Hey all. Hoping someone can give me some direction. Doing rocker repair work on an 01 GP Coupe. Is there anyone on this board or anywhere else for that matter that really knows these cars with regards to the actual W-Body sub-structure? With all the WBodys sold I can't be the only one that's ever run into this quandary
I'm trying to repair my rockers using as many factory parts as possible, but many have been discontinued. I was able to obtain a right rocker reinforcement and that side is almost finished, but the left is no longer available.
I have done a ton of research and what I have found is that even though the GP was redesigned for 04 there are quite a few inner structural pieces that were carried over. I can't confirm because no part numbers are available but the floor pans seem identical. It's fairly common knowledge that the front seats from an 04-08 GP are a direct bolt in to a 97-03. Many of the rails and rear suspension mounts are the same parts. I have confirmed this.
I'm hung up on the inner rocker and the inner rocker reinforcement. The outer rocker on the 04-08 is most definitely different than the 97-03, but the inner 2 components look identical on any GM part site you visit. The problem is the part numbers are different and the compatibility chart for the 04-08 parts doesn't list my car. I have inspected a few last gen GPs and the parts I can see underneath look identical. The inner components are pretty complex pieces so replicating them wouldn't be possible. I also considered buying another right reinforcement and flipping it for use on the left, but that wouldn't be easy.
I also noticed that the Impala and Monte ran from 2000-05. Same WBody as my 01 GP, right? If I look up the 2 pieces on a GM part website I see that the inner rocker and reinforcement on the 2001 Impala is the same from 2000 all the way to 2013 as well as the 06-08 GP(not sure why the 04 & 05 GP isn't included). So if a 2001 Impala is the same WBody as a 2001 GP the parts should fit right?
Maybe someone can speak to the accuracy of the GM parts sites, but I'm sure they aren't 100% accurate. ANy GM parts guys out there?
Given all this I suspect the inner rocker and reinforcements from the later GP or the Impala will work. Even if they are a little different I can tweak them.
