inner rocker panels...

[ne-chevy]

Do I really need to put in the inner rocker panels on my 83 Chevy cab? I have read somewhere that someone didn't put them in while replacing the outer rockers. Would this be better for rust prevention? What is the reason for having an inner rocker anyway? Structural? Can I get away without having them? Any ideas or comment...

Wade

[jaredts]

I think the structure would be very weak without the inner rocker.  These trucks weren't exactly 5 star crash rating vehicles anyway.  Get t-boned without an inner rocker and it might be ugly.  You could fabricate something to reinforce it, maybe.  The replacement panel is cheap and fairly easy to put in, so why bother.  My $.02.

[CeeTen]

When I replaced the rockers in my old K5, I left them out. Looked like a good place for mud and dirt to collect, which is probably why they rotted out in the first place. I don't think they add enough strength to worry with and I never noticed any flexing.

[ne-chevy]

I was thinking maybe just adding some thicker 1" wide strips of plate steel, however long they needed to be, every couple of inches. That would give some sort of support and an opportunity to dry out after some water...

[CeeTen]

You could, but I wouldn't bother. That K5 was wheeled pretty hard (and the current owner still does) for years with no problems. If you hit the rocker on  something hard enough to bend it, it won't matter if there is an inner rocker or not. It will just be harder to fix lol.

[ne-chevy]

Yeah I could always go back and put one in if I really needed it... Plus it might be easier to bend it back if it got tweaked without one in there...

[Captkaos]

It adds a lot of structure to the actual rocker.

[Blazin]

I wouldn't leave it out. I did on my 81 K5 but its just a mud / wheelin machine. That and when I bandaged it up I only had limited time to get it ready for a mud bog after sitting for 5 years. I do however notice the rocker is flexy acting when I step on it, and the door rubs if I open it on an off angle.

[ne-chevy]

The structure point is well taken. The original ones have a streak of rust beginning on each of them. After some thought I think I will cut out the rust and just weld in some new steel and seam seal it all up good. I hope I'm not biting of more than I can chew with all this... 

[SUX2BU99]

When you do have access to get in there, coat it with chassis saver so that you don't have to worry about moisture and mud rusting the metal through from the top side again.