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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 | I got patch panels for my lower cowl hinge pillars. One side needs inner & outer, the other side just the inner. I started with the side that is just the inner this morning.I figured probably about 3 hours to get it done. Drilled out the spot welds,cut out the old rusty panel,ground down to good metal the edges the new panel will weld to and drilled holes in the new panel to weld it to the pillar.It took about 1.5 hours. I tried to put the repro part in place and it looked sort of like the old part, but was quite a bit off.After cutting, bending, fitting & rebending, hammering & a small tantrum I got it to where I can weld the top to the floor edge & then will have to bend some more to weld it to the outer pillar. It is now ready to MIG weld tomorrow & total time - 3.5 hrs so far.
I had to keep telling myself if I had to make the patch from scratch it would take a lot longer & probably wouldn't look as good. The moral of the story is: If you get a repro part plan on extra work & time, but it is better than no part at all.
1957 Chevrolet 1/2-ton Stepside LB in the Gallery My Photobucket shots The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 | Welcome to the world of repro parts. Not all are bad but very few are perfect. Were the patch panels the same gauge as the original skins? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 | Yep, they keep selling them and you keep buying them. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 | These were actually the same gauge as original. I know reproduction parts don't fit as well as OEM but I found it better than trying to make patches from a sheet of steel & trying to form it myself.At least they were close & with a little effort they work. If someone made better parts they would be bought and the cheap stuff would have to get better or go under.Right now no one makes anything better.If everyone stopped buying what we can get then no one would make anything.
1957 Chevrolet 1/2-ton Stepside LB in the Gallery My Photobucket shots The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 | On repro parts I bought a set of cab mounts and the bolt head would slide right through the hole in the dished washer used on the front mounts. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | Sorry to jack the thread, however who has the best reproduction parts as far as floor panels, kick panels and cowl panels?
Scott
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 | I think most all the reproduction parts come from the same factory in China,so where ever you get them from you will probably get the same part.
1957 Chevrolet 1/2-ton Stepside LB in the Gallery My Photobucket shots The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) | | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 237 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 237 | howdy all.. I am not trying to sale parts but if you want to spend you money on parts US made, buy from Tabco Body parts.. http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/You will get good quality stuff if they have what you need. I got some cab corners from "Classic Parts" and they were not big enough. I was pretty frustrated thinking I would have to fab something. One of the guys on the StoveBolt turned me on to TabCo. I call and spoke with a nice lady that hooked me right up. All of the parts I have gotten from the so far I have been real happy with. AND... the thought that they are made in the US makes me feel better about buying them. Buying parts from a source that is made in the US might keep your next door neighbor in a job. Just think, he might return the favor....
Jesus is Lord! Only through the blood of Jesus are you washed clean of your sins. Come see us... Dad's Chevy Our VideoGod bless you! Michael..
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Depending on the year you're looking for EMS has quality, heavy gauge, USA made patch panels. They make them themselves.
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Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
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