Help me decide what to do about my rust rocker panels on a budget! (pics included)

[nalbertasr5]

Hi everyone. Northern Canadian guy here with a 2000 SR5.

I am trying to figure out what I can do about my rusty rocker panels. I have no welding experience and I don't want to spend a ton of money.
Has anybody ever just gone and cut their rockers right off? I am planning on getting rock sliders this summer. One thing I am considering is having the rocker panels either entirely chopped off or cut back to where there isn't any rust then paint over what is behind with some frame paint and bedliner. The rocksliders could cover up the ugly spots left over.

How hard is it to use a rivet gun and bend some sheet metal to fit? I've never tried anything like it myself but I have seen posts about it before. I have also heard of people using steel tubing in replace of their rockers and was wondering if anyone here has tried it.

Here is a pic of the rear of the driver side rocker. I am currently replacing the front fenders:



Here is the front part of the driver side rocker:



Overall side shot: As you can see, the rest of it is pretty much rust-free. The other side has the same rocker rust issue.



If anyone has any advice or ideas please let me know!

Also: I bought some new front fenders that I am currently painting and will put them on when my Shrockworks bumper that I ordered has arrived, so those ugly holes and rust spots on the fenders will be gone!

 

[86'dBlue]

For the rocker areas, I would almost just sand the rust and then paint it with anti rust paint. Then open the doors and rivet sheet metal from the interior panel and then bend it down to form a new rocker panel. This is only if you don't care to have the rockers fixed at any point. Otherwise.. Welding

 

[7echo]

How does the frame look? Need to check that really well before doing much else.

 

[WarpzoneQc]

How does the frame look? Need to check that really well before doing much else.

you can see the frame on the first picture, typical canadian frame ^^

 

[kolelt]

Oh man I'm so sorry. That sucks. You really have to cut it out and weld new ones. Or do like above person said.

 

[nalbertasr5]

The frame has surface rust but doesn't appear to have any holes or rot. I actually will be applying rust paint to it next weekend. It's pretty rare to find one of these Toyotas in northern Alberta that is in good shape as this one!

So has anyone here tried doing any sort of rivet repair themselves? I'm sure I can borrow the tools for it but I am completely inexperienced.

 

[csp]

If you expect it to last for any length of time you'll forget about rivets.

I don't see this ending well as it's not a project you learn on.

 

[WarpzoneQc]

Wolf Steel Car Body Rust Repair Panels

This is from quebec, I think they are the only ones who do rocker repairs, 45$ each so 90$+shipping... might that be a consideration? 90$+shipping, go to a body shop and make them weld it. just my toughts ^^ Keep up with the posting once you are done please, I intend on doing that same to my rockers (also from canada yay!)

 

[3bears]

on a budget ? Duct tape it.

Sorry not much help, but seeing pics like this makes me happy that where I live, ODOT deals with snow and ice with cinders. No salt...thus no rust
but I do get lots of little rock chips in the winter, and have a slightly pitted windshield

 

[nalbertasr5]

Wolf Steel Car Body Rust Repair Panels

This is from quebec, I think they are the only ones who do rocker repairs, 45$ each so 90$+shipping... might that be a consideration? 90$+shipping, go to a body shop and make them weld it. just my toughts ^^ Keep up with the posting once you are done please, I intend on doing that same to my rockers (also from canada yay!)

Thanks for that site! I will check into it. I am also checking out a machine shop tomorrow that sells sheet metal. I will update this thread in the future with whatever I end up doing.

 

[csp]

What would you do with a flat sheet of sheetmetal? I hope you don't think you can form it into the correct shape without lots of experience and a host of dedicated tools.

 

[nalbertasr5]

What would you do with a flat sheet of sheetmetal? I hope you don't think you can form it into the correct shape without lots of experience and a host of dedicated tools.

My friend used to be an autobody tech and he'll see if he can help me out

 

[Yoter]

Cut out the rockers and weld in some boat side sliders in their place!

 

[Yoter]

If these are still available they would be a really good starting point:
Outdoor Logic Boatside Sliders

 

[nalbertasr5]

If these are still available they would be a really good starting point:
Outdoor Logic Boatside Sliders

Those sliders look great Anyone know if this company still makes them? I couldn't find much info on them