The Ford Barn

fiddy6 · 12-29-2018, 03:00 AM

So my fairlanes rockers are rusty as...

I've started the passenger rocker re-repair. The rockers were patched over sometime in the cars history. The welding was crap and the panel fit was poor as your would expect.

I've pulled off the patch and un-picked the the factory spot welds to remove the rocker.

I found that the inner rocker is worth saving and some of the body supports on the inner rocker need repair. The front shoulder in front of the rocker needs rebuilding also... its well gone.

Other than the deflectors I've repaired I've never done any metal work so... here goes nothing!

darrell · 12-29-2018, 07:47 AM

your car is not that bad compared to some of the junk i fixed.

fiddy6 · 01-06-2019, 10:44 PM

New rocker from EMS arrived today care of northwestern ford.

Daves55Sedan · 01-07-2019, 05:37 PM

Yeah, I've had my share of cutting off and replacing inner and outer rockers many times. You are in for a lot of fun.

rotorwrench · 01-07-2019, 08:44 PM

It will test your fabricating & welding skills for certain.

fiddy6 · 01-08-2019, 04:07 AM

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Yes. I'm learning as I go.

Filled the holes that I made to drill out the factory spot welds. I used a bit of flat brass behind and used the mig to fill them.

I've started on the rear part of the rocker that meets the quarter panel. I've patched the inner rocker behind before I cut out the quarter section to fit the outer rocker from EMS. I'll repair the quarter panel on the bench and then refit it after the rocker is in.

It's a bit of a mess in here because it's been patched over and left untreated.

rotorwrench · 01-08-2019, 08:04 AM

Treating the metal in those hidden places can be difficult but it has to be done. Some use the Por 15 to get back in the nooks & crannies.

fiddy6 · 01-09-2019, 03:23 AM

Yes, thanks. Good advice. Everything is getting some zinc rust prevention primer. I've been using a rust converter in places too.

I'm using these two at the moment. I've heard of POR-15... I'll have a look at it.

https://www.crc.co.nz/Rust-Converter...-17eb0e6a576b/

https://www.crc.co.nz/Zinc-It/6895-d...-609c11ffda87/

Daves55Sedan · 01-09-2019, 04:36 PM

In my experience, it was necessary to turn the mig welder voltage down all the way and turn the wire-speed down all the way for welding 18 ga tin. I don't know about the EMS panels, but some of the replacement rockers I had gotten before were 22 ga tin. Lousy stuff to work with.
I painted the backside of the new patch panels with cold galvanizing compound and a coat of enamel prior to welding on to the car. This will help to prevent future rustouts, as long as you seal all the seams real good.

fiddy6 · 01-10-2019, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

In my experience, it was necessary to turn the mig welder voltage down all the way and turn the wire-speed down all the way for welding 18 ga tin. I don't know about the EMS panels, but some of the replacement rockers I had gotten before were 22 ga tin. Lousy stuff to work with.
I painted the backside of the new patch panels with cold galvanizing compound and a coat of enamel prior to welding on to the car. This will help to prevent future rustouts, as long as you seal all the seams real good.

I've been tweaking the mig on the bench. Each mig is different I guess but I've tried 0.6 and 0.8 wire... 0.8 works the best. I've sorted out a good tack setting and welding setting.

The EMS panel is 18 gauge and look to be of really good quality. Its thicker than the sheet metal on the ford.

fiddy6 · 01-13-2019, 03:08 AM

Hi guys.

I need one of these special cage nuts. Trouble is, I can't find where to get them nor do I know what common name they go by. It's the cage nut that holds the bottom of the fender to the front of the rocker.

40 Deluxe · 01-15-2019, 05:56 PM

Some NAPA stores have a "sample book" with about every type of body fastener known to man. Try looking there.

KULTULZ · 01-15-2019, 07:26 PM

https://www.auveco.com/

fiddy6 · 01-15-2019, 11:39 PM

Okay thanks. In the meantime a mate helped me fab up one of these

Daves55Sedan · 01-16-2019, 05:45 PM

Dorman makes a product called "speed-nuts". They are available at hardware stores like ACE Hardware and you can even find them at Advance auto parts. They don't look like the original cage nuts, but they are made of spring steel of one-piece stamped, threaded metal. I used some of them during a body-off-frame restoration and they were perfect. Just take the bolt or stud with you so you can match the thread with the correct size speed-nut.

