Hi guys,

bought my bonny last fall. I'd been looking for a blk ssei for awhile. This spring doing some routine maintenance and cleanings i discovered the rocker panels are rotted. I know of this is an issue for bonnys. But is it worth the 3000.00 to 5000.00 to fix................ the estimates i got are 20 hours per side and 5 hours to paint.@ 54.00 per hour.

this being an important part of the torque box. can it be over looked and patched good enough to just be able to hold up rocker cover molding?

I was planning on this being a car id hold on too and now i don't know if it is worth it..dh2

For 3k-5k you could get a newer Bonnie

I'd think for 5k you could find a super clean low mileage 1999 SSEi driven by Grandpa in AZ or CA. If the rockers are rotted, what else is rotted, fuel lines, brake lines, etc.

everything else looks good . under doors have a little surface rust..........guess i got caught up in wanting the blk ssei i didn't look at it that close..

Get a new estimate..that is ridiculous.

That is what i was thinking. i found replacement panels. thinking of trying to do it myshelf...

it is only the outer metal and is covered up by the rocker cover any way.. or maybe i will just pop rivot some metal on to hold on the cover the way it is...........i'll take some pics and post them.

take alook under carpet just inside driver door. there may be a squareish ruberized cover. If so make sure it isn't rotten there as well.

Considering the year, it'* value, and I assume you don't owe anything on it. I'd pressure wash it all out, primer the best you can, do the pop riveting you mentioned, touch up paint and move on. Get your use out if it and look for a replacement along the way. The car isn't worth the effort I see needed in those pics for a reputable body shop to do it right. Bondo'ing it in will only trap water, make it worse and fall out. Thats alot more than " a little surface rust." Take the denial goggles off.

thanks for all your replys guys i guess this will be a project for me to tackle. the rest of the car is good. i didnt realize how bad these get or i would of checked closer but this is what i have been looking for for awhile.. love this style bonnie, newer ones look to much like a gp and their not for me...

I always figured that happens because of the "lazy type" washer. Puts in 8 quarters, quickly does the body and never stoops and gets the salt and mud off what he can't see.