The cowls from GMC Pauls, are those a direct fit?

[In The Ten Ring]

Panel Deland, you tried man, and I don't hold it against you, but that cowl you gave me, it turns out it was pretty badly rusted after all. Oh well, if was fun meeting you, helping you with the hood, sitting in your panel, and then seeing my friend afterwards.

So, I am willing to try a replacement part here, has anyone tried the repop hood-to-windshield cowl panels from GMC Pauls? What is your opinion? Do those bolt right in like NOS or OEM?

[In The Ten Ring]

ttt. Need help here guys!

[Redline novdog]

pretty badly rusted? in my neck of the woods,If it doesn't have holes in it clean/fill/paint.If it was free weld up the antennae hole(if it has one),and smooth it.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by Redline novdog

pretty badly rusted? in my neck of the woods,If it doesn't have holes in it clean/fill/paint.If it was free weld up the antennae hole(if it has one),and smooth it.

Media blaster found LOTS of holes, large and small. And hey, I like the antenna right where GM put it.

Anyone actually tried the GMC Paul's cowl?

[jocko]

I've been through this before - cowl panels are for sale quite often on the parts board and even on ebay. I'd personally try to find a decent factory one (edit: another one, I mean), even if it needed a little prep and TLC, than have to worry about fit (or the additional cost of the repop). GMC Paul's stuff is usually high quality - so if you couldn't find a replacement GM cowl, that would probably be the best alternative. Haven't seen many repop parts that fit well though - and I've seen some cowls fit absolutely horribly, so I'd try for a factory piece real hard before I went with aftermarket for a panel like this. Sorry - know I didn't answer your question other than to say the GMC Paul's stuff is usually high quality - but then again, I STILL can't shut my doors all the way on those new door seals without a good stiff slam... When I went looking for one, I found it in under a week (for the 71 custom camper I had, needed a replacement pretty bad because of camper brace damage where the struts attach to the cowl)

[special-K]

Get a used one. I find them with no surface rust on the back side at all. It depends on how well they got primed. Next one with surface rust just put rust converter on, prime, and paint. Blasting isn't a real good idea on sheet metal you don't want pinholes in or warped. Save that for prepping to patch

[In The Ten Ring]

Thanks guys. I now have several lines on replacements on the parts forum.

I know GMCPaul's is a good place for parts but I wanted an unbiased opinion. Thanks again everyone.

[Redline novdog]

I had a factory cowl given to me and I welded up the antenna hole. I hope you're aftermarket cowl is good. I just like to hear that someone is saving/restoring/building one of these trucks. Best looking out there!

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by Redline novdog

I had a factory cowl given to me and I welded up the antenna hole. I hope you're aftermarket cowl is good. I just like to hear that someone is saving/restoring/building one of these trucks. Best looking out there!

Thanks man. If I welded (had the welding class teacher do it) up the antenna hole I wouldn't have a radio!

I'm going back for an original look, or as much as I can.