Questioning aftermarket sheet metal

[Green Hornet]

I am getting ready to start the rust repair on my 69 C10. I purchased lower door skins and one inner panel from LMC this week, I am waiting for the UPS guy to drop them off Monday. My concern is these aftermarket panels are thinner then OEM panels? Doesn't worry me so much with the door skins but I will be tackling some cab mount rust next. Am I better off fabricating the cab mount panels out of thicker metal or just ordering the panels from LMC? I plan on owning this truck for ever and realy only want to do this once.

If not LMC then where is the best place to get aftermarket patch panels?

[LockDoc]

Welcome to the board.

The replacement parts are a crap shoot at best. I try to purchase parts like that from vendors that actually work on our type of truck. They know what works and what doesn't. The bad thing about LMC is that they don't have a clue what is good and what is bad and they can't answer any technical questions about the parts they sell. There are vendors on here that sell all of the parts you need and you can find them here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php

Just scroll down to the "Gold vendors" and "Platinum Vendors".

When you find a vendor you want to contact click on the name, then click on "Contact Info", then click on the web page link if there is one or you can send them a private message..

There is also a "Vendors Marketplace" here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php

A lot of the board vendors advertise and hang out there...

LockDoc

[Green Hornet]

Very cool. Thank you for the info.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

The bad thing about LMC is that they don't have a clue .............

Doc, to be more accurate, they don't care.

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by Green Hornet

I am getting ready to start the rust repair on my 69 C10. I purchased lower door skins and one inner panel from LMC this week, I am waiting for the UPS guy to drop them off Monday. My concern is these aftermarket panels are thinner then OEM panels? Doesn't worry me so much with the door skins but I will be tackling some cab mount rust next. Am I better off fabricating the cab mount panels out of thicker metal or just ordering the panels from LMC? I plan on owning this truck for ever and realy only want to do this once.

If not LMC then where is the best place to get aftermarket patch panels?

Too bad you already ordered the lower door skins....complete skins are avail. for these trucks and are not much more expensive....this way you can replace the whole outer skin from below the window to the bottom & not have to deal with the weld line across the door.
I got mine from www.fixmyrust.com They are avail. from other sources also, but not LMC.

[Vorcutt]

I purchased a hood from LMC that is awful, at best. Had to shim fenders, cowl, etc., and the actual edge of the hood is not straight! But to be fair, I recently purchased bed panels and a tailgate from Southern Kentucky Classics and they don't seem to be much better. In other words, I agree with the advise of LockDoc and buy from those who use their own products, or buyer beware!!

[MSHax]

I've never bought sheetmetal from LMC but I have used sheetmetal from AMD and goldenstar. They seem to be good, and fit well.

[Tinkermc]

Not to knock LMC or anyone else, But if you can make them then I would, and as you said only do it once. Don't forget to rustproof or undercoat. I know you've heard b-4 if it's worth doing it's worth doing myself.

[Green Hornet]

Thanks for the input guys. I have owned three other c10 pickups but this is the first I am willing to put some cash into. I ordered lower skins for both doors and the inner bottom for the drivers door from LMC already. I will get them and comment on the forum with my opinion on the fit. I am new to this restore and am very grateful for all the input. I have other areas that will need panels and am glad to hear of other sources for these panels. I am definitely going to ask before I order on the next section and if I don't like the fit of these panels I will order others I do like. I really only want do this truck once for the rest of the time I own it.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Vorcutt

I purchased a hood from LMC that is awful, at best. Had to shim fenders, cowl, etc., and the actual edge of the hood is not straight! But to be fair, I recently purchased bed panels and a tailgate from Southern Kentucky Classics and they don't seem to be much better. In other words, I agree with the advise of LockDoc and buy from those who use their own products, or buyer beware!!

I'm surprised at the bedsides from SKC I have heard some pretty good reports on them. In fact I was thinking about ordering a pair of them... I think you can get bad stuff from any manufacturer. It just depends on who's putting the parts in the welding jig on any certain day. If the pieces are put in the jig a little off the part is going to come out crooked.

LockDoc

[DWilbur]

I bought rocker panels and floor repalcement parts from LMC and the sheetmetal is thinner the OEM. The rocker panel fit good on the left side and I'm still working on the right side. I bought the lower inner and outer door skins as well.

[jpmanyhearts]

hey I wanna say thank you to 72bowtiestepper for that link looks like they have some sweet stuff I think a little better than like more crap lol

[swamp rat]

Give Wes a call at Classic Heartbeat, he only sells stuff he uses so always strives to get the best.. See what he has to say. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/

[Vorcutt]

It's probably the norm anymore, but I had to remove the 'Made in Taiwan' stickers from the sheet metal pieces that SKC sent me. So far the highest quality/best customer service has come from Mar-K industries. Unfortunately, they build more stepside than fleetside panels.

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by Vorcutt

It's probably the norm anymore, but I had to remove the 'Made in Taiwan' stickers from the sheet metal pieces that SKC sent me. So far the highest quality/best customer service has come from Mar-K industries. Unfortunately, they build more stepside than fleetside panels.

Fortunately my box is solid, Just one rust spot on a cross rail I can blend in with flat stock. I will check out Mar-k for the inner rocker I need. I have decided to rebuild a 327 from a donor truck over the winter and mate it up to a 700r4 for the power plant. Should be plenty of power and decent fuel mileage.

[bigsnookmaster]

Mar-K is top notch! I would stay away from LMC! If you can find GM sheetmetal, I think it's the best way to go! .02

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Vorcutt

It's probably the norm anymore, but I had to remove the 'Made in Taiwan' stickers from the sheet metal pieces that SKC sent me. So far the highest quality/best customer service has come from Mar-K industries. Unfortunately, they build more stepside than fleetside panels.

I'm not sure if it is still true or not but SKC sold bed components made by Woodall Industries ( http://woodallindustries.com/ ) and they were supposed to be pretty nice. What was the problem with yours?

LockDoc

[special-K]

As far as I know,Woodall is the only company making bedsides.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by special-K

As far as I know,Woodall is the only company making bedsides.

I know a couple of years ago there were two, but I'm not sure about today...

LockDoc

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by jpmanyhearts

hey I wanna say thank you to 72bowtiestepper for that link looks like they have some sweet stuff I think a little better than like more crap lol

Glad to help...I bought sheet metal from them several times & have not been disapointed...shipping rates are better than other suppliers also.

[Vorcutt]

My 'Built in Taiwan' bed panels I received from SKC are rough (at best) and nothing fits properly. I'm having to modify and re-align rear cross member, wheel wells, front panel, etc. I had also heard they offered top quality panels, but apparently their source has changed?

[special-K]

Maybe I had it wrong...again. I think Doc is right,there are two companies that make bedsides. Gotta find out which are the good ones,then ask whoever you buy from if that's what they sell. I don't recall where the ones I have dealt with were bought,but they have gone together nicely.

[D.PASSMORE]

I spoke with these guys (woodall) on the phone in regards to their new Blazer sides -all there stuff is stamped overseas. The guy/service rep reassured me that their products were designed, QC'd and fitted by their employees before offerd to public. No batch buys of what is avialable on the market - i.e. key parts, tri-plus... Small issues here and there but overall, no problems from the consumers. Felt a little reassuring for what ever its worth.

[Green Hornet]

Glad to see the box on the doorstep when I got home but sad to say Made in Taiwan "Keyparts" from LMC. No idea how fitment is going to go. Left inner, left outer lower door skin and right outer lower door skin.