The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sheet metal paradox

So my '60 stepside is slowly coming apart. The bed sides are in really good shape for being 45 years old, but they have the normal dings, a couple of holes drilled in them, and a bit of pitted surface rust. By most assessments, eminently salvageable.

But here's the paradox! New panels from GMCPauls are only $130. After I bead blast the old ones, prime 'em, fix the holes, fill the small dents and pits, I'm almost certain to be in them more than $130 in work and time!!

The same thing is true of the bed front. $90 repro!! How can I afford to NOT buy new ones?

The crossbraces and stuff -- things that I don't have to make PRETTY make sense to keep, but what am I to do with the sheet metal? My goal here is to make this an immaculate restoration.

Brian

Replacements are never as good as originals. Different gauge metal, different bends, missing details, worse fit, etc. If you have the skills to restore the original parts, you'll be ahead of the game, especially if you're going for concours points.

while true, chuckthetruck, you can't beat the new metal for an "immaculate restoration." I say go for a good company you can trust.

I have been disappointed with every Taiwan repro part I have bought, especially sheetmetal. They are made overseas by folks who have never even seen a Chevy truck. Brian

64,

I haven't been too happy with some of mine either. On the other hand, I trust that if GMCPauls sells it, it's good! Had nothing but good parts from them.

In fact sometimes they won't sell a particular part because they can't find a good source.

Brian

there is nothing to say that you won't have to do some of the same work on the "New" part that you are going to do on the old ones. If you think that you are going to get Perfect Sheet metal from a supplier and UPS/FED EX good luck! Use the original is what I would do.

Some of the bed sides I,ve seen dont have the holes for thre stake pockets. Shipping would be a hassle also. I would restore the bedsides & get the front panel new.