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how hard is it to remove the rocker panels on the c5 corvette once its stripped? What adheres it to the frame and door molding? Im trying to get a replacement locally i found a good car if only the guy that owns it we both down know how to remove it like the salvage yards. Was picking up an air bag sunvisors, c5 heat shield and seen he had the frame down to rocker panel molding. His are in better condition and i think the same color red. Any help is appreciated we're trying to figure out how to remove the rocker panel so i could possibly purchase it for a later project. Mine need fiberglass repair at the front most ends of the rocker panels where they slip under the fenders. His are perfect. Whats the best way to remove these and ive seen rocker panel molding repair pieces for c5s that look similar to what im talking about the very most front part as seen in pictures.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Feb 24, 2022 at 09:09 PM.
Mine is a rebuilt title not sure if they had got damaged in a front end collision. Right here where they go under the fenders they're damaged on both sides not much just the 1" part that extends under fenders. Do you know what material it is fiberglass some straw mesh white type of material and whats the best body filler to repair these with. I circled where mine are damaged. They sell c5 rocker panel molding repairs which looks like those stepped down pieces but cant confirm from black and white pictures. Heres where mine are damaged the drivers side has this same slight issue as passenger side. But from 20ft 50ft 50yards the car looks nice 20footer. Would you happen to know if the other upper piece is on top of the rocker panels and the rivvets would need to be drilled out to remove the whole panel or panels? Mine also has a slight crack in the structure on the passenger side hard to notice. If its possible id like to have it as a later project to go with the car as paint matches and if ever do get to that repair. Ill try to get pictures of mine up close. Thats if i can et a good price on it we're both trying to figure out how to remove it without damaging it in perfect condition where it sits. The top panel is adhesived too not sure if that needs removed first but yes i bet theres tones of adhesive globs somewhere under the panel lines and best left to a professional be upwards of 1500$ rocker replace. What is the going price on these rocker panels 200-300$ on ebay i think i saw.
Any idea what these rocker repair moldings go to on the rocker panel if you could circle the correct place on one of the images i attached it would help me alot ive been wondering where these go. 97-04 Rocker Panel Repair Kit (ND) (corvettecentral.com)
They're not impossible to remove without damaging them, but they're the next best thing to it.
As others have said, they're glued on with body/frame adhesive. This stuff is TOUGH. When I removed my damaged inner fender the glue stayed on the car and so did the back side of the fiberglass fender liner. Unfortunately you're working against some super tough glue PLUS ~20 year old fiberglass that doesn't have as much flex as it might have a decade ago.
According to Dino from Dino's Corvette Salvage, you need a heat gun, a flat-bladed pry bar, and your best rosary beads (or cuss words) to get it off. Heat the outside of the panel with the gun, taking care not to burn it. Work the pry bar underneath the panel and gently twist it to break away the glue. Don't try to move it too far away from the body of the car or it will break. Work the pry bar as deep into the back of the panel as it will reach, and repeat from a different edge.
When thinking of this I've wondered if an oscillating saw tool would work to cut most of the adhesive since it seems to be mostly between the rocker and the bottom of the frame.
Forget those pre-made rocker repair pieces. I have a pair. You want them? They don't line up with anything on my car and probably not yours. I don't know who's car they match. I wish them luck.
My passenger side rocker is missing the piece to which the fender attaches. ( How's that for tortured sentence construction? Jane Austin would be proud.)
You are supposed to use SMC body adhesive as a body filler and attachment glue. It's like Bondo on steroids. Real gorilla snot. $75.00 a quart. You need a thimble full. It also has strict sell-by-date and use-by-dates. Kiss your $75.00 goodbye.
I use Marine JB Weld and if necessary fiberglass wallboard repairing tape. It's a mesh of fiberglass - like a window screen. JB Weld is impervious to and sticks to everything. The addition of fiberglass mesh makes it tougher than depleted uranium.
Clean and scratch the end of your rocker panel and use the above mixture to build up what you need. You're going to cover most of it with the fender anyway.
After it's dry, sand down and just use Bondo and body glaze. Prime, basecoat, clearcoat and polish.
