rocker box question

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

My rocker boxes are rusted out and i am thinking about just taking them the rest of the way out and leaving them out but not sure if thats the way to go. i'm not sure what the purpose of them is besides to protect the torsion bar that runs through there which is also rusted apart. Can someone give me some advise and knowledge of what the rocker boxes are for and what to do? this has probably been discussed before but im not finding a discussion on it. pics of a rocker box replacement would be great to.

[WILE E]

The rocker boxes are very important especially when the top is removed. This is a support of holding the body tub together since there is no overhead structure.

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

thats all i need to know. im going to replace them and figure out something to use to replace the torsion bar in there also. thanks

[WILE E]

If you buy the replacements from a place like LMC, the bar you are talking about come with the replacement rocker box. They are a little pricey, but, that is money well spent.

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

i happen to live 30 minutes from LMC in lenexa, Ks and been getting all my parts through there so far. thanks i didnt know the torsion bars came with them. guess ill be heading up that way sometime soon.

[lks dcvn]

When you get the replacement boxes there is a bar in them already...so by replacing them you will get both.

Also if you are going to do body work on a blazer - you need to follow a few steps:

1. Don't take the top off until after the body work is done
2. Replace the Body Mounts if they are rotted/gone prior to starting
3. Brace up the door openings (and take measurements) to make sure the firewall doesn't sag if the body is weak when you start cutting out metal.

[drunkbus]

You better change that to "torsion boxes" or you will get the lecture explaining what the differences of rocker boxes and torsion boxes are.

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

thanks guys. i have already replaced the body bushings and the front and rear pillar panels on the passenger side. i guess i messed up a little bit not having the top on but we did have a porta power going from the roll bar to the windshield frame and made sure all the measurements were correct before welding it all up. after we welded it all in, got the porta power out, and put the windshield in it did sag a little bit so im hoping that replacing the "torsion" boxes and torsion bars will cure that. the torsion bars are rusted completely in half!!

[Baketown Scotty]

Wish I would have found this site and these steps before I did mine. It's not too out of whack but definitely noticeable.

1. Don't take the top off until after the body work is done
2. Replace the Body Mounts if they are rotted/gone prior to starting
3. Brace up the door openings (and take measurements) to make sure the firewall doesn't sag if the body is weak when you start cutting out metal.

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

yeah i know. ok i feel like a dumb a**. this is the first 69-72 blazer i have ever owned or worked on for that fact. what is the difference between a rocker box and torsion box??? I called them rocker boxes because thats what LMC calls them in their catalog.

[drunkbus]

Originally Posted by BLAZEtoBLAZE

yeah i know. ok i feel like a dumb a**. this is the first 69-72 blazer i have ever owned or worked on for that fact. what is the difference between a rocker box and torsion box??? I called them rocker boxes because thats what LMC calls them in their catalog.

They are called rocker boxes in pretty much every replacement parts catalog out there but some people insist that they are torsion boxes. Use the search function and I'm sure you'll find the thread with the dispute. I'm not going to be the one to start this back up.

[sqrbdy]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

When you get the replacement boxes there is a bar in them already...so by replacing them you will get both.

Also if you are going to do body work on a blazer - you need to follow a few steps:

1. Don't take the top off until after the body work is done
2. Replace the Body Mounts if they are rotted/gone prior to starting
3. Brace up the door openings (and take measurements) to make sure the firewall doesn't sag if the body is weak when you start cutting out metal.

I started working on mine last weekend and so far I have managed to NOT do everything you suggested. Guess this ought to make for an interesting project. I am not as concerned since it will never see a top again, but it is going to be a problem nonetheless.

[Long Roof]

Originally Posted by sqrbdy

I started working on mine last weekend and so far I have managed to NOT do everything you suggested. Guess this ought to make for an interesting project. I am not as concerned since it will never see a top again, but it is going to be a problem nonetheless.

Top or not, you will probably be using doors right? Just make sure everything is lined up before doing your final welding.