Rocker and cab corner factory fitment

[General23cmp]

I have been told (and seen) that factory rockers didn’t quite align with the cab corners. The rocker’s curve appears to be inset about 1/8” compared to the cab corner curve on factory units. Obviously when people restore these trucks, they frequently make that alignment better when they replace the rocker/corner.

Questions:

Obviously if you align things up perfectly with the door installed, you can get the corner, rocker and door to all meet at the corner very well. If you are going for a more “factory look” with the inset rocker, that alignment with the door wouldn’t be possible. So am I correct that the door on a factory cab would align with the B pillar (the cab corner extending from that) and thus, the door would overhang the rocker about 1/8” there? Does the door maintain the 1/8” overhang of the rocker to the front fender, or does it eventually align? Anyone have pictures?

[Casper42]

I'm not certain what you're inferring, and probably others here to as no one else has responded. If you say you've seen pictures, maybe post those so we know exactly what you're referencing. cheers

[General23cmp]

Thanks. Never said I had pictures. I asked for pictures of factory bodies at that location to see what factory is supposed to look like. I’m trying to say that the rocker curve and cab corner curve aren’t perfectly in line with each other from the factory.

[pjmoreland]

Here are some photos of a factory rocker panel and cab corner.

[71meangreenc10]

From what I see, most people do not fill in the gap at the rocker/corner with seam sealer after repairs have been done and that makes it look worse than it should.

I do have a 72 cab with factory rockers if you would like to see more. It was not flush either.

Smitty

[drummingrocks]

I'm interested in this as well. I have a '68 stepside that's had both rockers and cab corners replaced. Does anyone have pictures of the rocker at the front of the door area?

[pjmoreland]

Hard to get a good photo with the door installed.

[pjmoreland]

Not the best photo, but here's one I took when I had the door and fender off.

[General23cmp]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Not the best photo, but here's one I took when I had the door and fender off.

Thanks for all the pictures. Those rockers have never been off? That rear cab corner and rocker alignment looks much better than most I’ve seen (the reason for the post). That’s great info.

[General23cmp]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

From what I see, most people do not fill in the gap at the rocker/corner with seam sealer after repairs have been done and that makes it look worse than it should.

I do have a 72 cab with factory rockers if you would like to see more. It was not flush either.

Smitty

I would like to see yours too if you don’t mind. The other poster’s look much better than most factory ones I recall seeing (good for him).

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by General23cmp

Those rockers have never been off?

I do not believe the rockers on my truck have ever been removed. They still have the original paint on them and the factory spot welds.

[1970cstblazer]

This is consistent with the times in which they were assembled. Some were built great, and others not so much. My '72 Flint assembled Super has the original rockers, and they fit great. Door fit is not as good, with huge gaps in the front, and tight in the back.

[chewychevy67]

Yes mine had large gaps in the back of the door to cab on driver side. My metal guy had to remove and rework the top chanel to get the original door to fit better. But I believe the rockers and cab corner was lined up ok on the driver side but the rockers got replaced anyway.. Passenger side he barely had to adjust.

[71meangreenc10]

As requested.

As you can see the back is not even close to square with the rocker and the cab corner. Hard to get the money shot, so I added in a straight edge to help out.

Smitty

[Lee H]

Mine are the same as pjmoreland, rocker, cab corner, and door all in the same plane and flush. Factory, nothing replace or repaired.

[General23cmp]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

As requested.

As you can see the back is not even close to square with the rocker and the cab corner. Hard to get the money shot, so I added in a straight edge to help out.

Smitty

Thank you so much. That is exactly what I had seen before and was told… about an inset of 1/8” where the rocker meets the cab. A well-respected vendor on here told me that factory looked that way too (that is the way my repops were fitting). He said many people work them to make them align perfectly, but 1/8” was common.

[71meangreenc10]

Originally Posted by General23cmp

Thank you so much. That is exactly what I had seen before and was told… about an inset of 1/8” where the rocker meets the cab. A well-respected vendor on here told me that factory looked that way too (that is the way my repops were fitting). He said many people work them to make them align perfectly, but 1/8” was common.

Not a problem.

Smitty

[1970cstblazer]

The industry fit and finish standards in 1972 are far different than what is expected today-especially trucks. I would bet few buyers back then even cared about globs of seam sealer, runs in the paint, or inconsistent panel gaps and panel fitment. It was just how it was.

A lot of restorations make these things much nicer than they were right off the showroom.