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Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:12 pm

my first time here...
quick question ?
I have a 69 beetle ...drivers side rocker panel is shot...do I have to remove the body to replace the rocker or can I replace it with the body on ? ..I hate to do a body off restoration at this time ...the car runs to good ...what to enjoy it this summer ...any help will be deeply appreicated...
Thanks Jim~

Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:44 am

can't really determine that until you see how far the rot goes.

do you have any pics to post?

Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:22 am

I'll see if I can get some pics...it looks like its from door post to door post ...door post bottoms are fine...door closes perfect ...last owner didnt do the greatest job patching ...Im thinking of getting outer floor pan repair panels alsothier 71/2'' wide ...
I'll see about the pics ...
thanks so much
Jim~

Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:53 am

it probably sounds crazy, but you can cut some squares/drill large holes out of the existing metal and scope it out from there....

I know how you feel, don't want to take everything apart if you don't have to....

worst thing you can do is fix half the rust and have to do it all again in 2 years.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:06 am

trikeman123 wrote: my first time here...
quick question ?
I have a 69 beetle ...drivers side rocker panel is shot...do I have to remove the body to replace the rocker or can I replace it with the body on ? ..I hate to do a body off restoration at this time ...the car runs to good ...what to enjoy it this summer ...any help will be deeply appreicated...
Thanks Jim~

If you don't want to do a body off restoration at the moment and you want to enjoy the car this summer, then why not just drive it as is until you have the time/money/inclination to do the repair? Based on what you're saying, I get the impression this isn't your daily driver so if you don't drive it in the rain this summer, I'd say just go for it and deal with it later. If you're worried about the rust progression, spray it with some rust inhibitor but I doubt the panel will go from where it is now to critical decay in three months time.

But to answer your question, yes, you can replace it with the body on. Check out this post for the how-to and what to buy:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...panel+rust

Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:01 am

Yes you can do it with the body on. I have and it was not that bad. I doubt though that the rot is only confined between the "A" and "B" pillar posts.