rocker panel trash

[gennybro]

The rocker panel on my jeep has this flimsy sheet of metal on it,and I want to replace it with diamond plate.My question is, is this thing glued on,what is the best way to remove it. Also in the pic ya will see a spot that is rusted underneth this item,this seems to be a common place on a jeep to rust, I was curious as to the cause of this particular area haveing a problem. Thanks!

[gennybro]

went ahead and tore into it today,didnt get any responses.So figured no one else had a clue about it. found out it was glued on, kinda figured that. took a couple of hours to get the darn glue off,used a putty knife and a propane torch to get it off. Got a big ole hole I gotta fix,figure on useing fiberglass and than cover it up with the diamond plate. Still puzzled as to why jeeps rust in that particular spot.

[superj]

i figured it was glued but you had already asked and took care of it your self.

i think they rust there because that is where the water drips in after rain, down the wall right there. at least that is where mine runs down. then it sits and collects on the floor in that corner

[TLCJ5]

There is a reinforcing brace running from the cowl to the floor just in front of the door opening...moisture gets between the brace & the body & causes rust.Be sure to reinforce the body there if the brace is rusted out because otherwise the body will crack from excessive flexing at that point.

[gennybro]

thanks for the info,brace isnt rusted through,but I might tack on an additional piece of metal to it.

[Bounty__Hunter]

I've never seen thin metal glued to the rockers before, somebody's poor attempt at covering a problem spot. You should cut the rust out and treat the bare metal before glassing it in and covering it.

Look for some used Rubicon rocker guards if you like the diamond plate look.

[jps4jeep]

cut it out will elminate the problem, covering it up is just that, covering it up. I had the same rust issue on my YJ, I ended up just boat siding.

[gennybro]

I'm gonna cut all the cancer out and fiberglass it,I guess that would be the best way to do it,then put the diamond plate over top of that. I'm not to crazy about the diamond plate,it had the diamond plate on the back corners when I bought it,thought it looked tacky. But with it on the rocker panels also,I think it might look ok. Eventually I want to put rock sliders allached to the frame that will match the bumper. I'm open to any other ideas anyone might have on what to do with it,thanks.

[Robert_Stephens]

Looks good. On VEX, I glued the 3/16ths thick plate and bolted it 11 times on each side. Enough so I could use it to lift and jack the Jeep with it. And tough enough so when I come down on it, it does not wrinkle or bend-- or rather, it supports the entire weight of the Jeep on the side like that.

Hope that is helpful.



Robert

[gennybro]

Havent gotten it done yet,maybe get to it this weekend. I purchased 1/8 diamond plate didn't think about structural quality when buying it, I'll post some pics when I get er done.