is the sheet metal less prone to rusting on the 70-72 vs late 70s? Did GM use better grade of sheet metal?
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
is the sheet metal less prone to rusting on the 70-72?
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
I think a lot of it is design, and some of it is steel, and or manufacturing practises. Until the 80's the inner parts of the body were bare unpainted steel. It was only in 87 or 88 they started to care a little and inner and outer parts were zinc coated, then primed and then painted.
The 67-72 stuff rusts just as bad from what I've seen.
In my experience it comes down to drainage, and properly deflecting road debris and moisture away from areas that can trap and hold that stuff.
Example...i replaced the rockers on my '81 Jimmy. No extreme measures at all for rust protection. I may have painted the outside of them with a rattle can. I never boxed them in like the factory did. 5 years go by, driven every winter and not a bubble...because with the rockers being open on the back there was nowhere for that corrosive crap to collect and create problems.
Rene
The 67-72 stuff rusts just as bad from what I've seen.
In my experience it comes down to drainage, and properly deflecting road debris and moisture away from areas that can trap and hold that stuff.
Example...i replaced the rockers on my '81 Jimmy. No extreme measures at all for rust protection. I may have painted the outside of them with a rattle can. I never boxed them in like the factory did. 5 years go by, driven every winter and not a bubble...because with the rockers being open on the back there was nowhere for that corrosive crap to collect and create problems.
Rene
In my neck off the woods (rust belt), the 67-72 trucks don't seem to be rusted as bad as the ones from the late 70's and 80's. Maybe it's because cance has already claimed the older ones. There are quite a few 73-80 trucks around here that you can almost see through. The older generation trucks are defenitly built with a heavier steel, painted or not it seems to hold up better.
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
from what ive seen the older sheetmetal was a lil thicker than on the newer blazers.my 72 is almost 40 years old and still is in decent shape for as long as its been alive.im just now replacing sheetmetal and i dont think this new stuff will hold up to a quarter of the time the original pieces did.if i could find stock replacment panels built in 72 id bet i could make this truck last anether lifetime when i got it done.the steel was a lot better grade in my opinion.my panels look to have been pained upon assymbly.unless its all overspray on the double inner panels from the outside and undernieth.
7387chevynut
Registered Member
The pre 72 trucks used a heavier gauge qaulity sheet metal, 73-up started using that recycled crap that was a thiner gauge.
In short.........through the past 40 years, GM has continued to get CHEAPER on qaulity in making its vehicles, while maintaing outragous prices for them. The crap they make now, truly are throw away vehicles, not meant to withstand the longevity of time.
In short.........through the past 40 years, GM has continued to get CHEAPER on qaulity in making its vehicles, while maintaing outragous prices for them. The crap they make now, truly are throw away vehicles, not meant to withstand the longevity of time.
Yup...5 spam posts so he could post up a url to some spam or virus or whatever.
Nuked, and recomendations made to da boss.
rene
Nuked, and recomendations made to da boss.
rene
73redblaze
1/2 ton status
what an ass
For a minute, I thought he talking a **** load of crap and the mods had to edit his post.Yup...5 spam posts so he could post up a url to some spam or virus or whatever.
Nuked, and recomendations made to da boss.
rene
That is what I think also. I don't have any proof but I think the pre 72 used thicker sheet metal also. I like the late 70's but wish GM used better sheet metal. I agree today the stuff is throw away. I was a t the dealer recently, only 65% of the parts are domestic. I don't like seeing it go this way.
I'm not even sure why this was a question.... of course early 70's vehicle had heavier sheetmetal... this is nothing new... sheetmetal started getting thinner in the 80's... when the big 3 started goofing around with galvanized metals.... an 80's GM truck panels don't compare to a 70...
your bonkers if you think you'll ever see the quality or beef of the early days... that died decades ago...
your bonkers if you think you'll ever see the quality or beef of the early days... that died decades ago...
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
The ads for the replacement camaro and chevelle bodies say that they use thicker, higher quality steel than the OEM bodies were. Not sure on that, but when I had my 74 nova still, that thing had some thick sheetmetal compared to whats on my POS grand am.
I find it ironic they claim to use thinner sheet metal to save weight and make the cars more fuel efficient...then things like power windows, locks, AC, etc etc all become standard equipment making the car or truck heavier again.
Even worse is the patch panels you get these days...even thinner than OEM was.
It was the reason I decided to use OEM steel and make my own panels and patches. It may not be as thick as the stuff in the 50's and 60's but it's a damn sight thicker than aftermarket off shore stuff.
Rene
Even worse is the patch panels you get these days...even thinner than OEM was.
It was the reason I decided to use OEM steel and make my own panels and patches. It may not be as thick as the stuff in the 50's and 60's but it's a damn sight thicker than aftermarket off shore stuff.Rene
I find it ironic they claim to use thinner sheet metal to save weight and make the cars more fuel efficient...then things like power windows, locks, AC, etc etc all become standard equipment making the car or truck heavier again.
Even worse is the patch panels you get these days...even thinner than OEM was.
Rene
I need to get some patch pannels also and was thinking about doing what you did. Find a rig someone is parting out and grind out the pannels I need. Still I would like to put on new rockers. Thoe may be hard to find in good condition used. What aftermarket pannels did you find that where to thin?
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
I had a truck, that short of the cab and hood was mainly the tinfoil thickness china replacemnt junk. All the original bed structure had rotted away pretty much and the bumper with help of some angle iron held the boxsides up. all this stuff was no more than 5 years old and it was just SHOT! both doors and fenders were rusted out and the rocker fell out when I was working on pulling the engine out.
