Rocker Panel Repair Odyssey

[LadybugEwa]

My rocker panels have beeen an on-going pain. One of Ladybug's previous 2 owners (both guys) was a curb rider.
Both sides were damaged when I 'rescued' her from a slow death at the Kia *gasp* dealer's lot, where she
languished for over a year. Every day for the last 16 months, I looked at that damage and I felt so bad for her.
But I had a PLAN. Took me a while to put away the money for the job. Then I educated myself on this forum
about just what has to be done to them. Recently, I was introduced to my boyfriend's father's friend - Mike.
Mike is recently retired, and has been doing body repairs for longer than I've been alive. Waaaay longer
So, I drove out to Madoc, Ontario with my boyfriend, we left Ladybug in Mike's capable hands and camped
for 3 days. 2 birds, 1 stone - I camping It turned out great! The curve of the rockers
is exactly right, and the color match perfect. He even painted both the rear fenders
(they had some scratches) and the dulled driver-side mirror. He polished out her scratches, and waxed
till she blinded me Check it out!

[marvins_dad]

Yeay!!!!
Looks great!
Glad you found a capable and affordable guy!

[Breez]

WOW!!! Thanks for the great story! I am so glad you saved her!!!

[EvilinaDM101]

YAY! She looks great!! Thanks for the wonderful story! You're a hero!!

[LadybugEwa]

Thanks you guys I forgot to add, Mike also removed the vinyl 'protectors' from the spots where rocker panels meet the fenders. They weren't protecting poop. Only gathering dirt. You can see these in the b4 pics. I'm so happy! Now she looks ready for some sweet new rims. Check out the red BSA rims I'm drooling over:http://newbeetle.org/forums/showthre...393#post175393 -> post#14

[JimmyD]

Very cool! I have a bend under my drivers side rocker that I'd love to have fixed.

By the way, those wheels are going to look SWEET on your ride!

[captbp]

They look great! I've got a couple of dings in my rocker panels also from the previous owner. Got a neighbor who has a body shop and is going to take care of them soon. Right now he's refinishing my (new to me) Rave wheels.

[LadybugEwa]

Originally Posted by captbp

They look great! I've got a couple of dings in my rocker panels also from the previous owner. Got a neighbor who has a body shop and is going to take care of them soon. Right now he's refinishing my (new to me) Rave wheels.

Thanks
Make sure you get him to spray some anti-rust compound inside the rockers if he opens up the cavities. Saves a lot of pain in the long run.
We'll need pics of your new wheels and rockers soon

[callisto9]

looks awesome! i hear ya on the rocker panel damage - most beetles i see (including mine) have damage there.

congrats on getting the work done...cheap and well-done!

[Oyveychris]

Looks great! I am very jealous! I too have a bad rocker from a previous owner...People who don't love bugs shouldnt be able to own them!

[bluebee]

I too have damage on one of my rocker panels. It wasn't from a previous owner though, it was my own fault. I still love my Beetle. I am hoping to fix it one day.

[DannyRandomState]

Inspiration to get Sunshine's rocker fixed! i was quoted 250. I just need to get her there.

The rockers look sweet!

[LadybugEwa]

Thanks, Danny I'm happy to report that they are holding up great No rust or fading.
Thinking I should get the front end painted by the same guy before he gets too old

[02newmag]

sorry to reopen this thread, but can these be repaired. i hear that sills cant be pulled and need to be replaced with a new one, is this true. im thinking of getting a slide hammer, drilling a small hole and using a hook to pull the dent. do you have any idea on if this will work, or is the metal too thick or something not making it possible.
any help is much appreciated, i hate walking out and seeing it!

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by 02newmag

sorry to reopen this thread, but can these be repaired. i hear that sills cant be pulled and need to be replaced with a new one, is this true. im thinking of getting a slide hammer, drilling a small hole and using a hook to pull the dent. do you have any idea on if this will work, or is the metal too thick or something not making it possible.
any help is much appreciated, i hate walking out and seeing it!

I am going to do just that... When i do it i will do a DIY to help all who want to do it them selves.... Too hot and humid here right now though.... Stay tuned...

[mlt]

I would like to know how better to cover up severe scratches at the bottom and light crack in plastic skin. Mine is not deformed badly. I'd like just to prevent rust. Guy at local auto parts recommended application of rubberizing (foaming?) rust converter (or something) and forget about it since it is not visible at the very bottom and cover up crack in plastic skin with touch-up pain.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see your DIY :-)

[mlt]

I noticed that many rocker panel threads are kind of incomplete :-) Almost in every case body shop and replacement is suggested. Nevertheless, I'm not ready for body shop.

What kind of body filler is recommended on rockers to get thickness over metal? Mine panel is not dented much, but the stuff on top of metal came off and rust stepped in. I removed loose stuff and treated it with permatex rust treatment/primer so now it is totally black. But I don't want to paint right over and get bump along the edge.

I stopped by local parts store. They have tons of various bondo products. The problem is that some of them should be applied to bare metal, and others are for small repairs. And I noticed that some ppl over internet don't like bondo.

Is there any time proven body filler to put on rust treated rockers before painting?

[mlt]

Did anybody use 3M Rocker panel spray (p/n 05911)? I can't find any information how thick the result can be? It looks very promising since it is designed for rockers and provides textured anti-chip protection.

[Wingnut_rb]

Originally Posted by mlt

I noticed that many rocker panel threads are kind of incomplete :-) Almost in every case body shop and replacement is suggested. Nevertheless, I'm not ready for body shop.

What kind of body filler is recommended on rockers to get thickness over metal? Mine panel is not dented much, but the stuff on top of metal came off and rust stepped in. I removed loose stuff and treated it with permatex rust treatment/primer so now it is totally black. But I don't want to paint right over and get bump along the edge.

I stopped by local parts store. They have tons of various bondo products. The problem is that some of them should be applied to bare metal, and others are for small repairs. And I noticed that some ppl over internet don't like bondo.

Is there any time proven body filler to put on rust treated rockers before painting?

You don't want to put any filler on any thicker than about 1/4 inch. And to get good adhesion, you need to put it on bare metal after a good roughing up with 60-80 grit sand paper that is free of ANY rust. They call rust cancer for a reason, if you don't get it all out, it will come back. If you have a very thin coat that needs applied, you need a finishing putty, most ppl call it "icing". I would go to an auto paint store to buy it. Icing can usually be put over an etching primer that has great adhesion qualities. The key to any body work is the preparation that you put into it. The better you prep it, the better it will turn out and the longer it will last.

[mlt]

1/4" is far more than my expectations. The existing coating looks like is not thicker than 1 mm or so.

I don't want to grind it to bare metal. I have no tools, and it is full of rust already as it turned out.

Right now, I have picked up "Bondo Professional Glazing & Spot Putty" (# 801). It says it should work on primed surface, though instruction mentions only "stone chips, paint scratches, and minor dents" it says nothing about 5"x2" area. However I'm thinking about returning it back since unopened. The more I surf internet the more I tend to think that some paintable textured undercoating should be enough without any putty body filler.

I came across "Wurth SKS Stone Guard", but I have no clue where to purchase it in a retail store nearby.