Disappointed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Disappointed
I am somewhat disappinted in what I found. I had my car up on some ramps the other day for the first time. I have only had this car since August and it is my first C5. I received a lot of info from CF on what to look for when buying a C5. Checklist after checklist. No one told me to look under the freakin rocker panels. What I found was an ungly site. I would consider them ruined and in need of being replaced. If I had known to look there than I probably would have negotiated the price down or passed on the car. I understand that to replace these is about $1800.00 per side. I don't normally drive in the rain so the only water the fiberglass is sucking up is from the weekly washing I give. The folks that were very helpful to me by providing checklist should add rocker panel inspection. I was a little overwhelmed when shopping and the lsit were a great help in me finding one without a lot of work. When I moved out of my C3 the only thing I said was that my next vette would have a great body not requiring any work. I was disappointed to say the least at my find.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: Burlington Ontario
Sorry to hear. However you cant blame the members for missing this. You should always have your car inspected at a shop before purchase.
Im sure if you did this they would find this problem.
U'd pay them tops hour labour but look what kind of problem you would have avoided. I have my own shop with licensed techs. I always ask the seller to bring the car down to me to have my own guys inspect before any purchase.
Rod
Im sure if you did this they would find this problem.
U'd pay them tops hour labour but look what kind of problem you would have avoided. I have my own shop with licensed techs. I always ask the seller to bring the car down to me to have my own guys inspect before any purchase.
Rod
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Some pictures would be helpful!
I would not blame the Corvette members here for this miss, with you being a previous Corvette owner (C3) I would assume you would have known to look everywhere or take it to a Vehicle Inspection Station who would of notified you of the wear
Thanks,Matt
I would not blame the Corvette members here for this miss, with you being a previous Corvette owner (C3) I would assume you would have known to look everywhere or take it to a Vehicle Inspection Station who would of notified you of the wear
Thanks,Matt
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Do-It-Yourself project..
What color is your C5? You can seal the raw material with Duplicolor spray paint, or you can go futher by smoothing the area first.
My rockers had some deep gouges (Torch Red). After hearing the cost, I repaired them myself. Put the car on a lift and applied a skim coat of Bondo, lots of block sanding, and then used Duplicolor in GM Torch Red. It looks almost perfect!
I had to order the paint from Autozone. Usually they don't have specific colors on the shelf, but they are in the catalogue. Be sure to mask/newspaper the entire area when ready to paint.
My rockers had some deep gouges (Torch Red). After hearing the cost, I repaired them myself. Put the car on a lift and applied a skim coat of Bondo, lots of block sanding, and then used Duplicolor in GM Torch Red. It looks almost perfect!
I had to order the paint from Autozone. Usually they don't have specific colors on the shelf, but they are in the catalogue. Be sure to mask/newspaper the entire area when ready to paint.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Sounds like you got a good deal of information already., the forum is very helpful, but at the end of the day...who is buying the car, us or you?
You had a C3 before you know vettes ride somewhat low to the ground etc.. why would you not check underneath.Not trying to be a dick...but this is your problem and responsibility not the forum.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You know - when I first read the OP's post, I kind of took it as a blame game...blaming the people that gave him FREE advice for his problem, but when I re-read it...I think he is posting information and telling people about his bad experience so that someone else might benefit by looking at the rocker panels.
To the OP - sorry for your troubles, and good luck with the repairs.
To the OP - sorry for your troubles, and good luck with the repairs.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Sounds like you got a good deal of information already., the forum is very helpful, but at the end of the day...who is buying the car, us or you?
You had a C3 before you know vettes ride somewhat low to the ground etc.. why would you not check underneath.Not trying to be a dick...but this is your problem and responsibility not the forum.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
You know - when I first read the OP's post, I kind of took it as a blame game...blaming the people that gave him FREE advice for his problem, but when I re-read it...I think he is posting information and telling people about his bad experience so that someone else might benefit by looking at the rocker panels.
To the OP - sorry for your troubles, and good luck with the repairs.
