Rocker Choppin

[bugsnbikes]

searched--but didnt find many who:

Chopped out their rockers to get a straighter shot out to sliders and gain a few inches of clearance.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

it seems like its quite common practice over in the rusty-55 and 60 forums. Is this too difficult on an 80 or is there something Toyota hid in there that shouldnt be let out?

 

[bhmmapping]

A couple of guys have done it here, there are writeups in the Alabama forum. Land Speeder did it in his "What about bob build"

here is another:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/al-dixieland-cruisers/389582-scallywag-modifications-round-1-a.html

I am going to cut mine when I get around to rebuilding my sliders

 

[bugsnbikes]

great link! thanks- they do it right down south

 

[dafun1]

I'm halfway through the process. I chopped my driverside and fabbed the slider, I just haven't got around to finishing the other side yet. The only issue I see is the weakening of the B-pillars, but they can be re-inforced.

 

[bugsnbikes]

any pics would be kewl!

i would especially like to see how aweful the cats look when exposed on that side.......

 

[dafun1]

I'll take some pics and post them up. I have custom exhaust with only one cat now that is tucked up as high as it possibly can be, but I will still have to angle my slider support around the exhaust at the front mounting point. I haven't cut the passenger side yet, but the slider will replace the rocker, so it should block the cat and exhaust like the rocker panel did.

After seeing the Alabama boys pics, I'm cutting straight to the body mounts like they did.. I was scared and left the pinch weld and just cut windows out for my slider arms. I'll post pics of what it looks like now. I need to get my hands on a plasma cutter!

 

[darwink1]

You dont need to chop the rocker to get a straight shot out from the frame to the slider. Just bend the pinch weld.

D

 

[Shipwreck]

Another option is to do a small 1 inch body lift. I originally planned to chop the rockers on my '97 before fabbing my sliders but after looking at the exhaust, I decided to do the body lift. The amount of fabrication to gain a little extra clearance and then still be left with that low hanging exhaust wasn't worth it for me.
After the lift I was able to raise the exhaust, rotate the cats horizontally, then route the exhaust tubing over the frame rail and also get a straight shot from the frame to the sliders. This may not be an issue with the early exhaust systems, but the in-line vertical cats and under the frame exhaust is a bigger issue than rocker clearance on the later models.

 

[dafun1]

Good points. I have a 1" body lift already and I didn't take my custom exhaust over the frame because it was just too tight. I did turn the cat flat and tucked it up high, but the front slider arm near the cat is not going to be a straight shot off the frame because of the cat location. I enjoy trimming the fat off my vehicle so I guess we just have different points of view!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

This will happen to my 80 one of these days...

 

[bugsnbikes]

This will happen to my 80 one of these days...

talk is cheap........your sawzall has been outa commission longer than Michael Vick.....get it awn and post up pics!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Ouch! You have it in your sig line: pics or stfu!

 

[72rockcruiser]

Ouch! You have it in your sig line: pics or stfu!

x2!!

 

[bugsnbikes]

Got her done......... 23" from ground to top now! thats with OME low lift and 255/85s. Plasma cutter wasnt much help--the folds on the body/crossmember areas require sawzall or cutting disc to get in there.

Cant wait for 3.5"lift and 37s next mo.----should be 28" to top then.

sliders may not be needed...........


weight of chopped rockers was 26lbs on scale.

 

[bugsnbikes]

looking at all the added clearance..............im contemplating welding .25" plate onto the "b" pillar (chopped underneath) and then shooting a full rocker length slab of 1/2" angle iron directly to the body samurai (shrockworks) style.----no attachment to the frame.

Is there any chance id bend 1/2" angle iron?

 

[silverhorse]

If you want the clearance just do a body lift.......

 

[dafun1]

Great job Bugs. My 1996 has two lines running behind the panel on the passenger side that goes to the T-case/tranny. They go underneath the cat heat shield at one point. I plan on moving those out of the way before I cut obviously. How did you deal with this area?

I've done a 1" body silverhorse, but I'm still in the process of choppin my rockers. A 2" body lift has way too many complications compared to cutting sheet metal IMHO. And besides the B-pillar area, what are rockers really for anyways?

 

[bugsnbikes]

The body crossmember channels- connect to the rockers to give strength and are a beyotch......plasma cutter worked for the bulk--but i used a 7" cutting disc on a grinder to get the tough spots that were multiple layers and folds of metal intersecting..........

all toll---- 3hrs to make it happen. Best is to cut outer curved rocker just below the doorline...............then open that piece up to access the innerds.

 

[dafun1]

I cut the line under the door with a sawzall, then went with the disc from there.

 

[bugsnbikes]

stock side by side cats are "really" low hanging fruit here.......

has anyone tried running the cat-muffler right down that side and exiting in front of the rear passenger wheel??? (omitting the funky stock routing)

If so- does anyone know a good long-skinny muffler that would fit that area?