The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

I've searched. I've researched and searched some more.
No clear answer.....yet.
Im window shopping for '72 C10 sheet metal.
So far I've determined that at least two manufacturers of sheet metal exist and sell through numerous vendors. AMD and Key. Are there other manufacturers?
Im just looking at this time but it seems that there is a difference in quality fit and finish. And also newer vs older suggesting an improvement in quality over time.
So my question is the same question that others have asked repeatedly.
Who manufactures the highest quality reproduction sheet metal?
How can I avoid first run crap that vendors might be trying to unload?
I keep hearing that all sheet metal comes from the same source overseas and it does not matter which vendor you buy from, it's all the same. But AMD and Key both claim differently. Are they using a verbal shell game to hide the communal source of all sheet metal from customers?

Im not trying to disparage the manufacturers or vendors. Im going to make a i time purchase of sheet metal, doors, fenders and bed sides and would rather pay more for a better part. Like everybody else, I want to know from somebody with direct experience rather than others with opinions.

Thank you for any help you may offer.

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

The only real path for you is to buy from a quality vendor like Paul's GMC or Wes at Classic Heartbeat. Vendors who care that their customers get the best products available.

Like every product manufactured in China the supplier who contracts for products only has so much control over products they received. It is very common for a factory to contract to build 500 units of a product and then turn around and manufacture 700 units. The extra 200 units cover any substandard products that the original contractor rejects.

The rejects and any units that were not needed to fill the original order get packaged (Sometimes in the exact boxes as the original order) and unbeknownst to the original contractor, sold to a 3rd party and distributed to wholesalers at a discount to be sold on the market. If a certain product gets a reputation as poor, the packaging is changed and the product rebranded. This not just a problem for boutique products like 67-72 fenders but major OE's like Bosch and Delphi have to constantly fight this kind of counterfeiting and fraud. Alibaba, Amazon, eBay and others make this type of criminal activity easy to perpetrate and hard to prosecute, not to mention profitable.

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

My '70 C10 is in the body shop, at The Legendary Garage, right now. The best, useable items I've replaced have been ordered from Key Parts - lower front fender patch panel, lower A pillar (w/captive nuts), front bed panel, rear bed floor section and front cab supports. Useable items with typical fitment mods include driver's front floor section and inner rockers labeled Counterpart, from NPD. NPD items not used, due to poor fitment, were cab corners (less labor to repair the original pieces) and front cab supports. Both doors were sourced from AMD and were excellent, as far as the outer skin, but with some fitment inconsistencies L to R. Again, probably typical, as the cabs were also never perfect. My biggest surprise was the NOS GM outer rockers (that were purchased in the early '90s) that took some mods to achieve good fitment.
I'm just thankful we are in a time when aftermarket support for these trucks is so plentiful.

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

As everyone says the aftermarket sheet metal is a crap shoot. I purchased a Dynacorn bed floor for my 72 and to my surprise it fit perfectly. Bought a Dynacorn bed front and tailgate another time. The top roll on the bed front wasn't a correct fit in the bed sides. Rolled portion too small. Sold it and had mine fixed. Never tried the tailgate. Had mine fixed and sold it for more than I paid. Bought fender tubs for inside the bed. Don't know the brand, but they were a nightmare. Bought a front inner fender and it fit ok after using picks and awls to line up holes to get bolts started. I was going to buy an aftermarket front fender from the same vendor and he actually told me they were "junk" and to find a used one if possible. I did. If you look up Dynacorn they claim their tooling is always upgraded. Sure. FYI the guy I bought the Dynacorn from is big on Chevelles and Camaros and that's what he uses.
Good hunting

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

I will go along with HO455 on this. Sounds like you answered your questions. I have bought from different suppliers and have used both types of manufactures you mention.

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

A member here on the forum mentioned this company in Texas was Great.

Link: https://www.goldenstarauto.com/contact-us

I as HO55 mentioned get my parts from a local business that can somewhat control what He gets.

Re: The dead horse of sheet metal quality...
 

72 C10, so far, I've ordered everything, cab corners, outer rockers, outer floors, door skins, floor braces, inner door bottoms, bed sides and front bed panel, from AMD and all fit well except cab corners. They were like the book Men are from Venus women from Mars. I reordered from LMC and they were slightly better but had to be cut up to use. I used Key Products A and B pillar lower patches, they fit OK.