Pennsylvania residents

[sixbanger]

I was watching a video on youtube last night about metal replacement and was surprised to see that this guy stated that his 2001 chevy truck wouldn't pass state inspection because his drivers side rocker was rusted. Is this true and is it spreading across the country.

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by sixbanger

I was watching a video on youtube last night about metal replacement and was surprised to see that this guy stated that his 2001 chevy truck wouldn't pass state inspection because his drivers side rocker was rusted. Is this true and is it spreading across the country.

Yes--holes in the rockers are a fail. However, a fix doesn't need to be pretty. I patched the rocker in my 79 Wagoneer with a piece of 22 GA sheetmetal and rivets for it to pass.

[911 Rod]

Always been like that here. Same as a hole in the trunk.

[fastfredracing]

My auditor tells me that holes in rocker panels are o.k. The general rule is , there cannot be sharp exposed edges, and the holes cannot extend into the passenger compartment.
I had always failed any holes in rocker panels , but asked him directly a few years back, and he said, that this is the stand the state makes on this.
It is somewhat up to the judgment of the inspector. Unibody cars are a different story .
My only cares in the world, are, Is it safe? , and will I get in trouble if I pass it and something happens ? I used my better judgment on them .
It is common practice to fill the void with spray foam, putty over it ,and walla, good to go.
Lots of otherwise good mechanically sound cars have large rust holes in the lower areas.
See my thread from last week about rust .

[tcar]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

.... walla, good to go....

Voila????

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by tcar

Voila????

Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket

[Porchdog]

I always used to hear that it was any holes larger than a nickle.

Now it's enforced that you can't have holes into the passenger compartment or rust that compromises the structure - so as Fred says, rocker rust on a full framed pickup is OK. Rusted cab corners fail. Rusted rockers on a Toyota Corolla fail (and make it hard to open the doors).

Inspections here are by private garages and there is a lot of variation in the opinions of the inspectors. I know at least one garage that will pass any amount of rust. My guy doesn't want to see any perforation, even in the rockers of a pickup.

[red-beard]

Way back in the 1980's, one state, Delaware or New Jersey I think, did not allow exposed rust. Placing duct tape over the rust was acceptable. It was weird seeing all of these cars with duct tape on the doors and fenders until someone told me why.

The cheap original fix for my Datsun B210 was a few strips of aluminum tape and a can of spray paint. Later, I found out why I should never do body work! One of the first and last bondo jobs I ever did.

Let's see, I got rid of that car in 1985 and it was a 1978. I bet I did the bondo job in the summer of 1984, so it was only 6 years old.

[fastfredracing]

I keep rolls of aluminum tape in my tool box.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I keep rolls of aluminum tape in my tool box.

Is that to just get an inspection customer out of a jam?