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Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:45 pm

I just removed my running boards, and on both sides, I have found what you see in the picture below. I have no idea what I am looking it...it looks like someone may have treated this at some point and painted over it?? Anyway, how can I treat this? Money IS an object...

Thanks!

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Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:53 pm

if you can weld it's not a hard job , plus while you have it all opened up you can clean out the heater channel some .

Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:54 pm

Unfortunately I can't weld nor do I have the tools. Until I can pay a professional, is there a good stop measure?

Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:16 pm

As a cosmetic or water entry prevention only - NOT for any structural repair ...

I had the same thing, I was able to find some thin (about 1/16") plastic strip just the right width and applied caulking between it and the body. Since I applied it the whole length, I had no problems with my running boards fitting up. This was only to keep out water. I recently opened up my drivers side and found it was basically doing nothing in terms of support. Be prepared to replace the whole heater channel and possibly the front firewall and inner front fenderwell as well.

Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:49 pm

Thanks for the feedback. That was quite helpful.

Did you buy the plastic strip at the hardware store? Any reason you chose a plastic strip rather than metal?

Have you had to replace the parts of the car you outlined? If so, about how much did it run you? Thanks again.

ML

Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:38 pm

I used plastic because that is what I was able to get. It was some scrap from work although I would think you could find something at a home center although nothing comes to mind right now. Metal would work as well. Remember you won't be adding any strength to it, so anything that is thin will work.

As for the parts, I'm sort of doing it right now. I only ordered a floor pan, inner rocker panel and the piece the running board bolts up to - the one you are having problems with. I should have bought the whole heater channel but didn't. Since the heater channel started rusting from the front, it also rotted out the fenderwell and firewall, both of which I did not order but should have. The parts I bought came to about $175 from Wolfsberg West, shipping ran another $50 to Chicago.

I only need to get another year out of the car until we move and I can do it right, right now time is at a premium and I can't justify the cost to have someone else do it since it would require basically the bottom 8-10 inches of the car to be replaced. So for now, I'll patch things up the best I can.

Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:33 am

That is part of the heater channel. If it is rusted there, chances are very very good that the bottom plate is also rusted through. Water gets in there and can't get out.
Examine the entire heater channel very carefully. There is little point in doing any stop-gap work if the heater channel bottom plate requires replacement.

Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:11 pm

Is that a repair panel thats already been pop riveted onto the original? I thought I could see a pop rivet there in your picture. If it is, and you are unable to do any of the work youself, you have no choice but find someone who can help. Otherwise i suppose you could locate some rocker replacement panels (cheap) and pop rivet them on there as a stopgap. It might help keep out the water somewhat and give you something to bolt the running boards to.