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I am wondering if there is someone that restores rocker panels for a 71 or who has the best repos out there. Is it possible to restore the panels by taking to a plater that can refinish with correct finish?
Thanks in advance
Sheldon
First of all, I don't think you'll find any reproductions that are 100% as-original. They'll be close, but not 100%. In fact, later GM SERVICE pieces were not 100% as-original for a 1971.
Restoring these can be a problem. These panels are clear anodized aluminum. If they have suffered very much in the way of corrosion or "dinging", I think that it's going to be difficult to restore them to as-new condition. One obstacle will be finding a plater that has the inclination and capabilities to do the job. Stripping the panels and re-anodizing them will be quite tricky and will require large tanks.
Perhaps others can recommend someone who meets the above qualifications; I do not know of any.
One tip: from an originality perspective, if yours are not in real bad condition, your best bet might be to clean them up as best you can and leave it at that.
Sheldon
Don't use any thing like steel wool on the anodized part they will never look right again. I have bought up a few sets of nice used sets for my own use but they are not on E-bay often and the condition is hard to tell. I hope someone will start plating thease correct. If you ship them a 4" plastic pipe and two caps is the best way. The ones I bought on E-bay I had shipped this way with no damage. I agree with Joe light cleaning and repaint the stripe.
Adding on to what Joe Lucia said, the factory original rockers had a 'tab' at the front that extended laterally underneath the car to accept a mounting screw. This 'feature' was removed from later Shark era rockers and the current GM service replacements are based on the later style.
You'll lose 'maybe' a point or two on the judging field, so it's a matter of restoration economics... Do you want fresh clean cosmetics or factory originality?
There was a fella who ran ads in the club's Driveline magazine (services section) who offered rocker panel restoration services. I don't know what he charged or if he's still in business, but you might want to check it out.
As Joe said, the challenge is finding someone with a plating tank large enough to accommodate a rocker panel who's in the annodizing business. Bottom line, if your rockers are correct originals with the front lower tab, do NOT throw them away! Somewhere, sometime, you or a subsequent owner might want to restore them if you decide to short cut the process today and install current GM service replacement rockers...
The new ones without the tab are $250-$300 so if yours aren't too bad take the hit on condition. I hope someone joins in to tell us what the Driveline vendor charges and the quality of his work. I have a few sets with tabs I would get done if the quality is good.
I just received my latest Driveline and went through looking for a vendor that restores rocker panels but couldn't find anyone. Are the repos all made offshore and what is the quality of them like? I assume GM does not make them anymore!! Does anyone recomend a supplier for a good repo?
Thanks Sheldon
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