What replacement doors to use??

[Econman]

It looks like I'm gonna have to invest in new doors for my 72.

Do I spend a fortune on a salvageable OEM set that I'll spend a bunch more blasting, repairing and priming? Or are there any reproductions that are really good? What are the best suppliers/brands?

I did a forum search for threads on this, but they're several years old. Things can change in that length of time..

I'll have the same issue with inner and outer fenders as well...

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

[midniteblues]

do yourself a favor and find good oe doors. then do whatever ya need to clean them up dr side seem to be the hard ones to find.
i cant speak for repro fenders but all the inners i've used worked good.

[franken]

I snagged a set of 71 doors that weren't rusty, but my 72 doors are rusty. Who knows.

[flashed]

Check out Deans Truck Farm in Kodiak ,he has oem doors .You can usually find him on craigs list.

[Econman]

Originally Posted by flashed

Check out Deans Truck Farm in Kodiak ,he has oem doors .You can usually find him on craigs list.

I emailed him yesterday. Sounds like he has some, but he's really proud of them.

[flashed]

Yes ,but he has good parts .

[Econman]

Originally Posted by flashed

Yes ,but he has good parts .

I've been to his yard, but it's been years. I guess I'll pay him a visit Monday...

His email reply:

"Used left doors from $100 to $350 and right $100 to $450, no GM, new old stock, right now. Used left fenders, $75 to $175 and right, $75 to $200. GM,new old stock fenders $550 a piece. Dean at the truckfarm* Have a blessed weekend"

[718jwh]

I would avoid aftermarket doors, unless your ready to rework them, I just went through the same thing bought a nice used OE passenger door couldn't find a drivers door so I bought aftermarket 8 weeks later I still don't have a door that fits. It's not worth the frustration.

[special-K]

Things have changed since the first batch of doors made. From "what I have heard" the newer doors are much more usable. I don't know how much Dean's wants for the good OEM doors, but are they more than the imported parts you are trying to avoid?

[Grumpy old man]

I know Dean he's about 10 miles from me ,I buy OE parts from him and he has buildings filled with new /used and NOS parts ,He lists some on Craigslsit and some on ebay ,67'to 72' trucks are what he does and he knows his parts list in his head He averages 70 trucks and another dozen or so project drivers for sale .He's got the parts and knows what there worth .

http://techethic.wix.com/truckfarm

[flashed]

I sold Dean a few things at a swapmeet last feb ,had never met him before ,but he gave me more than asking price for the parts as he said they were worth more than my asking price .Then he told me who he was and I had seen his ads on the list of craig .We have talked back and forth a few times since then .

[hugger6933]

I'm not gonna try to talk you into going on way or another but I will tell you that door you can't see rust on can be deceivers. I had on my nicest doors on my yard [I may have 6 or seven sets] with a little damage on it where it got bumped so I said the best way to get the most out of it was to pull the skin and fix the dent then replace the skin.[After all it is just work] I pulled the skin and the door was really rusty on the inside but not showing any on the outside YET!. See, the General never put anything inside double wall panels to go for rust prevention after all they were just throw away work trucks. The bed is same way that is why I have taken the time to "split" my bedsides taking the inner skin from the outer skin to clean up and do some rust prevention stuff as it is bare as can be in there and could get real rusty.

Now with that said I have a customer sent me two doors for his truck, the first fitting was no way I could use them, E-mailed the factory and they told me "They are to be building parts for many years the problem is with my model truck having good day."I did get better fits on the doors but as yet to trim them out and build them up. but they don't measure the same with a tape measure than the OE doors did. They are taller and narrower than the OE. You may have to slot out the hinge hole on the door hinges and of course start with the all important gap between the cab corner and the door. good luck it is things like this that make the hobby fun and challenging.

[718jwh]

Ecoman
I talked to Dean last week and he wanted $450.00 for a LH door for a 72 so if he gave you a price of $350 I would grab it.

[Grumpy old man]

Just a note to those seeking parts : Cold snowy January when everyone and their brother are burried in their heated garage with their face glued to a computer seeking the elusive rust free doors, cabs,or bed for the project they want done before warm cruising weather shows up RAISES ALL the prices considerably ! Now that the Christmas season is over and the credit card has some space on it again it's suddenly the time to buy those parts you need to finish your project.And it all falls to the mindset I want it and i want it right now and damage free which leaves you 2 choices buy the aftermarket and with a good body man make it fit or chase after nice OE parts and be willing to pay for them....Next year it will cost double ,We can already see the old beater trucks being pulled out from behind the barn rusty and the prices continue to rise .The days of the clean $100.00 door are gone . but this thread is a perfect example of just because it's NEW,CLEAN,and PRETTY doesn't mean it will fit or work as it should .

[Econman]

I appreciate all the input.

I thought my doors were in pretty decent shape until my body guy started prying loose the fiberglass repair and the mud underneath. The worst part was that the slots where the weatherproof for the window sill fastens was rusted out.

I'll be visiting Dean tomorrow. He's 25 mins from where I work.

[LockDoc]

-
Everyone needs to keep in mind that the big truck doors will fit and they are usually in better shape than the pickup doors because they are protected from the elements by the height and the running boards. They will need to have the bottom front corner welded on them but if done right they will make really nice doors....

LockDoc

[Econman]

Well, I went to see Dean at the truck farm this morning. His stash of parts is pretty amazing.

I bit the bullet and bought two OEM doors from him, one bare driver side shell and one fully dressed passenger door. They were in remarkably better shape than mine and I've already stripped the one down and dropped them both off at the blaster.

It's very humbling how much green these old trucks eat, lol..

Thanks again for the guidance.

Glen

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
Everyone needs to keep in mind that the big truck doors will fit and they are usually in better shape than the pickup doors because they are protected from the elements by the height and the running boards. They will need to have the bottom front corner welded on them but if done right they will make really nice doors....

LockDoc

the last time i looked at a set it literally looks like they just chop off the corner... if i wouldve realized this in the past i would have a few sets of of rust free cornerless doors.


glad ya got some oe doors it'll save you big headaches down the road.

[Econman]

Today is a new day lol.

The blaster called and said the driver door was Swiss cheese and the RH was ok.

I'm glad to report that Dean is an honorable guy and is gonna let me return it for full credit toward a new old stock GM shell that he has.

Whoa, the agony....

[718jwh]

The drivers door didn't happen to be hot rod black with blue underneath did it ?

[Econman]

No, it was satin black with red underneath. Supposedly from a '69.