A person would have to be on their knees or on their back to see this part of your car. I would hope they would be too busy to notice the joint between the fender and rocker. Or they'd be too embarrassed to mention it.
Are you saying the aftermarket rocker panels they sell for 700$ arent exact fit or the rocker repair moldings where the fenders bolt to dont work. How do you attach them. Thats the only thing really wrong with my car is both front lower rocker moldings that the fenders bolt too. Its a good 20 footer. The hood has one corner cracked off is there anyway to epoxy or repair a nice triangle end and are the repair mouldings easy to fit to the rockers? About how much you expect to pay a body person to attached the 50$ set of rocker repair mouldings? The drivers side is perfect just the front moulding piece and one smal crack the passenger side the same but at the front. Looks like a rat ate thru them. those 50$ mouldings are the correct pieces to repair this job correct?
I can almost GUARANTEE you're going to cause more damage trying to remove those rockers and have the finished product look worse than if you just patched and repaired them on the car. That damage isn't that big of a deal, and certainly isn't worth the risk from pulling them off the car. Use the fiberglass impregnated bondo, shape it, paint it, and forget the damage was ever there
I was referring to the little grey rocker repair parts. I don't believe they address your problem.
Even if you figure out how to install them you still have to deal with the outside of the rocker panel. That's what's showing. The bottoms of the fenders can be drilled and attached to the frame with some washers to get a good body line.
That hood is going to be a biotch. I would make a mold of that spot from someone else's hood and build a repair piece. It has to be reinforced from behind with something - aluminum, titanium, trellium. Or go to a body man and throw money at him.
I hear Evercoat makes good SMC resin and body fillers. I use their regular fiberglass products for my boat. For the hood repair use real SMC repair products. For the rocker panel repair it's up to you. This ain't Bitchin Rides.
Tiger Hair is a polyester based filler containing fiberglass strands. We used to call it something-else hair, but the point is it hardens like rock to fill odd sized holes and shapes. Now you’re not going to need a gallon, and there’s other brands. A marine hardware store is a good place to find stuff like this.
Just globe it in, let it kick off, and grind off to shape. Then a thin coat of bondo, etc and prep for paint.
Fiberglass work is messy sticky, but it’s really not difficult on some small pieces like your looking at.
Forget those pre-made rocker repair pieces. I have a pair. You want them? They don't line up with anything on my car and probably not yours. I don't know who's car they match. I wish them luck.
My passenger side rocker is missing the piece to which the fender attaches. ( How's that for tortured sentence construction? Jane Austin would be proud.)
You are supposed to use SMC body adhesive as a body filler and attachment glue. It's like Bondo on steroids. Real gorilla snot. $75.00 a quart. You need a thimble full. It also has strict sell-by-date and use-by-dates. Kiss your $75.00 goodbye.
I use Marine JB Weld and if necessary fiberglass wallboard repairing tape. It's a mesh of fiberglass - like a window screen. JB Weld is impervious to and sticks to everything. The addition of fiberglass mesh makes it tougher than depleted uranium.
Clean and scratch the end of your rocker panel and use the above mixture to build up what you need. You're going to cover most of it with the fender anyway.
After it's dry, sand down and just use Bondo and body glaze. Prime, basecoat, clearcoat and polish.
A person would have to be on their knees or on their back to see this part of your car. I would hope they would be too busy to notice the joint between the fender and rocker. Or they'd be too embarrassed to mention it.
Im interested in repairing this part myself. Im familiar with bondo and sanding on older classic cars but have never messed with fiberglass. You happen to know if the rockers are 100% fiberglass, fiberglass resin and what body filler would work on attempting to fill in the damaged area which would require sanding and possible paint match repair? is it ok to repair fiberglass with bondo or is fiberglass resin repair the best way to attempt repairing these? The rocker repair moldings they sell for roughly 50$ are these exact damaged areas seen on my rocker panels? how hard are they to repair and are they simply layed over the current rocker panel or would need the stock rockers require cutting and then attaching these with fiberglass resin body filler? My right fender has the screw just hanging as the rocker molding is busted in that area and the passenger fender is just broken off in a cm sqaure where the old fender screw was. Its not perfect but i think can be repaired.