39deluxecp · 01-24-2019, 12:30 PM

my recently bought 1955 T-Bird had been previously "repaired" (30 years ago) with heavy galvanized tin placed OVER the old metal! the floors, trunk, rockers! But I think I am winning!

Dave Covey · 01-25-2019, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddy6

Yes, thanks. Good advice. Everything is getting some zinc rust prevention primer. I've been using a rust converter in places too.

I'm using these two at the moment. I've heard of POR-15... I'll have a look at it.

https://www.crc.co.nz/Rust-Converter...-17eb0e6a576b/

https://www.crc.co.nz/Zinc-It/6895-d...-609c11ffda87/

I've used several of the products from KBS. After I finish all the body work and before I paint I will use some of their cavity coating was. Here is a link https://www.kbs-coatings.com/Cavity-Wax.html

I really like their rust prevention coatings.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Dave Covey · 01-25-2019, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddy6

Okay thanks. In the meantime a mate helped me fab up one of these

Have ya'll ever noticed that it is really hard to find caged nut in a 5/16 fine thread?
Just about all the bolts/nuts on these old fords are 5/16 fine thread, and around here they are very hard to find.

Dave

12-29-2018, 07:47 AM	#2
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair your car is not that bad compared to some of the junk i fixed.

01-07-2019, 05:37 PM	#4
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair Yeah, I've had my share of cutting off and replacing inner and outer rockers many times. You are in for a lot of fun.

01-07-2019, 08:44 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair It will test your fabricating & welding skills for certain.

01-08-2019, 08:04 AM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair Treating the metal in those hidden places can be difficult but it has to be done. Some use the Por 15 to get back in the nooks & crannies.

01-09-2019, 03:23 AM	#8
fiddy6 Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 97	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair Yes, thanks. Good advice. Everything is getting some zinc rust prevention primer. I've been using a rust converter in places too. I'm using these two at the moment. I've heard of POR-15... I'll have a look at it. https://www.crc.co.nz/Rust-Converter...-17eb0e6a576b/ https://www.crc.co.nz/Zinc-It/6895-d...-609c11ffda87/

01-09-2019, 04:36 PM	#9
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair In my experience, it was necessary to turn the mig welder voltage down all the way and turn the wire-speed down all the way for welding 18 ga tin. I don't know about the EMS panels, but some of the replacement rockers I had gotten before were 22 ga tin. Lousy stuff to work with. I painted the backside of the new patch panels with cold galvanizing compound and a coat of enamel prior to welding on to the car. This will help to prevent future rustouts, as long as you seal all the seams real good.

01-15-2019, 05:56 PM	#12
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair Some NAPA stores have a "sample book" with about every type of body fastener known to man. Try looking there.

01-15-2019, 07:26 PM	#13
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A 'GALAXIE' FAR FAR AWAY Posts: 6,475	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair https://www.auveco.com/ __________________ *** - WHY IS IT ... - ... that everything you buy in the grocery store is either wrapped in or contained in plastic but the government doesn't want you to carry it out in a plastic bag? WONDERING IN W(BY GOD)V ... DIAGNOSED CDO** - (OCD In Correct Alphabetical Order)

01-16-2019, 05:45 PM	#15
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair Dorman makes a product called "speed-nuts". They are available at hardware stores like ACE Hardware and you can even find them at Advance auto parts. They don't look like the original cage nuts, but they are made of spring steel of one-piece stamped, threaded metal. I used some of them during a body-off-frame restoration and they were perfect. Just take the bolt or stud with you so you can match the thread with the correct size speed-nut.

01-24-2019, 12:30 PM	#16
39deluxecp Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: s/w Iowa Posts: 111	Re: 56 Victoria - passenger rocker repair my recently bought 1955 T-Bird had been previously "repaired" (30 years ago) with heavy galvanized tin placed OVER the old metal! the floors, trunk, rockers! But I think I am winning!