patch panels (AD trucks)

[MMM...BRAINS...]

What are your preferences as far as what companies for replacement sheet metal (floor pans, cab corners, etc.)?

Any one "better" than another? any to stay away from?

Thanks,
Chris

[S10Fan]

None of the sellers actually make their own panels. The 50 I bought came with panels from LMC, the quality seemed OK to me. I also purchased some panels from Top Banana (a board vendor), the products were of very good quality at a lesser price than LMC and others. Another positive for me was my call to Top Banana, I spoke directly with the owner. How many times does that happen these days?

[MMM...BRAINS...]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

None of the sellers actually make their own panels. The 50 I bought came with panels from LMC, the quality seemed OK to me. I also purchased some panels from Top Banana (a board vendor), the products were of very good quality at a lesser price than LMC and others. Another positive for me was my call to Top Banana, I spoke directly with the owner. How many times does that happen these days?

COOL. thanks for the input!

yea, i realize they dont actually make them, but i've always heard abt some fitting better than others (while all of them will need some trimming to fit)

thanks again!

[54 jimmy]

i dealt with harmons for almost all of my panels. good prices, fast shipping and great costomers service.

[S10Fan]

Yeah, as far as fitting.......That's a hard call. There can be so much difference in the trucks, getting an accurate out of the box fit is a challenge.

But.....To your question, I was satisfied with the fitment of the LMC panels the previous owner purchased. I was also satisfied with fitment of the Top Banana supplied parts. Top Banana charged actual UPS rate for shipping.

LMC....Outer cowl panels, both toe boards, kick panels.

Top Banana....Both rockers

[MMM...BRAINS...]

thanks guys!

[pgf545]

We got most of ours from Brothers Truck. I didn't have any problems with the fit and the quality for the most part was pretty good. It is really hard to tell sometimes if a panel doesn't fit well or if the old truck is tweaked...lol. I have been looking at lots of car shows and meets and most of them the panel fitment is not all that well even on the trucks that haven't had any work done to them. I am doing the best I can with what I have to work with....and of course the lack of knowledge that I have with body work.

Bernie

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by MMM...BRAINS...

thanks guys!

It can actually differ from side to side or panel to panel across the different vendors. Key makes some very nice cab corners for 55-59 but dynacorns left fits much better to the step. It should at about 50% more in cost. The step from dynacorn is more complete than a Key step but again is much more expensive. Please don't take this to mean Key doesn't make a very usable corner and step, they do. I use them almost exclusively. I'm just pointing out there is a difference between companies products, price points and even one panel to the other.

Try to find out if whom ever your buying from has actually installed the panel and if they have some tips on that vendors panel.