rear lower quarter sheet metal question?

[CARZ1968]

i have been told by a few manufacturers that the lower l/b pickup sheet metal (behind the rear wheels to the back bumper) is not the same as the suburban sheet metal b/c of the body line. My question is, my rust does not go as high as the body line, nor does it reach the reverse light. Would the pickup sheet metal be the same from the body line down and save me money? I can buy both sides of p/u metal for less than 1 side of the sub lower quarter!

[Chevydude56]

I took some pictures of bed panel and my suburban. I looks like the body line is OK but the panel is too short and not the same at the rear . I will need to replace the lower rear quarters also . hope this helps.

[CARZ1968]

There is definitely a difference at the end of the panel. My sub is ok at the bumper end, but is starting to rot at the wheel well and is gone in the lower middle of the panel. From your pick, it looks as if the body lines and contours are the same for pickup and suburban, from the wheel opening through just before the end. Does it seem that way in person?

[gemiii]

I bought the lower 1/4 panel for a burb and it fit real nice. It included the backup light area. I think it was only $55. The good fit surely saves in the long run.

[CARZ1968]

$55 how long ago? I passed on them last year at $75 each side. Little did I know that they would be $90 this year
The reason I am asking is, I don't need the entire sub panel. The end and reverse light metal is fine. The p/u 1/4 is considerably cheaper at only $35. I didn't want to buy a p/u 1/4 though, if the contour and lines were different.

[Chevydude56]

Yes the body lines look the same in person ,but the part by the bumper is different as you can see. I did not compare the right side with the pare tire well.

$55 ! I need both sides , the best price I have found was $75 from a vendor @ spring Carlisle.

[CARZ1968]

What vendor? I was there on wed. and the only guy that had any was the guy to the right of where the giveaway cars are.Well, to the right if you were facing out from the grandstands and his had 89.95 price tags on them! Truck shop was setting up still and the truck stop did not have them, but told me he would give me a price when he got back to tenn.

[Chevydude56]

that may have been the place . I checked with Truck Shop , they told me don't sell them.

I did buy some patch panels from Tim Christian . He is a founding member on this site and a site vendor.
http://www.christiansclassics.com/

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3900809 (top of page)

He didn't have these with him but stocks them . He is a great guy to deal with and his prices are good.

[gemiii]

I bought all my patch panels from MotherTruckers but they dont seem to be in business anymore? I bought them 1 1/2 years ago. The best price I see now is $75. http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...Category_ID=18

George

[CARZ1968]

Manes has a good price. The only problem is shipping to me puts them at over $100 each. Have to keep an eye on them to see if they run a free shipping special.I think I am going to strip one of the quarters to make sure there is nothing hiding back at the bumper (old bondo,rust etc..) and if it is clean as it looks, I am only going to use a portion of a new pick up quarter instead of buying a whole sub patch panel. I did get a spare tire well and inner quarter from a couple of board members for the pass side and I might have to put the whole sub quarter over there.

[GMCPaul]

I'm in the process of replacing mine on my 68 Suburban 4X4 passenger side and the pickup lwb patch does appear the same at the front but they are different at the rear.
We carry both the LWB fleetside repair panel & the Suburban rear lower quarter. If interested you'll find the Suburban patch here on our site for $79.95ea +$19.50 shipping oversized I for 1 or a pair.
http://www.gmcpauls.com/bed_patch_panels.htm
GMCPaul Jr

[CARZ1968]

Thanks for all the info guys!
Now that I have alittle more insight into my options, its time to tear into it and see what I am facing.
GMCPaul, I will definitely keep you in mind when its time to purchase!
I will be sure to take pics to help the next guy.

[kev2809]

i actually used a lwb piece on mine, if you dont need to go all the way to the back they work just fine. i only used the driver side piece because my passenger side needed to go all the way around. so i still have that side left over, in which im actually selling in the parts section.

you can check out my build thread to see how i fit mine in.

[CARZ1968]

Yeah Kev, I read your build some time ago and did not know it was a p/u 1/4 that you used for the patch. BTW, I was going to post on your build to see if you got all of the bullet holes from the p/o patched? Great build, I would be going the same route as you if mine were a 4x2

[kev2809]

lol thanks, there is still a few of those strange bullet holes left lol

actually I'm finishing up the air ride finally, I need to update it