Im interested in repairing this part myself. Im familiar with bondo and sanding on older classic cars but have never messed with fiberglass. You happen to know if the rockers are 100% fiberglass, fiberglass resin and what body filler would work on attempting to fill in the damaged area which would require sanding and possible paint match repair? is it ok to repair fiberglass with bondo or is fiberglass resin repair the best way to attempt repairing these? The rocker repair moldings they sell for roughly 50$ are these exact damaged areas seen on my rocker panels? how hard are they to repair and are they simply layed over the current rocker panel or would need the stock rockers require cutting and then attaching these with fiberglass resin body filler? My right fender has the screw just hanging as the rocker molding is busted in that area and the passenger fender is just broken off in a cm sqaure where the old fender screw was. Its not perfect but i think can be repaired.
I haven't done body work on my Corvette (not yet, still waiting for my new fenders) but I have done body work on a Fiero, which uses the same fiberglass/SMC construction. The short answer to your adhesion question is YES; however, as with most things surface prep is key. Use either some very rough (60gr or coarser) sand paper, or a grinding disc to rough up the area beyond the repair. This will give a much better surface for the bondo to adhere to. Also use denatured alcohol or similar fiberglass-safe solvent to be sure to remove ALL traces of dust and especially oil and wax. One you have a rough, clean surface the bondo will stick just fine.
The repair piece looks like you maybe are to glue it behind the existing rocker to give a new piece to attach the fender to. But then you might have to cut off the step at the end of the rocker and then glue that piece inside the rocker or they might expect you to cut off the end of the rocker and butt-patch that piece onto the end of the existing rocker.
The panels are SMC, not traditional fiberglass. Both use similar repair techniques though. The biggest thing people doing repairs on that type of panel for the first time do wrong is not feathering the old panel so the new material has enough attachment area that it will hold and not crack or break off. As an example, on your fender you can't just goop filler material onto the end of the break and form a new corner and expect it to hold. You have to feather the new material at least 3-4 inches into the hood, preferably with some glass matting and resin used as part of the repair.
Well my did ended up purchasing the 02 corvette in the picture above complete with title. He think he can get it running as the frame is straight and clean title. The guys selling it with frame what seen above top photos, title, decklid, doors, targa top, rear quarters and rear bumper, tailights in good shape and most of interior dash, instrument panel, hud and door panels. He thinks he may be able to rebuild it maybe convert it to 6 speed car. Would just need to find front fenders, hood, bumper, pcm and piece it back together. The car was stripped to have driveline parts a-arms drivetrain engine axles used on a factory 5 gtm supercar. Its same red as mine. It was 1500$ frame and title or 2500$ with all the panels, interior just needs front end parts a-arms, fenders hood and bumper. Has rack and pinion both front rear cradles transverse springs but no hubs or axle were all used on the gtm 5 supercar.
Im just going to try to repair my current rockers does anyone think the 50$ rocker mouldings would work or are you suggesting 40 grit sandpaper and bondo, or mesh overlay with fiberglass and sanding them straight vs trying to fit the repair pieces they sell for 54$
The repair piece looks like you maybe are to glue it behind the existing rocker to give a new piece to attach the fender to. But then you might have to cut off the step at the end of the rocker and then glue that piece inside the rocker or they might expect you to cut off the end of the rocker and butt-patch that piece onto the end of the existing rocker.
The panels are SMC, not traditional fiberglass. Both use similar repair techniques though. The biggest thing people doing repairs on that type of panel for the first time do wrong is not feathering the old panel so the new material has enough attachment area that it will hold and not crack or break off. As an example, on your fender you can't just goop filler material onto the end of the break and form a new corner and expect it to hold. You have to feather the new material at least 3-4 inches into the hood, preferably with some glass matting and resin used as part of the repair.
What is your take on repairing the factory rockers that are damaged up front. The aftermarket mouldings have the front fender screw? How much do you think a professional would charge simply to repair the fiberglass rockers or is it something i should do with fiberglass resin? its not but a 1"x3" fiberglass section that needs repair on both sides.
So repairing these would require rough grit 40 course sand paper and smc repair tube? is this what youre talking about or is this smc adhesive? Do you have the correct product or material that i should use to repair the front rockers?
Rocker panel removal
