JaredJohnson

I have a 1987 Mercedes 300D that I have re-painted, updated to euro lights, put on a 94-95 hood and trunk, and put on the 90-95 side moldings and bumpers.

The problem is, my car doesn't have holes to put on the rocker panels.
Does anyone know if a body shop will drill these holes, or if it is easy for me to do? Or should I even be doing it? Any information about the rocker panels would be greatly appreciated.

I just think the rocker panels will finish out the updating I have already done with my car, and I would really like to get them on.


Thanks,
-Jared

ZorroAMG

Sorry man, I don't know what your options are but I'd love to see pis of your car

ZorroAMG

Pics rather

DougE280 in UK

Please forgive my ignorance, but I've no idea what "rocker panels" are.

Honestly, it's not a term we use in the UK and unlike hood/bonnet, trunk/boot, fender/wing, gas pedel/accelerator I've not a clue!

Oh yes, and what are "headers"?

Or is it just me that is clueless???

JaredJohnson

First of all, I think rocker panels are the panels that go between the bottom of the door and the underside of the car. They are not attacked to the doors but underneath them, but visible when the car is viewed from the side.
They run between the wheels.
Are they called anything else?

I would love to post pics of my car, but as of yet I don't really have too many, and the ones i have are hard copys. I will take some with a digital camera in about a month or so.
I would like to show it to you cats. It's pretty damn nice.

I even pulled out the MBTex and put some leather seats I got from e-bay in there.....

Custom sound system. I got a local shop to put some pods in the door that match the interior quite nicely, and they sound damn nice.

DougE280 in UK

Ah ha....Rocker panels = Sills!

What are headers then?

Doug

lamski

"Rocker panels" usually refers to the lower part of the car that runs between the wheel wells. This area can extend from the lower part of the door skin all the way down to the underside of the car. Generally speaking, rocker panels are an integrated piece of the body's structure. If you are adding plastic/fiberglass moulding below this area, I think you may be thinking of "side skirts" or "ground effects", which attach to the car but aren't really an integrated part of the metalwork.

BTW, I would go to a good body shop to install them. They can be a little tricky as the skirts are pre-fabbed and may not be a perfect fit to your car. Also, a lot of skirts come unpainted and you may need a pro to color match to your car. I've seen plenty of poor-fitting side skirts here in LA and bad skirts are worse than none at all! Good luck.

Jon

lamski

DougE280,
A header is a part of the car's exhaust system. It is the pipe work that attaches directly to the exhaust manifold and leads to the muffler. Race and high-performance tuners try to design headers with increased air flow so that the engine exhales with as little back pressure as possible. Easier breathing = more power.
Jon

DougE280 in UK

Thanks Jon,

I'll soon know what you're all on about!

We refer to this part of the exhaust system as the "downpipe" which leads down to the silencers (your mufflers).

Why we use such different language for common parts whilst sharing so much automotive culture is baffling.

Must go and check my "windscreen washers" and "tyres" now!

Doug

pkmaven

There are special clips required to hold the lower body cladding. Any body shop who has done work on a Mercedes can mount and paint these. When the side impact strips are removed from your car there will be holes where clips held them. P.

chupper

Oh dear. This is why I call English in America, "American" and English in the UK "English."

Have any of you seen the scene in Austin Powers Goldmember where the father and Austin speak real English to each other? That would perfectly describe whats going on right here.

And Mr. Doug in the UK, is Douglas an English name? I'm german, why is my name Doug?

ARRRGGG , all this culture stuff. Why can't we all just speak American and enjoy our barbecues and tupperware parties, then go to some burger joint and order a Bacon Cheese with fries and a malt!!! :p