To the OP - sorry for your troubles, and good luck with the repairs.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Ya, that is one place I didn't look either. My rocker pannels were pretty scrapped up. I had them fixed, but when I lowered my car, really low, I scraped them, so I will fix them myself now. After I fix them, I'm getting me some rocker protectors/plates form CCA or one of the forum vendors.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Good Idea, thanks
. I have some NBM in a duplicolor can too, and I can get them at the local autoparts store when I run out.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
What color is your C5? You can seal the raw material with Duplicolor spray paint, or you can go futher by smoothing the area first.
My rockers had some deep gouges (Torch Red). After hearing the cost, I repaired them myself. Put the car on a lift and applied a skim coat of Bondo, lots of block sanding, and then used Duplicolor in GM Torch Red. It looks almost perfect!
I had to order the paint from Autozone. Usually they don't have specific colors on the shelf, but they are in the catalogue. Be sure to mask/newspaper the entire area when ready to paint.
My rockers had some deep gouges (Torch Red). After hearing the cost, I repaired them myself. Put the car on a lift and applied a skim coat of Bondo, lots of block sanding, and then used Duplicolor in GM Torch Red. It looks almost perfect!
I had to order the paint from Autozone. Usually they don't have specific colors on the shelf, but they are in the catalogue. Be sure to mask/newspaper the entire area when ready to paint.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,541
Likes: 24,831
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Sorry about the damage you found - sure can ruin an ownership experience. I'm not sure what replacement of the rocker panels will run, but I would think that $1800 per side is on the high side. Might want to check around if you decide to do the replacement.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
For the love of god check the rockers!
I did the same thing & overlooked it. My only comfort is that I can't see the damage when I look at the car. I have to get on my hands and knees (insert joke here) to see it. Maybe you can install rocker rails, not sure what they're correctly called, but it should cover up the damage, and you'll prevent additional damage to them. Do a search on rocker rails, I think CCA sales them.
I did the same thing & overlooked it. My only comfort is that I can't see the damage when I look at the car. I have to get on my hands and knees (insert joke here) to see it. Maybe you can install rocker rails, not sure what they're correctly called, but it should cover up the damage, and you'll prevent additional damage to them. Do a search on rocker rails, I think CCA sales them.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
its called "rocker panel skid plates" sold by a vendor here, CCA. I need to get some too. But I'm not rich. Here's the link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-from-cca.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-from-cca.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 16
From: Katy Tx
One good thing about it - first time you hear that awful scrape,
you'll know it was already damaged and you didn't "ruin" it . As
someone said, you can't see it from the side anyway - drive and enjoy!
you'll know it was already damaged and you didn't "ruin" it . As
someone said, you can't see it from the side anyway - drive and enjoy!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 9
From: O'Fallon MO
Please don't be one of those guys that put the stick on nonsense on the side. Stupid people might not know, but a vette owner will most likely see you as ...... I'm not gonna be able to be nice on this one so I'll just let it be.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
its called "rocker panel skid plates" sold by a vendor here, CCA. I need to get some too. But I'm not rich. Here's the link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-from-cca.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-from-cca.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Yes you can, and they can be fully functional.
Please don't be one of those guys that put the stick on nonsense on the side. Stupid people might not know, but a vette owner will most likely see you as ...... I'm not gonna be able to be nice on this one so I'll just let it be.
Please don't be one of those guys that put the stick on nonsense on the side. Stupid people might not know, but a vette owner will most likely see you as ...... I'm not gonna be able to be nice on this one so I'll just let it be.
Never! Those should be outlawed!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 4
From: Northern VA
It has some scratches on the rockers....the car is ruined.
What is the big deal about some scratches you can't even see? Unless its a show car who cares?
This being said my car is pretty low and i'm sure i have a few scratches. Unless the car you bought went hill hopping i can't see how badly the rockers could be scratched that you would need to buy new ones?
What is the big deal about some scratches you can't even see? Unless its a show car who cares?
This being said my car is pretty low and i'm sure i have a few scratches. Unless the car you bought went hill hopping i can't see how badly the rockers could be scratched that you would need to buy new ones?