Patch Panel Blues

[tomfg]

Are all patch panels created equally? That is "crappy"?
Bought a bunch of patch panels for my 64 Chevy.
The front cab supports are okay. The rear are actually for
67 to 72 but it appears everyone is selling them for 60 to
72...... they're way off from fitting as is. The rockers seem
pretty close..... the cab corner are terrible.... don't think I can even use them... the fit is way off. ... and I'm having my doubts about the front floor pan patch panel.
Is there one brand out there that's better than other? My panels were made it Taiwan by the way.... big suprise huh. Are they all foreign made? Thanks, Tom

[64fleetside]

I just ran into the same crap! Cab corners don't even fit, looked even worse once on the truck! Floor pans worked, but one side was stamped crooked so I had to weld in a skinny triangle to close the gap between floor pan & rocker. I managed to find a pair of "NOS" cab corners on ePay, cut off the Taiwan jobs & these fit great. Not sure but I think all repro metal for these trucks is made overseas by folks who have never seen a Chevrolet. Rockers are available still from GM new, about 2x the price of Taiwan. Work w/what you have, don't cut off more than you have to.

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

YEP GUYS.......................REPLACEMENT PANELS CAN CAUSE YOU A LOT OF HEADACHES AND COST EXTRA WHEN YOU GET SOME THAT LOOK GOOD BEFORE YOU INSTALL THEM BUT ONCE YOU GET PUTTING THEM ON CAN BE A HASSLE........IVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF YOU GUYS PROBLEMS................BOUGHT A PAIR OF REPRO INNER FENDERS FOR MY 65................THEY LOOKED GREAT TILL I TRIED TO PUT THEM ON...............SOME OF THE HOLES WEREN'T EVEN CLOSE...................GOODMARK PARTS AREN'T BAD BUT EVEN THEY AREN'T PERFECT..............IT'S PRETTY TOUGH FINDING NOS PARTS THESE DAYS AND WHEN YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF CASH................LIKE 64 FLEETSIDE SAID.........MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU GOT AND DON'T CUT OFF MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO.....................LATER ............HEMMIT

[scottyd]

i just make my own its worth the effort,

[tomfg]

Scotty,
I'm beginning to concur on making my own patch panels.
The $38 floor patch panel has become sheet metal
scrap for making my own patches where I need them.
Will work for patching the floor up, plus the kick panel.
I'm not sure If I can revamp the ill fitting cab corners
yet.... will see when I get there. Thank God the
rocker panels look like they will work... think I'll
just tack them on until I bolt up the door to check
for fit and clearance. Thanks, T

[scottyd]

theres no better feeling than knowing you did a better job at making something than a highend buisness!

[xextr3m3]

The front fender rear tips I got from chevy duty fit pretty good. Granted I cut only what I needed. The fender well lip was pretty close to original and only required slight massaging with a body hammer to perfect.
The only thing I didnt like about them was the bottom portion of the tip, just didnt look right.

I give them 3 outta 5 bannanas


still to come, rocker panels, cab corners and inner door bottoms

[63shorty]

I also concure, I purchase after market inner fender skirts for my 63 from Chevy duty, after installing it put my front fenders 1/2-3/4 away from the doors,,, very upset,