Actually I would be surprised if the outer rocker panels were considered as structural on a w115 or w123.

As far as I know, on most cars they are not. For example, rockers are the one area where many bodyshops will still fabricate repair sections as they can use thin metal stock to do so.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

when in doubt replicate what the factory did, weld it. The rockers may not be "structural" in the strictest form, I would argue they are, but they sure do add significant strength to the rigidity of the vehicle over all. Bonding adhesives are fantastic and I don't doubt that they would work but you cant go wrong with welds. if your concerned about rust creeping in over the next 40 years, keep the car maintained and clean, that will help slow the re-rusting process.

I'm 90% sure the same thickness steel is used on the floor pan and the sills / rockers / longerons (whatever you want to call them!) on a W123. I think the roof is also the same thickness. These flimsy bits of steel are made stiff by pressing funny shapes in them, punching holes in them with a lipped edge, bending them into awkward positions and tacking them together.

So far I've identified slightly thicker steel plates on the front of the W123 down the side of the car behind the front wings / fenders just below those horrible rot prone bonnet / hood spring pockets. The rest of the body structure from the fire wall back seems to me to be of the same gauge (thickness) steel. (Even the long beam that the differential is bolted on - but I'll check that)

Only at the front can I find real thick "reinforced" bits such as the two beams that hold on the lower cross member for the engine mounts, and the two little out rigger bits that lots of people recommend as lifting points instead of the more flimsy looking jacking holes in the rockers... oh yes and some almost after thought add-ons for the gear box mounting points!

My point being? Compared to a 1950s ladder chassis it all looks like it will bend by the time it reaches the first corner!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!