Project 5 - Rocker Panel Mount Repair
Applicable Years: C3
Skill Level: 2 Wrenches
Tools required: Sockets, ratchet, wrenches, screwdrivers, drill, mini die-grinder
Time required: 2 hours
Parts source: Corvette Central
The rattle of loose rocker-panel moldings on '70-'82 Corvettes is a problem that can be really annoying due to the noise it creates on these C3s. Corvette Central offers an inexpensive (less than $30) and effective repair kit that cures this problem and is so simple to do that even the mechanically inept can make this repair successfully. The project car is my '74 driver and, since this car has Hooker headers with bundle-of-snakes sidepipes, it will serve well as a worst-case scenario. Start to finish, it shouldn't take you more than two hours to do this project.
The components of the rocker-molding...
The components of the rocker-molding mount repair kit are shown here. The brass insert is secured to the rocker with the nut, and the black screw holds the molding on by threading it into the insert.
The first step is to remove...
The first step is to remove any screws that are holding the molding in place and then remove the molding itself.
If you have aftermarket side...
If you have aftermarket side exhausts, loosening the mounts makes more working room available. It's not necessary to remove the exhausts entirely, however, since loosening the mounting bolts will gain you a couple of additional inches for access.
As you can see here, one of...
As you can see here, one of the original mounting screws has rusted into the chassis rail under the rocker panel; the head is off the screw, and it was painted over rather than extracted and replaced by a previous owner. This stump will have to be removed.
After removing any remaining...
After removing any remaining screws or stumps, use a 3/8-inch bit to drill (and enlarge) the original mounting holes in the rocker panel. Push the brass inserts into them, and secure them from the rear of the rocker panel with the supplied nuts. Be careful not to overtighten them, as the brass is soft and will shear in half if you do.
It became clear why this repair...
It became clear why this repair hadn't been done before when I tried unsuccessfully to remove the screw stump using a pair of Vise-Grips, which only succeeded in nibbling away at the stump. A Dremel with a stone-grinding bit was used to grind it flush; then the remainder of the stump was drilled out.
Here's the rocker panel with...
Here's the rocker panel with the new inserts installed, ready for the sidepipes to be secured prior to installing the molding. Repeat these procedures on the opposite side of the car, and you're done.