Rocker Panel Rodents!

[elacruze]

We replaced both rocker panels, not because they were rusty but because both were basically crushed. My body guy said his jaw dropped when he found both sides packed with rodent nesting material, and immediately wondered how many cars he's painted/restored/repaired the rockers on without ever looking way up inside them. He said that though they were very solid, it would only have been a matter of time before the humidity and material rusted them out from the inside. He borescoped the rockers on one of his other cars and found a similar condition.

Has anybody looked inside their rockers and found nothing to worry about?

[tan top]

 looked in mine !!  with a scope  nothing to to see  ,although  quite a bit of  Texas dust/dirt sand!  took some getting out with compressed air & a a long thin tube attached to a shop vac   but once cleaned out ( best part of the day to do all frame rails also !) looked like the day it was built

[Hemidog]

I found lots of sand and nesting material in both rockers.

[JerseyJoe]

I discovered nesting junk in mine when I punched through while drilling spot welds. Wrapped up in the bit really fast, too.

[NGC414]

I found an old silver steak knife in my rear 1/4 panel between the trunk extension when I was replacing the trunk extensions. I imagine it would be picnic or holiday related.

[68X426]

After the clean out, and before you plug or otherwise cover any openings, stuff in a few wads of plain old steel wool inside. It irritates the hell out of the little creatures and will stop 'em when they still try to get in.

[jaak]

There used to be a pic here somewhere, where someone found a "mummified" rat in their rocker panel.

Jason

[69bronzeT5]

No idea yet.....I'll find out when mine come off.

[Brock Lee]

I found a mummified rat when I removed my headliner. It was dried up against the brace near the dome light.

[TylerCharger69]

I DID however...find a pair of pants looking up inside where i cut the lower portion of the frontside quarter off....They were wedged up in the sail panel!!!....Still in one piece too!!!

[bull]

Do they fit you?

[69DodgeCharger]

Nothing in mine but a bunch of Arizona red dust and sand. Every once in a while I will still get some out of the frame holes when blowing air through them.

[68pplcharger]

Inside of rockers looked ok, except a mound of rodent nest. Cleaned out and waiting to put on the rotisserie.

[Highbanked Hauler]

I found lots of sand and nesting material in both rockers.

Same here and in both cars the rockers were filled. Mine did sit in a field for about 10 years.

[PA Dodger]

Yep, found it when I was removing the factory lead from the quarter/rocker area. It started smoldering. Smelled real good.
Also had a thick wire sticking out of my rear frame rail. The wire turned out to be a tail on a mummified mouse.
The worst one was a large nest in the left corner of the cowl (69' Charger). Because of the mouse pee that corner was starting to get nasty rust. The only way to clean it out was remove the vent box and reach in.