I'm retired and I have the time to do this sort of thing, otherwise it would likely be better to simply buy a new panel from Mar-K. (e.g)
X2 on it being better (cheaper) to buy a new panel. I have as much in the patch panel I had fabbed than the initial cost for a new entire bed front (but that doesn't count shipping.)
I'm not retired (yet), but patched mine as an exercise in restoring panels. I've since gone on to patching both bedsides, fenders, etc. because I felt that was the way to restore my truck. Just seems too easy to go buy all new parts - anyone with money can do that. But I think it's kind of disingenuous to say "I restored this truck" if it was just bolting parts together.
