Rocker Panels

[Levitan]

I'm parting out this '90 Festy and it has mint rocker panels. Has anybody here ever cut them off to reuse? Any hints or tricks where/how to cut? I just don't want to waste one reusable piece of this car.

[m715]

Panel Removal

There are as many ways as people to do this job, and I am sure that all are different. What I have done, to be sure that I can save the whole panel I *do* want, and if I will not be using the adjacent panels is pull out the sawsall, and go further back into the floor/wheelwell area and take that piece with it too. This makes a large patch panel that also deals with the other real problem area.... the outer and inner panels around the wheel opening. Taking everything to the rear panel around the tail lights, and inboard to the floor panel, allows you to take, for example, a wrecked shell totalled in the front section, and refurb a rusty one with the good metal.
If you are trying to seperate each individual panel from the other, the correct procedure is to take spot weld cutting bits (Wifco, or Blair cutters for example), and drill out the spot welds to separate the panels. Just trying to chisel them apart will distort them too much, and then you have too much work trying to get them back in shape (and trying to fix the torn edges). Keep in mind, there are MANY spot welds to defeat taking them off this way, and you have the loss of panel from all the holes you cut out. These are usually welded back shut, then use a resistance spot welder to reattach the panel if you are looking to do a factory type repair.

HTH
Michael