The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Replace or Patch?

My son and I are working on a 57 Chevy Panel.

The front fenders are pretty badly rotted in the rear and the brow.

I have seen patch panels all over for about $30 each.

I have seen repro fenders for $200 (fiberglass), and $365 (steel).

Is it worth the time and materials to fix the originals or should I buy new ones>

If new... glass or steel?

if yer handy w/ a torch [or have someone who is] the patch panels can work ok, but if they're pretty rough you won't save any $$ over the repro steel fenders, which are supposed to be quite good - the glas ones can work if the truck will be exposed to further rust causing conditions, cuz the design of the TF fenders will continue to invite rust no matter what ya do

yer time and materials will prolly be more needed for the quarters w/ a panel - and the bottoms of the back doors

Bill

Bill

My experiance with repro parts is not good, I would stick with repairing the old ones. It seems that 99% of repro parts need as much work as if you just fixed the old ones.

Brian

The only rot is on the fenders and the front door posts. The quarters and doors are great.

even if you took the fenders to a body man to have them pro. fixed theyed be better and cheaper than repos.