68-72 reproduction long fleet bedsides

[Dano69c10]

Some friends and I have taking some LWB bedsides apart and we are consulting with some manufacturing engineer friends about doing some repros.

To keep costs down and not go into the red we see us being able to manufacture the outside LWB bed side sheetmetal only.

The good news is that we plan to manufacture in the USA (California), and yes, we actually used real chevy bedsides as our mock-up models. To keep retail prices down we would be the only distributor.

The bad news is that after doing analysis, we are going to have to run the machine and dies until they pretty much disintigrate, and have to sell 99% of bedsides we make. We might also have to use a different guage steel.

We do not plan to get rich off of this venture (no greed!). We want to keep more of these great trucks on the road.

The reason I'm posting this is to see if there is interest in the outside fleetside shells being made or would people only buy complete bedsides.

If this is successful, we would like to make repro doors that fit (designed from actual chevy doors), and cab parts (roofs, dashes, inside cab sheet metal etc.). We have also started taking a high hump A/C cab apart.

Dano

[roger0080]

I applaude you for your effort but if you can successfully create a stamping for the outside sheetmetal (the most important part) then you should be able to go all the way and create a stamping for the inside boxside sheet metal and finally assemble the two.

If you create just the outside skin, then something is better than nothing. But trying to marry my old inside boxside fender sheetmetal to your new outside fender would quite a job for the customer. How the heck does one pry apart the two apart moreless crimp your replacement fender back together?

Don't skimp on the thickness of the sheet metal. Nobody wants a shopping cart bumped into the panel and dent it. Those are some long pieces of metal that need the strength.

I would concentrate all my dollars and time into the fenders. That is a UNIQUE product that NOBODY has that has demand (just what you want). If they want it, they have to come and buy from you. Doors/hood/other you can buy from anyone and in order to compete you have to get customers away from the competition who have money and resources to wait you out and under price you.

Keep the QUALITY in your work and you'll have it sewn up. Made in USA alright! I'ld pay extra for that.

The bad news is that after doing analysis, we are going to have to run the machine and dies until they pretty much disintigrate, and have to sell 99% of bedsides we make.

Uh? To wear the dies out you are going to have to pump out millions of these or else you are doing something wierd here. Why wouldn't you want to produce a these till the dies wear out (ie. dollars are flowing in, why turn the money machine off)?

You should do some market research and see what people are willing to pay for a complete fleetside box side made in the USA and see if you can still do it.

Good luck.

[Jim_PA]

Originally Posted by roger0080

I applaude you for your effort but if you can successfully create a stamping for the outside sheetmetal (the most important part) then you should be able to go all the way and create a stamping for the inside boxside sheet metal and finally assemble the two.

I agree.

To me, the advantage of a complete bedside is that any idiot thinks he can replace one himself (myself included).

If you were to just do the outer part, I think you'd lose a lot of potential customers, as I don't think most of us are body repair experts, and we'd probably just keep hunting for a bed that's in better shape than the one we currently have.....

I was quoted 500.00 to install a rear patch panel (from midway of wheel well to tail light). That's not very cost effective to someone like me. I'll either keep what I have, or find a better bed.

[70GMCer]

I remember back in 88' a friend of mine in California repro'd the tail light assemblies for the 56 Chevy cars. The dies, he told me, cost around $50,000. That was back then, and just a small die for that price. I seem to remember that the sale price for the repo'd lights were $300 for the pair. I lost contact with him over the years, so I don't know how long before he broke even with in that investment. I can't imagine what it would cost for a bedside die.....

[special-K]

I`d like to see floors made.Alot of bedsides outlast the floors.How many 1/2 decent beds have you seen that are only rusted behind the wheels in the floor or have floors that are all banged-up?I`ve passed on alot of bedsides that haverust on the inner panel and none on the out,too.
I would think outer skins would be more prone for distortion and shipping damage.Good beds go for $1,200 or more.I`d be willing to pay $800+/- for an OEM quality bedside.I have two 6`California bedsides I gladly paid $400 each for back when the repros first came out.

[ChevyMex]

When ever you need a lon bed, just go to Mexico (north) and you can find a rust free bed for 300 bucks.

[longhorn70gmc]

Ever see any Longhorn beds down there?

[northerngmc]

classicchev, I pm'ed you about the bedsides.

Do you still have a left one for sale?

[1970C10LWB]

If You Want Goto Impalas.com This Is The Sight For Impala Bobs He Also Sells Chevy Truck Parts And He Has The Front Half And The Rear Half For A Longbed Chevy 67-72 You Just Have To Weld Together And Do Some Bodywork On Them. Better Tham Nothing I Guess