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3 Posts
Hello everyone! It is my first post here and hopefully not the last, but I registered because I've been banging my head off a wall trying to get something on my truck figured out this past summer and need someone's expertise on the matter.
I own a '97 Sierra SLE extended cab with the 5.0L V8 that I picked up used last summer with 250,000 kilometers on it. Despite running like a charm it has been an uphill battle against rampant corrosion because I live in an area of the world where there is more salt on the road than pavement during the winter, and the previous owner didn't believe in rust prevention. I have replaced the inner and outer front fenders, passenger rocker panel and cab corner and the entire box, and even had to reinforce the frame with steel slippers because the bottom of the c-channels rotted out and caused my rear shock mounts to snap off.
But I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - save for one last major item of concern. Under my cab on the passenger side where the exhaust runs along is a single molded panel that has rotted out. It has a big ugly hole which in turn is eating into the floor and crossmember directly under the passenger seat.
What the heck is this thing called?!
I have searched the Internet for weeks with absolutely no result: "heat shield", "cab exhaust pan", "floor catalytic panel"; every single combination of words that I can think to describe this one long panel has some up with everything but. I have gone to local parts stores and even my local GM dealership and no one has any idea of what I'm talking about, and only tells me that no one makes it.
Can someone please help me? I can provide images if needed. What is it called and does anyone out there manufacture replacements? Because if I leave that hole the corrosion is going to eat through my crossmember and floor pan.
I own a '97 Sierra SLE extended cab with the 5.0L V8 that I picked up used last summer with 250,000 kilometers on it. Despite running like a charm it has been an uphill battle against rampant corrosion because I live in an area of the world where there is more salt on the road than pavement during the winter, and the previous owner didn't believe in rust prevention. I have replaced the inner and outer front fenders, passenger rocker panel and cab corner and the entire box, and even had to reinforce the frame with steel slippers because the bottom of the c-channels rotted out and caused my rear shock mounts to snap off.
But I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - save for one last major item of concern. Under my cab on the passenger side where the exhaust runs along is a single molded panel that has rotted out. It has a big ugly hole which in turn is eating into the floor and crossmember directly under the passenger seat.
What the heck is this thing called?!
I have searched the Internet for weeks with absolutely no result: "heat shield", "cab exhaust pan", "floor catalytic panel"; every single combination of words that I can think to describe this one long panel has some up with everything but. I have gone to local parts stores and even my local GM dealership and no one has any idea of what I'm talking about, and only tells me that no one makes it.
Can someone please help me? I can provide images if needed. What is it called and does anyone out there manufacture replacements? Because if I leave that hole the corrosion is going to eat through my crossmember and floor pan.
