Sheet Metal
 

Looking for opinions on where to buy the best quality sheet metal for my 54 5 window. Fenders, hood, rear fenders, etc... Thanks in advance.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

I was really pleased with fixmyrust.com

Re: Sheet Metal
 

You will get many answers by using the Google search up above.
Be sure to"check" the 67-72 box.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

I'm kind of opinionated on this stuff. My 57 has junk Chinese crap for doors and fenders. The lines aren't great and the fit is worse. I realize that you are far away from the west but if possible id search for some straight, rust free originals. You won't be disappointed like I was in the aftermarket junk on my truck. My inner fenders came from a west Texas truck that I had shipped to my house in Virginia from eBay. Now that I love in the desert I realize that there is still quite a bit of good oe parts around. I'm confident you can get good used parts cheaper than repro stuff as well. One of these days I plan to pull my repro stuff in favor of used oe stuff.
If I were to do mine again from the start, I would go this route. Just my .02.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

I'd imagine no matter the seller, most of the aftermarket parts are from the same neighborhood in China. I agree 100% with 57taskforce, fair to decent factory parts are worth looking for.

I used a lot of aftermarket parts on my 50, but fit and finish wasn't a top priority, rough looking old shop truck was the goal.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

sounds like your in the market for a parts truck
start cruising craigslist within a 300 mile radius on searchtempest or ebay

Re: Sheet Metal
 

Not exactly the news I wanted but.......I was hoping there were some quality vendors with high quality parts out there somewhere. I've looked for oem parts but haven't had much luck yet. Thanks for all the advice.

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Search eBay I've seen lots of decent parts on there in the past as I mentioned that's where my inner fenders came from

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I live in New England and there are not many AD or TF trucks and parts locally so finding OEM is hard for me too. Whenever I do find one, it is usually in worst shape than mine (came from IA). I bought floor patch panels and front fenders from Classic Industries but I haven't got to the point of installing them yet. I would too be interested if there was one particular vendor that had good repop sheet metal since I need to order more patch panels.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

Panels vary by maker in fit and finish. Ask a vendor here what panels they use and which maker fits your particular year and model. Counter parts, Dynacorn and Key parts all make or import from a stamper and each has a different fit. Remember your truck is not perfect and it may well be out of whack not the panel. Some 54 and 55 st panels may not be reproduced and you will have to find used. I use Dynacorn when possible because I have assembled an almost complete 1950 truck from their parts with much less effort that was expected.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

Some guys here have found that the best strategy is to get a new panel and graft it to the original panel portion with the alignment and mounting holes intact (see Bam's build thread). I am currently having issues with my passenger fender/door/cab/hood alignment (all original parts) because the truck had been hit in the front and I "corrected" the previous body mans bent metal. I now suspect it was in the shape it was to get the panels to align.

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I would love to get the real deal on the repop parts manufacturers. I think, that even with the Chinese subsidizing and screwing with currency values, that it's still alot of money to tool up a manufacturing facility and make parts for a somewhat limited market. I supect its all coming from the same plant in Tawain or somewhere. What do you think?

Re: Sheet Metal
 

As a friend of mine once said years ago when he pulled a reproduction part for his Vette out of a box that just came in the mail.

"It says in the catalog Exactly as original. If they wanted to be honestly they would say Similar to original, can be used if nothing else is available."

I'd say that's as honest as it comes. I REFUSE to use any reproduction parts on my cars. Only rubber or plastic is about it. There is ALWAYS something better than reproduction, with these trucks MILLIONS were made and plenty are still out there. You are better off buying damaged original parts and paying to repair them or repair them yourself.

Let me make this clear, the reproduction parts WILL NOT FIT. So you will have to work your butt off to make them fit, you might as well work your butt off on original parts that you paid less for.

Brian

Re: Sheet Metal
 

I wish someone could just tell us "Vendor A has better panels than Vendor B."

I didn't look where you are all from but I live in RI and the salt kills everything here. A trip to the Midwest for some fenders is out of the question. Not buying used original parts site unseen either.

Re: Sheet Metal
 

All I can tell you that I personally know is that LMC truck has killer customer service and will do anything for the customer. But honestly, they mostly all get their sheet metal from sources that get them from the same manufacturers. I believe it is pretty much a crap shoot.

Brian

Re: Sheet Metal
 

http://www.autometaldirect.com/index.php

I will say a friend of mine bought panels from these folks for a 67 Chevelle project. The panels fit like factory and didn't require any "massaging" for installation. Prices were higher than other manufacturers, but the old saying comes to mind, "you get what you pay for".

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This stuff never fit or worked right in '54.But,people didn't know any better.So many inconsistencies of the original panels make it impossible to make one that fits now.I think you just have to accept that and be willing and ready to cut,grind and weld.It is what it is.That is why many people suggest to find reasonable priced, reasonable condition original stuff.You most likely are going to hack some of it up anyways.The original stuff was of pretty heavy gauge, and can take to welding pretty easily.If you bolt stuff up and it fits good, go buy a lottery ticket.

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I have said it before, last year LMC sold me the repro hood and driver's fender, as well as inner/outer lower door repair panels.
The LMC company was easy to deal with.

I had everything shipped by truck directly to my body shop and they were very pleased with the fit and quality.
I am very satisfied, too. Check out my "Roof" thread for way too many pictures.

What more can we ask for? :mm:

Re: Sheet Metal
 

Good info. Since there is so much difference in body panels on these trucks, getting original panels seems like it would be just as much if not more work to get them to fit right. At least the new panels are cleaner/not rotted. Patches are patches I suppose, getting ones in the "general" shape of what you need to patch is easier than forming your own sheet metal. But for whole repop parts, such as doors, fenders, etc., I feel that it would be easier to work on new repop metal to get it to fit right than fight with say an original fender from another truck that's panels are off from what you originally had.... if any of that makes sense.

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Probably going to be kind of a pain in the ass regardless what you do. Haha

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I'd say to look for original fenders and doors in good shape instead of aftermarket.