I like to use original parts but I would replace it. Even if you do it yourself you still will have a lot in materials.
Yeah, I already found that out. I spent $150 at a local sheet metal shop to have them bend me up a lower patch panel for the bed front that was rotted away. I could have replaced it for not much more. But again, that was part of my welding & bodywork relearning process. You'll see that process if you look at the links above and scroll thru my flikr photostream.
