Reproduction Body Panels

[58CHEVYAPACHE]

I just bought a 1958 Chevy Apache 31 fleet bed. It needs a lot work, just wondering about buying reproduction body panels. Which ones are good and which ones are not and is there anywhere on the east coast to buy them so I don't have to pay shipping.

[OrrieG]

I used all my original parts. since no one is answering you might want to do a deep search using the box above. from what I have seen here some are good, some are better, but all will need some modification to fit. Even the original panels are different from truck to truck depending on which plant it was made at. These were originally work trucks, fit and finish was got that great, in the thread you will see discussions about poor door gaps, fender alignment, body line alignment etc. You have to decide what your level of anal retentiveness is and go from there. If your truck has been wrecked, is badly rusted, etc. then the fit will be a bigger hassle.

[dicer]

They are not perfect. But nothing really was on these trucks, even NOS doors didn't fit good. The best way to think about it is, the repro parts are better than nothing at all. And way better than rusted out messes and fiberglassing it. I don't think a person could make a part as good as a bad resto part out of a piece of sheet metal, even if they were the best there was at banging sheet metal.

There are lots of places around that sell them. And they are all pretty much the same.

[pvienneau]

Bowtie Bits

[58CHEVYAPACHE]

Thanks for the help. Truck has been sitting for 30 years on four flats on dirt but with a roof over it. Fenders gone on the bottom, hoods good , cab corners gone couple inches up, couple holes in the floor but looks like a great project.

[Daze57]

post some picts of that bad boy !

[58CHEVYAPACHE]

I will soon as I figure out how to.
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[58CHEVYAPACHE]

Attachment 1131579
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Of course it's upside down

[58CHEVYAPACHE]

Can turn for some reason
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[_Ogre]

looks like mother earth is trying to reclaim it slowly into the ground
lmctruck.com and brotherstrucks.com has everything you need

[blue57]

I would spend some time trying to find original parts, But like OrrieG said even original parts may not fit properly 100% of the time. I ended up patching my doors and fenders do to the better fitment. I had picked up a driver side front reproduction that actually had really nice gaps, but the body line was off my 3/4". Some guys buy the repops and just use the skins to patch. All up to what your looking to do.

[TX58]

I Bought front fenders and the complete bed from Dynacorn. The parts seem to be well made. Still haven't installed them yet,that will be the true test.
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[faribran]

You may not want to hear it, but I like the current patina
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[58CHEVYAPACHE]

I like the patina too but there is to much rot. Thanks for all the help I'm sure this won't be my last question.