[bigbronco85]

Hey, as many of us all know, Broncos rust and rot out like crazy. I was wondering if anyone has gone about replacing their entire rear quarterpanels. I don't mean a small patch panel for the wheelwell only, I mean the whole 6 X 2.5 foot section of metal that goes from the bottom of the cap to the bottom of the truck!

I also found holes in the floor of my truck. Not in the passenger footwells or anything, but the rocker panels. I pulled up the aluminum trim/kick panels on the bottoms of the door openings (on the inside of the door when they are closed), and found it to be rotted to hell under there. The little space was all full of rusticles and sand, there were holes going straight through. There are holes under the carpet where the seatbelt spools are anchored as well, at the bottom of the B-pillar, on the floor. Can these be fixed?

My whole truck needs new body panels, fenders and stuff anyway, but I am more worried that these holes will spread inward and make the truck unusable! I don't want to be seeing the road going by next to my feet or anything, LOL. If I buy rocker panels, will they fix this? The holes seem to be an inch in from the inner edge of the rocker panel. I would advise all of you to check this out on your trucks as well, 3 screws hold down the little aluminum panel, you take them out and pull it up.

I hope you guys can help!

Later

 

[fordman]

your floor probably can be replace but it will be hard i had to replace my floor win i fawned a 7" long hole on the passenger side. and nun of the people that wire in my truck didn't tell me it was there

 

[bigbronco85]

OK

My floor doesn't actually have any holes in it, only the rocker panels do. It's good to know that if there were holes in my floor that i could fix it. I'll prolly leave the issue of the rusted rocker panels to a professional though, I dont wanna mess it all up!

later

 

[remat457]

Have you tried Autofab in CA? Seems like they have entire replacement qtr panels (pretty spendy if I remember right though)..They have a website but I don't remember the URL offhand...


regards,
reg

'83 Big Bronco stock except for 4 x Holley

 

[2mrchio]

If you want fiberglass there is Autofab. Sheet metal panels are available at Broncograveyard.com.

 

[JuanPolk]

:damack:
When I first got my 1986 XLT I thought that it had been left in the rain or a flood, and so I went about completely removing all rust from the vehicle with Naval Jelly. Rust is biological and will grow again if any rust is left on the vehicle. I could not believe it it was rusty everywhere, but I took the time and material to completely remove that rust. I did not remove the complete rear quarter panels, but both front fenders, hood, and tailgate. I used zinc plated sheetmetal for cutouts under the carpet in the carrier area, and under the seats. I have used over a gallon of Naval Jelly, and have found that spray on Zinc Coating Compound works very well if applied properly. The combination of Scraping/Grinding, Naval Jelly, and then applying Zinc compound works better than just replacing panels. I don't know what grade of steel is used in these trucks, but it seems that it is prone to rust more than others. I would stay away from rubberized undercoaters unless the rust is completely removed;if covered over it usually accelerates the rust thru process greatly.

 

[Paul_NO]

Little rust...

i have just a little rust, the bottom edge of the tailgate and the rain channel above the driver's door. My floorboards and rear quarter panels are good. We don't have snow or road salt or any other nasty winter stuff here.

 

[JuanPolk]

Hello Paul!, in Big Easy

I read your comment, but didn't have time to log on. Ironically I will be visiting New Orleans some time this summer. I have family nearby in Moss Point, Miss that I have not seen in 30 years.
I may drive my Bronco up, and down to N,O to take a look at the South. I just learned that my son had a slight accident with my Bronco, and damaged my front bumper. I knew it would happen soon.