1963 rocker panel installation

[Alan Weeks]

I have removed the side exhaust from my 63 SWC and now I am having difficulty attaching the rocker panels. When I purchased the car last year it had side exhaust so I don't know if the car had been modified to have the side exhaust fit.
I am able to fit the top of the rocker molding onto the lip but there is nothing at the bottom to attach the rocker molding to. I can see there are aprox 12 holes in the bottom part of the rocker molding so I am assuming there should be something to attach it to. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated
Thanks
Alan Weeks

[John H.]

Re: 1963 rocker panel installation

Alan -

Sidepipes weren't available on 63's, so your car was modified to add them later; it originally had a number of rocker molding support brackets welded to the sill on each side which provided the lower attaching points for the bottom flange of the molding, which were most likely cut off to provide clearance for the sidepipes (original factory sidepipe cars, starting in 1965, used a unique birdcage that had those brackets omitted). Long Island Corvette has the support brackets you need.

[Craig S.]

Re: 1963 rocker panel installation

Alan - LI Corvette also has the fiberglass replacement parts for the area that was carved out in the front quarters where the sidepipes turn under the body. This area required cutting to clear the pipes, and besides the clips John mentions these pieces will need to be grafted back on the body...Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: 1963 rocker panel installation

I said clips, I meant brackets....Craig