Inner rocker panel to kick panel help

[jason.k]

My problem started with the driver side dash sagging. So far I put new body mounts in and got started on floor pans. New bed, rear support brace and wheel well extension plates. The back is perfect I think. Moved to the front floor pans and the problems began. I have to replace the front support brace and all the floor pans. Started on drivers side because well it was the worst. I thought the dash sagging was from the crushed brace where the body mount goes. After tearing it apart I noticed the inner rocker and kick panel rusted through. No longer attached to each other. So I put a jack under the kick panel and jacked it up until it was leave with the inner rocker. It helped the dash out some but still not level. It also jacked up the entire drivers side of truck causing it not to be leval from driver side to passenger side. All that said do u think the next step is to drill out the spot welds from kick panel and floor will help? How do I fix this? I've taken a lot of measurements but I don't think they are worth anything at this poin because of it being out of wack anyways. I'm sure some of you have dealt with this or I'm hoping I'm not the only one. Any advice please. This has really slowed my progress down because I'm just not sure the next step without really messing this thing up.

 

[suckerpunched]

Jason, I always advise doing this with doors on if you have doors are ever intend to run them. with the door on you will be able to see if the bottom edge is square to the rocker and the back edge is square to the quarter panel. If the door fits well, the door post has to be in about the right place.

 

[jason.k]

I do have the doors and plan to run doors. The outer rocker is already cut off and fenders are removed. Does that matter?

 

[jason.k]

I figured it out after spending a day in the shop. I was jacking it up from kick panel that was lower than the rocker. It moved the dash and I got it level welded the brace from frame to dash and it looked good till I lowered the jack. It still sagged not as bad but it wasn't right. Then it hit me. I'm an idiot. Jacking from the kick panel also raised the suspension and yea the dash was level till weight got back on the suspension. Long story short put a bottle jack on the frame and a 2X4 and jacked only the dash up. Then went to weld in my new brace and my welder stopped working. Guess I'll try and figure that out tomorrow.

 

[jmangi62]

Sometimes walking away for a bit helps, it somehow regenerates your brain so you can continue. Jim

 

[jason.k]

Sometimes walking away for a bit helps, it somehow regenerates your brain so you can continue. Jim

I agree with ya Jim. then when you figure out the solution you feel a like a idiot. anyways once it was figured out I felt relieved so I can push forward now.

 

[jmangi62]

I've been there and done that brother. Trust me, I've replaced probly 80% of all metal on my 70, its almost done after 4yrs of hard work, so good luck and keep on wrenchin away, you'll get there Jason. I just wish I could figure out these sideways pics LOL, I just can't get it right, freakin stupid computer hahaha. Jim

 

[rydog1130]

If you have your measurements thats good, sometimes it just takes pushing/pulling/lifting to get things where they need to be before you can anchor them in place. Always brace when you can, and sometimes you can't because nothing is there or the anchor point isn't stable. You'll get it figured out!

 

[jason.k]

I've been there and done that brother. Trust me, I've replaced probly 80% of all metal on my 70, its almost done after 4yrs of hard work, so good luck and keep on wrenchin away, you'll get there Jason. I just wish I could figure out these sideways pics LOL, I just can't get it right, freakin stupid computer hahaha. Jim

I usually take them with my phone then email them to myself on desk top and post put for those pics I just posted from my phone and damn it they where all jacked up sideways. I need someone to tell me how to correct that.

 

[jason.k]

If you have your measurements thats good, sometimes it just takes pushing/pulling/lifting to get things where they need to be before you can anchor them in place. Always brace when you can, and sometimes you can't because nothing is there or the anchor point isn't stable. You'll get it figured out!

thanks for the encouragement. I think im braced pretty good. Two braces across the bed rails, doors braced, dash now braced to the frame now that it level and im thinking about maybe bracing from bed rail brace to dash brace just to make sur it don't move forward or backwards.

 

[jason.k]

thanks for the encouragement. I think im braced pretty good. Two braces across the bed rails, doors braced, dash now braced to the frame now that it level and im thinking about maybe bracing from bed rail brace to dash brace just to make sur it don't move forward or backwards.

Got the pics on my home computer and fixed them.

 

[rydog1130]

One other thing, if you're replacing the floor channel support you might as well replace all your body mount bushings that way your body is evenly spaced off of the frame

 

[jason.k]

One other thing, if you're replacing the floor channel support you might as well replace all your body mount bushings that way your body is evenly spaced off of the frame

I installed wild horses 1" body lift before I cut anything open. also took it to a frame shop to make sure the frame was not twisted before starting on it.

 

[rydog1130]

good deal, good luck!