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View Full Version : 69 Camaro..Unequal length factory rockers??

g356gear
10-21-2010, 10:06 AM
We are getting close on my car after getting the quarters finished and getting the door gaps set. My metal guy found something a little off on the factory rockers. The pass side is 1/4" longer than the driver side rocker panel length. After media blast, we know the rockers are the original pieces, rust free and solid. Car has never been hit. The stock rocker panels are physically unequal in length. This may be the reason that I always had hood fitment issues with the car on the passenger front corner. Door to quarter and fender to door gaps were perfect but hood to header was always off. Has anyone seen this before on a factory original car??

Looks like we are going to have to section a piece out...about 1/4" long.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/g356gear/IMG00186-20101021-1320.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/g356gear/IMG00187-20101021-1322.jpg
MaxHarvard
10-21-2010, 03:04 PM
Has the frame sagged?
g356gear
10-21-2010, 06:08 PM
Has the frame sagged?

Do you mean the unibody?
MaxHarvard
10-21-2010, 06:32 PM
Do you mean the unibody?

Yup.

~Eric
GregWeld
10-21-2010, 08:17 PM
Or it was tagged on one side from the rear maybe....
MarkM66
10-22-2010, 04:26 AM
Maybe it was a Friday afternoon when that part was attached. :lol:

It's not like these cars were assembled with todays technology. It's a wonder they fit as well as they do. Bottom line is if you want it better now, it has to be fixed.

My "all original sheet metal" (that people like to brag about) Chevelle was off all over the place. Metal has to be added, things have to be moved. :thumbsup:
DOOM
10-22-2010, 06:57 AM
Mine was the exact same way. I did some measuring before I blew mine apart and could'nt believe the differences from right to left. Some areas were as much as 10mm to 12mm differences. The cars today have only a 3mm tolerence in some areas to work with.Body tolerences were'nt a concern back in the day.As I put my rockers on Im finding out more about how these cars are put together and its a little scary. Rocker damage is hard to hide. So if the rockers have'nt been damaged,or any other critical area such as the cowl. Than I'm sure your shop will know what to do. From what I'm looking at these guy know what there doing thats for sure .Its coming along ,can't wait to see it complete..