New guy with rust issues

[72wanabe]

Hi All,
I found your site while searching the web looking for help with the rust on my “new to me” 72 GMC Jimmy. I have been looking for over 3 years for one that I could afford. I had little to spend so I knew I needed a project. There was rust that I could see but it did not look that bad. I could see that the passenger’s side floor was rusted and the rocker panel was eaten away at the front and need to be replaced. After opening up the rocker I see that there is a lot more rust than I thought. I am hoping that someone has an exploded view of the back of the door because I am really not sure how to move forward.

 

[Yukon Jack]

Welcome to the board - you definitely have a lot on your hands tackling that rust. There are a few threads floating around here on this subject and I'm sure a few of the boardmembers will chime in about your question.

 

[Greg72]

Welcome!

Check the "Might As Well" thread around post #718... I have some shots of the door jamb area on the striker side that might be helpful.

Definitely look into buying the "wrong" sheetmetal patch for the rocker area (the pickup truck one) it combines the outer floor section with the inner rocker panel as a single part. It will be a lot easier than using the Blazer-specific pieces that they make.

We're here to help, so just post up the specific questions you've got and I'm sure we can help you along.

 

[sponsoredbydad]

O-Boy I think I just saw those pictures in my old photo album. First thing is to brace the door area because the firewall will move and after all that cutting and welding you want those doors to align up. I did not do this and it became a bit of a problem for me. I also have some rust threads but Greg's are definably much more through. O-Yea Welcome

 

[72wanabe]

Thank you for the replies. I got interrupted when I started the first post and did not get a chance to get back to it till now. My biggest issue is I have not seen any one working on the below spots. I know Greg replaced this whole area but did not show the pictures in his post.
The Black line I added below is one spot I am not sure about. There is a brace there and it is rusted at the bottom. The quarter panel looks pretty good at this spot so I wanted to see if anyone has replaced the bottom of the brace under the black line.
Under the red circle the mount is rusted, but it does not look like it goes up that far. I am afraid that I am going to hear I need to open up the quarter panel to get to these areas.

** Greg I went and found #718 and that is the area that I am talking about above. Now it looks like you are not running a rocker box there. Is that part you replaced something you bought or did you make it?

Also if anyone has a lead on a good, complete hatch, please let me know.

 

[Greg72]

You might not be ready to hear this yet young Jedi.... but:

It's only metal.


There is no reason to be afraid of cutting that lower quarterpanel section out to see what is behind it. You have almost 0% chance that there is that much rust in the rocker area, but NONE in the lower quarterpanel. At this point, it is better to know what you really are dealing with and just get it fixed now. Welding the panel back afterwards won't take very long, and obviously you will be doing some painting regardless so it's not like you'd really avoid any steps......"Might As Well"™

I agree with previous comments to brace the door areas and/or leave the hardtop on during this repair. You are about to cut into a major structural part of the truck, and if things shift and you lose the correct dimensions during the repair, you'll never get the bodylines right, and the doors will never fit again.

How well are you set up for metal repair at this point? MIG welder, angle grinder, 3M Green tape, body hammers & dollies, clamps?

 

[bp71k5]

The Black line I added below is one spot I am not sure about. There is a brace there and it is rusted at the bottom.

I replaced that section on mine. LMC has the brace repair metal, but you can fab something pretty close that fits just as good. The lower quarter isn't that hard, just pick a good spot to make the seam that allows you to grind the welds down without wrecking it. I think I may have some pictures posted in here somewhere.