the originals.
Again; this is why original panels (with tabs) in GREAT condition are hundreds and hundreds of dollars each.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
I really can't imagine that any manufacturer is going to pay for new tooling when the just "so-so" trim panels being made now are selling.
This is an example of someone making a part that's 'close' but not right; and many restorers accepting it since it's the only part available.
Besides the shape of the arch, the way each end is formed, (or not formed), is far from original too.
Ernie,
You mention restoring them... have you seen any that look original? All the restored panels I've seen have the surface too polished compared to the matte finish of the originals.
Again; this is why original panels (with tabs) in GREAT condition are hundreds and hundreds of dollars each.
Regards,
Alan
Here's mine:



Jack slipped when I was working on the car and tweaked the rocker panel bad. Got a set off of a 79 vette, had the paint removed and polished up. I'm sure a good aluminum polisher can figure it out if they have a decent spot to reference off of.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 05:25 PM
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Hi SR,
Yes, your panel looks nice in your picture.
To really give my opinion though, I'd want to see it close up!
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi SR,
Yes, your panel looks nice in your picture.
To really give my opinion though, I'd want to see it close up!
Regards,
Alan
Thanks Alan. I went to a special place here that uses the same anodizing process (sulfur anodizing) that GM used for these panels. I had them strip the (nearly) all black 79 panels I bought on eBay, polish the aluminum surface, anodizing and paint the rail. There's some little touches of overspray but when I set them next to the factory rockers, they looked nearly identical.

If you'd really like, I can get some close up photos at some point. I may even have them on my computer at home.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 06:01 PM
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If the vendors stop buying them the supply of bad rocker panels will dry up. Im sure there is someone out there with the skills to make accurate reproductions to the exact specifications to the originals.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by MotorHead
Hay is for horses
'Bout fell over laughing when I read that.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
Nope.. They still don't fit... (shaking my head)

There is no set promise date either!

My suggestion would be start looking for a good used pair to restore.
I admire your honesty.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
Nope.. They still don't fit... (shaking my head)

There is no set promise date either!

My suggestion would be start looking for a good used pair to restore.
Thats a real shame, In america you could get exact parts but that dont
exist anymore and no one has the ***** to make it right.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
I really can't imagine that any manufacturer is going to pay for new tooling when the just "so-so" trim panels being made now are selling.
This is an example of someone making a part that's 'close' but not right; and many restorers accepting it since it's the only part available.
Besides the shape of the arch, the way each end is formed, (or not formed), is far from original too.
Ernie,
You mention restoring them... have you seen any that look original? All the restored panels I've seen have the surface too polished compared to the matte finish of the originals.
Again; this is why original panels (with tabs) in GREAT condition are hundreds and hundreds of dollars each.
Regards,
Alan
Alan, the original rocker trim was cheaply flash chromed. I constantly look at my Home Depot sourced sliding shower door and it has the perfect type of plating on it. Made by a company in So-Cal, I should do some checking up on them as I have a few sets of panels that are in pretty decent condition with some rework. Maybe someone in Los Angles area knows of the industrial plater that does this process?
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 02:53 PM
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Hi S LT1,
Are you sure about that "flash chrome" plated?
I don't think they were plated.
I believe the whole idea of the anodizing was to protect the aluminium brite and matte finishes.
Regards,
Alan

Last edited by Alan 71; Jan 27, 2012 at 03:00 PM.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 02:59 PM
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Hi O7,
Judging by the stacks of rocker trim panels at many vendors at Carlisle, it'll be years before the supply is used up.
The only marketing ploy I can see would be to charge so much more for the 'new version' that the existig trim seems like a good deal and will continue to sell until the supply runs out.
It's sort of like the 3 outer door handles that are available now. It depends what your goal is as to which one you buy. If you're just putting a car together to sell, the $15 handles are fine.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 03:09 PM
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It's been too long that I saw the original ones on my car, these are reproductions, it's not perfect but not that bad either?
Nick
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 04:24 PM
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Hi Nick,
They DO look good.
It's that area starting about 6-8" in front of the rear of the door and going rearward that Tom as been asking about.
Regards,
Alan
Car looks TERRIFIC!
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 03:40 PM
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Default How much are used ones going for?

How much are excellant used 70-77 rocker panels going for?
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 05:07 PM
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Hi l68,
The trim panels with the additional tabs are considerably more valuable than the later panels.
I believe the tabs continued at least through model year 72, but I'm unsure how much longer.
I guess it also depends on each person's definition of 'excellent condition'.
So either $, $$, or $$$.
Regards,
Alan

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