Outer rocker panel

[Travis72]

Since I had a rusted front lower quarter panel, I cut that off today in preparation for the patch panel.  In doing so I found  what looks like old damage to the car?  The rocker panel has like 1/4" thick of body filler on it and a depressed area where it appears the rocker panel was brazed to the inner rocker panel.     I'm assuming this is an old repair?  How did the factory install the rocker panel?

I'm debating on if I should cut that area out as well.     I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Travis
72 Cuda

[farmboy70]

From the picture it looks as though you are describing the quarter to rocker area, was there a patch there before or the factory quarter?
 It looks as though some one filled the factory gap,which is fairly indented and takes a lot of filler to cover. It shouldn't be a problem when you get the new panel.
Are you putting full panels on it?
I also noticed small drilled wholes in the picture did it have rocker chrome or is that dent puller holes?
We use All metal filler there or Duraglas to fill that area after welding to help clear the space before regular filler to finish.
Check the lower flang and see if it is straight to help decide if it was a dent repair.
The originals were spot welded in any case.
Dave

[Travis72]

You can't really tell in the pictures... but there was the remains of the original quarter panel still spot welded at the seam (basically 3 layers).  It appears that some one hacked off the old quarter panel on the underside, rather than removing the spot welds?  They then welded the new quarter panel over that.  Of course that area filled up with dirt and crud, which caused it to rust out from the inside.   

The Cuda does/did have the rocker chrome, so those are the screw holes.  However, if you look right above those screw holes, there's a hole in the door sill area.  So I'll need to patch that as well.

I'm not planning on putting on a full quarter panel, only the forward patch panel.  So the factory cars did have a lot of filler there as well?  Did the factory use brazing?  The shiny metal is some kind of brazing material... it's not welded (it's bronze maybe???  It doesn't spark when you cut or grind it).  Kind of weird.

Think I should replace the rocker panel as well, or just leave it alone and patch the hole?

Thanks,
Travis

[Bullitt-]

It may need replacing but it does not look that different than mine & it has never been repaired (3-layer reference). This area was not well finished from the factory,

[Topcat]

The guy a long time ago who did mine brazed everywhere too including the area you're talking about. Lead was originally used where they meet.

[moper]

That gap is usually filled with lead on original cars. I find some brazing, but when they do that, the lead melts away first. SO if it was brasss from brazing, it would be all over the seam. It is 3 layers thick there, where all the panels come together and get spot welded. I too use All Metal on any weld seams like that. On the C pillars too. Then finish with filler.