Rusted out rockers...

[BrentHamm]

I used search, and saw some posts, but did not find anyone that had already taken care of the problem.

My son just got a 2001 GTP. It is an excellent condition, one owner. But...i did realize the rusted out rockers. It is not visible from the sides, but from under you can see it. I looked under the front and read of the car, and the engine area..and was amazing how it had next to no rust. But i missed this rust. Arggh.

So..i see we can buy rockers on ebay, i think this needs inner and outer rockers? Is it a hard job for someone with a mig welder? My father in law has one, and does a fair amount of welding on the farm.

I feel so bad that i did not catch this problem before he bought his first car.

 

[Explicit_Spade]

If you have an experianced welder it will be failry easy, yet time consuming. If you can find an autobody repair guide for the grand prix, like alldata collision, it will have exact instructions on what to do.

 

[BrentHamm]

It looks like we would need to:
1) Take off lower side moulding
2) Take off front fender
3) At this point, can we see the parts that are rusted and remove them?

I cannot see any rust from the outside, even with the door open, but if i go underneath the car, then what is under the door is very rusty.

 

[Explicit_Spade]

It doesn't sound like the rust on your rockers is bad enough to need replacement. Its a common problem among Grand Prixs.

To be honest, I would leave it for now, and re-evaluate it in a year.

 

[BrentHamm]

I cannot pass safety out here.. We need to do that to liscence the car.

 

[dsmuts]

you can't have rust on your car to pass safety?^^^

 

[redlinepontiac]

por 15 it,

replacing is easy, but do one side at a time or the car will slightly sag.

 

[BrentHamm]

I guess the car does not have integrity with the rusted out part of the frame?

 

[Elite6]

pics?

If the rot ain't too bad 1)por-15 2)fiberglass holes 3) apply rubber rockerguard 4)Oilspray to death - that should by you quite a few years & will pass sfaety.

 

[redlinepontiac]

if your rockers are slightly rusted, you still have structual integrity,

but if they are so bad you can see carpet through the bottom, thats not good

 

[BrentHamm]

Well...it does not pass safety.

So, i am wondering, what the steps would to replace the rocker?

1) Take off lower side moulding
2) Take off front fender
3) At this point, can we see the parts that are rusted and remove them?

http://www.strongmanitoba.com/images/misc/gtp/Rocker1.jpg
http://www.strongmanitoba.com/images/misc/gtp/Rocker2.jpg
http://www.strongmanitoba.com/images/misc/gtp/Rocker3.jpg

 

[dsmuts]

Hell those aren't in to bad of shape, you should be able to patch then with some scrap metal.

 

[Flip]

Heres a few pics

 

[BrentHamm]

Ok, that helps...so.i can see where i can buy the outer rocker panal..not even sure i need it.. but this part here...
97-03 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2 DOOR ROCKER PANEL | eBay

But looks like there is an inner rocker panal? Maybe is called something else.

 

[Dtrick22]

Do the eBay parts actually fit well? and are they decent quality?

 

[BrentHamm]

I have no idea..was assuming they would. I will look around and see where else they are sold.

 

[16MustangVet]

Must know where you got all those parts for future referance!
Thanks on behalf of the entire forum!

 

[BrentHamm]

Inner rockers? http://www.partswebsite.com/gmparts...d=30190&subcatid=30862&section=128&type=parts
$60

Rocker Reinf http://www.partswebsite.com/gmparts...d=30190&subcatid=31780&section=128&type=parts
Not sure what these are.
$120

 

[BrentHamm]

Body shop just looked at the car...$2,000 he figures. Ouch.

 

[redlinepontiac]

grinder with cutoff wheel 80$, 450$ for used mig....have at it