USA made sheet metal

[Grumpy old man]

Has anyone used Tabco restoration sheet metal on their restorations or builds ,I haven't heard of them until I read great reviews on another C10 forum geared more towards extreme dropped trucks .Seems all of their parts are made here and their prices looked good ? tabcobodyparts.com

[Livrat]

In the last 30 years I have tried practically every aftermarket panel available, I actually prefer only Tabco for SOME of the replacement/patch panels (foot wells, A pillars, B pillars, cab supports and cab corners) BUT.... NOT the rocker panels! those stampings are awful! (last month I ordered a set to see if the quality had changed in the last few years. nope. Tossed them in the scrap bin) I will only use rocker panels labeled Tri-Plus, Key Parts, Counterpart or OEM/NOS.

[67 cst swb]

Originally Posted by Livrat

In the last 30 years I have tried practically every aftermarket panel available, I actually prefer only Tabco for SOME of the replacement/patch panels (foot wells, A pillars, B pillars, cab supports and cab corners) BUT.... NOT the rocker panels! those stampings are awful! (last month I ordered a set to see if the quality had changed in the last few years. nope. Tossed them in the scrap bin) I will only use rocker panels labeled Tri-Plus, Key Parts, Counterpart or OEM/NOS

Livrat, that is great info...

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Has anyone used Tabco restoration sheet metal on their restorations or builds ,I haven't heard of them until I read great reviews on another C10 forum geared more towards extreme dropped trucks .Seems all of their parts are made here and their prices looked good ? tabcobodyparts.com

I have personally used their cab corners. They fit really good but mine were from a mid 90s production run. They are the same heavy gauge as the originals. I also ordered my lower door patches from them. They aren't quite the same shape as the original door shape but again, heavy gauge metal as original. and made in USA/ However, it took some work to make them fit.
Some of the foreign patches I made were absolutely terrible, I had to make tons of modifications to make them work. I used key parts for my rockers, those fit good but they need some tweaking to make your door gaps close. LINK

Be sure to call before you order them to verify they have the stock you need. When I placed my last order the sales guy told me when they run out of stock, sometimes they substitute some foreign metal.

I wish they made whole doors and fenders too. I think there is still a good market for these trucks.

[67swb72klb]

I used some floor repair panels and front pillar and rockers from them everything was thick metal and the floor panels were even galvanized
but the rockers needed some tweaks

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 67swb72klb

I used some floor repair panels and front pillar and rockers from them everything was thick metal and the floor panels were even galvanized
but the rockers needed some tweaks

I love the smell of that smoke that comes off of galvanized steel when its welded... the only problem is afterwards my brain hurts. Whats up with that?

[CUSTOM/10]

Originally Posted by John Gilbert

I love the smell of that smoke that comes off of galvanized steel when its welded... the only problem is afterwards my brain hurts. Whats up with that?

John,

Hope you were joking !!!!! Zink is poisonous !!!

[Molberg]

Originally Posted by John Gilbert

I love the smell of that smoke that comes off of galvanized steel when its welded... the only problem is afterwards my brain hurts. Whats up with that?

Lol!!!! An old welder told me to drink chocolate milk after welding galvanized... I find whisky more effective.

[CUSTOM/10]

It's actual true, the calcium in milk neutralizes the zink ( Or something like that ). Do a search on the internet, I doubted it too!

[leuggy]

Were can a person buy these parts

[burnin oil]

Tabco was the only compant that the local body shop would use. I ordered a whole door from them and it fit very well. The only adjustment needed was the window section needed some slight bending for a perfect fit. That was for a 76 blazer. I think that they used to buy up the original stamping dyes. That said I havent used their panels in over 15 years.

[67swb72klb]

I don't think you are supposed to snort it

[GoaterAz]

Good info in here.

Does anyone have experience with Tabco's Outer Grille Shells?

I haven't heard anything that great about aftermarket outer grills, I'm curious if theirs is any better.