Aftermarket patch panels or genuine GM?

[Number21]

I was talking with my neighbor who happens to own a body shop last night about the rust in my '79 cab. Surprisingly the corners look perfect, but in the rocker area I can see the street below me.

I was planning on ordering some of the patch panels for this area from LMC or somewhere, (haven't priced them out yet) but last night my neighbor was going on and on about what crap they were. He just bought a set to put in his '69 chevy in the same place.

On the other hand, they're just small relatively flat peices, I don't see how they can be as bad as he made them sound. I wouldn't need to replace the whole rocker, just the first 8" or so.

So I'm thinking, maybe I'll just go to the junkyard with a sawzall and cut out what I need from another truck? They have quite a few of them that I think would work at the local yard. Would it really be worth the extra trouble over just ordering some new peices? I know they aren't very expensive...but the local yard is.

[N2TRUX]

Anyone have input here?

[glock35ipsc]

Personally, I would just order patch panels. You may or may not find a rust free section in the bone yard, and then you are out your time spent looking. If I have to replace metal, I would prefer to do it with clean new metal, UNLESS the donor is very solid in the area I want to rob from.

99% of patch panels produced today will need some minor tweaking to get it to fit right. It's a great day when you get one that falls right in to place.

[Driveway Dreams]

Another thing to think about is, just because you take from another truck of the same era doesn't mean it will be a direct fit. Every vehicle has some variance when built. So, you may get a good, straight, solid rocker from another truck and still have to tweak it. Your body guy should know that. Nothing is going to fit perfect unless (like said above) you get lucky on one. Just order the patch panel and know that you have new un mollested metal to put on your truck.

[Damien]

It would cost way more to cut up a solid truck to use the pieces on your then it will to get new metal. Plus you still have at least 20 year old metal. You do not need to use the entire repair panel. Rust repair is kind of an art. If you take your time you can make it fit and look good. I vote for the new metal.

[Number21]

Well, thanks for the input everyone. My neighbor can put a *****in' paint job on an old hot rod but sometimes his advice is a bit questionable....

I did however just find a '77 C20 for $350 complete, I may buy it for it's other parts and if it has the cab peices I need.....

[Driveway Dreams]

Wow! That's fair for a complete truck. By the way, where in OR are you? I got family in the Medford area.