1992 Explorer side skirts | Ford Explorer Forums

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1992 Explorer side skirts

squirell

Member
Joined
February 10, 2004
Messages
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City, State
Bayside N.Y
Year, Model & Trim Level
92 XLT
Hi Newbie here ,
I just got a 92 XLT 4 door and want to cover up a rust spot on the rocker panel.

Anyone know where I can get factory looking sideskirts
(THE ONES THAT RUN ALONG THE ROCKER PANELS),
or a source for used ones.
Also what model did them come on ?

Any sources for patch panels ?

Thanx in advance.
I can see this site will save me lots of time and money.
 



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Ahh good old rust on the dog legs.. I would first try to stop the rust before trying to cover it up.. You can find rocker panel covers if your lucky @ a junk yard..
 






Correct me if I'm wrong but your 92 doesn't have the tupperware. So you need the metal. The way to really get rid of it is to weld in a patch, grind and sand the seam, prime and paint.
You could find tupperware off a 93 or 94 that would bolt right on and hide the rust, but that would be hiding it, not fixing it.
 






That is correct ,I don't have the "tupperware".
I would be happy to just cover up the rusted area.
Any sources for patch panels or aftermarket side skirts that are similar to OEM ones ?

So that means that 93-94 explorers all have them ?

Thanx
 






RUST

Squirell,

I'm in the same situation. I have some rust on my '92 that I want to cover up. I'm not mechanically inclined or up on the lingo so could someone explain what "tupperware" I'm missing. I do better with visuals, so pictures of "tupperware" and side skirts would be helpful too. I looked at the Explorer Express website and they have chrome rocker molding. Would that work?
 






Originally posted by squirell
That is correct ,I don't have the "tupperware".
I would be happy to just cover up the rusted area.
Any sources for patch panels or aftermarket side skirts that are similar to OEM ones ?

So that means that 93-94 explorers all have them ?

Thanx

I do not think ALL 93 and 94's had tupperware. All 93 and 94 Sports (2-doors) did have it. But that won't help you since you have a 4-door truck and that would be too long between the wheels for the tupperware to fit.

I think the XLT/Limited/EB rocker panels are separate parts from the rest of the body. I don't own a 4-door to know for sure. My buddy has a 93 XLT 4-door so I'll have to pay closer attention to his next time I see that truck. If they are indeed removable, bolt-on pieces as I think, then perhaps you can scour local junkyards for some un-rusted rocker panels. Good luck, as I see a lot of rust on those vintage rockers...
 






Re: RUST

Originally posted by mkcrawford
Squirell,

I'm in the same situation. I have some rust on my '92 that I want to cover up. I'm not mechanically inclined or up on the lingo so could someone explain what "tupperware" I'm missing. I do better with visuals, so pictures of "tupperware" and side skirts would be helpful too. I looked at the Explorer Express website and they have chrome rocker molding. Would that work?

Tupperware is the term used to describe the heavy plastic moulding on the rocker panels and fender lips of 93-94 Sports. It's simply a plastic piece attached over the metal body panels.

If the EE chrome rocker moulding is for your year of truck, then it would work, but that would be more expensive than re-welding, and would change the look of your truck. It's all about what YOU want to do..
 






Re: RUST

Originally posted by mkcrawford
Squirell,

I'm in the same situation. I have some rust on my '92 that I want to cover up. I'm not mechanically inclined or up on the lingo so could someone explain what "tupperware" I'm missing. I do better with visuals, so pictures of "tupperware" and side skirts would be helpful too. I looked at the Explorer Express website and they have chrome rocker molding. Would that work?

I looked on that site,and it seems they only have it for 96-up.
Also it doesn't cover the rocker panel,
only the lower part of the door.
 






You can get the side skirts of another 1st gen...but you'll have to drill holes in your rockers that correspond the the clips that you have to use to secure the side skirt to your rocker pannel. BUT you really need to try to stop the rust. Here's what I did.

**NOTE** NOT THE BEST WAY

Went to auto zone and bought a can of fiberglass bondo, and regular bondo, get sand paper, and if you don't have a sanding block get one of those too, and make sure you have somehting to mix and apply the bondo with. And a can of herculiner or I used duplicolor bed liner and the brushes needed to apply it.

1) knoock out all the rust and dirt that will be in your rockers...get it all out, I used a shop vac and a screwdriver to get it. This will make the rust hole much much bigger...but you need to get the rust out.

2) start building up a good base in the clean rocker pannel using the figerglass bondo (it's stronger than regular, but a PITA to use). You dont' have to worry too much about making it pretty right now, we're just getting a base built up.

3)Once your base is built up so that the hole is mostly full, get the regular bondo and start to fill in....while you do this TRY to make it sort of conform to the contour of the rockers.

4) As you get close to filling it all in it's time to sand...and sand...and sand...and sand...do it until the new patch matches the contour of the rocker. There will be little low spots though, just fill in and sand more...try to get it as close as possible so the side skirts will fit snugly against the pacth, but not so snugly that the patch deforms the side skirt.

5) Since your putting side skirts on you'll have to figure out a way to transfer the points where the clips that attach the tupperware are supposed to go.

6) drill out those point, you won't need a big whole here, just make sure that the hole is not as wide as the clips, or else they won't have anything to hold on to.

7) Use rubberized undercoating and spray it in the newly drilled holes in your rocker pannels....hopefully this will help seal the rust out and repel/minimizes the damage that water will cause.

8) Nows the time to use the bed liner. Mask off the rocker pannels so you can make it fairly straight and paint the rockers with the bed liner paint. Don't worry...when you put the side skirts on it will cover 95% of the black bed liner.

9) When finishied with all of this put the rockers on. You should see about a 1/2 inch bead of bed liner, but it's a hell of a lot better than rust holes.

I did this nearly a year ago and it still looks great. It was one of the best things I could have done. Now eventually I will simply replace the rockers, and dog legs (which is the best way)...but for now it works and looks really good.

Hope that helps!!!
CP :D
 






We do carry smooth running boards that would probably do the trick. As a matter of fact we have a few discontinued styles that would be a bargain.

It would be good see a picture of the rust area.

Otherwise, you could see if Mike at Auto Gator might have some for you. 800-252-6662
 






CodePoet,
Thank you for the instructions,
The rust spot isn't really too big.
I have done bodywork many a times before this
(I used to be into 70-80's Cherokees and Wagoners
and am doing a 55 Chevy Prostreet now)
and I suck at it.

Just when I think it's gonna come out great,
the paint dries and looks like a title wave. LOL
If I could find something to cover it I plan on using
POR-17 to nuturalise the exsisting rust.
That stuff really works .

JOHN V,
Do you have any "sample" pictures of what you have ?
I would be very interested on a cheap EASY fix.
It just needs to cover 90% high of the rocker panel,
exactly the same amount of the "tupperware" on 93-94's Explorers.
If you need me to I will take a pic of the spot and e-mail it to you.
I havn't figured out how to post pix yet :rolleyes:
 






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