Who makes the best patch panels.

[rs74]

Right now just looking for the inner and outer rockers. Just looking for the same gauge metal and a good fit. I know there are alot of makers out there but what companies does it all come down to when talking sheetmetal. I am sure this has been gone over a million times.

[Nin92]

I've heard LMC is junk and always have fitment problems. I've researched to find the a better replacement panel company and I've heard good things about Tabco. I plan on using them to replace my cab corners. Best thing is that they're made in the USA.

[rs74]

I just crawled out from under neath mine and I am going to need cab corners too and maybe some patch pieces for the floors as well. It is in worse condition than I thought. I am starting to think about pulling the cab off and blasting the frame down to. It is looking flaky in areas.

Man this is starting to turn into more than I anticipated.

[Maroon_Madness]

Has anyone ever used brothers chevy for panel replacement?

[riz]

Honestly, I just used LMC for my rockers and they were great. The fitment was fine and they were nice parts. I'm sure you'd get the same part from Brothers or a number of other places. They all range around the same price and are going to be extremely similar parts. I used them on my recent K5 project and will buy from them again for my C-10 project this year.



RIZ

[mopar346]

I would think there is still enough good original sheet metal out there to work with. I have an 82/83 out back that has good rockers that I am gonna strap. The driver's cab corner is also good I'm pretty sure but the passenger's side needs work (cause I need one of those). It was hit in the back and the rear of the cab is damaged so I'm cutting it apart. I'll check the floors and if they are good I can just cut the bottom of the cab off and ship it if you will pay shipping. I need the A/C hole and the bottom of the A pillars myself. If you are interested I can send pictures when I get home (about 2 weeks).

Mods: this is not a for sale this is just friends helping freinds.

[LEEVON]

They are not all the same. You can spend the same money from the same vendor or different vendors and get crap or get lucky. Generally speaking sheet metal by Key Parts is high quality.

Example: my buddy ordered a cab corner from LMC an it was 21/22ga Taiwanese junk. I ordered the same exact cab corner from LMC and it was a nice Key Parts 18ga piece. The cheap pieces are poorly stamped and waaay lighter than stock metal. The point is that LMC doesn't manufacture, they are a re-seller. There are only a handful of manufacturers, maybe as few as 3 or 4 factories? I don't know the top of the supply chain but stick with a vendor who is dilligent about making sure you get the best. GMC Paul's comes to mind...or any of our board vendors should be able to answer your the simple question of who manufactures their parts and what gauge they are. If they can't, call the next guy. Internet ordering makes things simple, but picking up the phone is still important sometimes.

Here's a listing of Key Part's replacement panels for our trucks.

http://www.keypartsonline.com/servle...987/Categories

[mopar346]

Does AMD make parts for these trucks? I know their car sheet metal is far superior to anything else out there, fit and finish wish.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by mopar346

I would think there is still enough good original sheet metal out there to work with. I have an 82/83 out back that has good rockers that I am gonna strap. The driver's cab corner is also good I'm pretty sure but the passenger's side needs work (cause I need one of those). It was hit in the back and the rear of the cab is damaged so I'm cutting it apart. I'll check the floors and if they are good I can just cut the bottom of the cab off and ship it if you will pay shipping. I need the A/C hole and the bottom of the A pillars myself. If you are interested I can send pictures when I get home (about 2 weeks).

Mods: this is not a for sale this is just friends helping freinds.

Thanks mopar, I will keep that in mind. I do have a few cabs around here but have been hesitant to cut them up. I just got off of Tabco's sebsite and they seem to be reasonable on their parts. I talked to my body guy and he says that he gets most of his stuff through Keystone. Anyone know anything about them. I have a little spot on the bedside that needs attention and he said it would probably be cheaper to buy a complete bedside and replace it rather than cut out and patch.

[LEEVON]

Keystone is good.

Fair warning, ALL of the aftermarket bedsides SUCK and there are no US manufacturers for them currently. The tailight buckets don't fit, they have poor lines, symetry, you name it.

[riz]

I must have gotten the good stuff from LMC because my rockers were quality parts that fit and worked great. It's not good hearing that LMC isn't consistant with the same parts however.

RIZ

[Low87]

CaptKaos sells nice replacement body parts.
73-87chevytrucks.com

[rs74]

Let me ask this. If looking for panels then isn't there a standard like the QS9000 or ISO that means that they meet the standards of the factory parts. Doesn't that mean that they have to be pretty much the same in every way. I am looking at a parts book that my body guy gave me to look at and that is what it says on the back of its book.

[mopar346]

I have NEVER run across a piece of aftermarket sheetmetal that was equivalent to factory parts. Thickness, sharoness of bends, fitment any or all of the above.

[burb1085]

Rock auto sells crap patch panels. Then they make you foot the bill to return it. Summit sells decent stuff, and most of it is keystone or good mark. I got a patch for my door that had a few too many dings in it, they replaced it and didn't even ask me to return the original. They usually say where their pannels and patches are from. Plus they have excellent customer service.

[rs74]

I deal with two different body guys and one gets Keystone parts and the other gets Fit Rite parts. Don't know a thing about either one.

[raulb24]

all patch panels are made ​​in China so they will never have the quality of made ​​in USA.

Someone has used parts from AMD, (www.autometaldirect.com) I've heard they make the best panels for mopar but in GM restoration parts i don't know

[rs74]

Originally Posted by raulb24

all patch panels are made ​​in China so they will never have the quality of made ​​in USA.

Someone has used parts from AMD, (www.autometaldirect.com) I've heard they make the best panels for mopar but in GM restoration parts i don't know

I ended up using a mixture of goodmark and keystone and NOS GM fenders and doors.