The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Cab Sheetmetal Differences?

I noticed Jim Carter has some cab sheetmetal patch panels that are made in the USA - toeboard, inner cowl panels, inner to outer cowl panels, outer cowl panels, and floorboard sections. Has anyone used these, and are they better fit/quality than the panels made in China?
Thanks!
Samantha

That is a very interesting question. I think a lot of the panels, the black ones are made by the people that make the whole cab. They are licensed by GM.

All repair panels require some fitting. I like to use old stock ones that were made in the US just because they were made in the US. However, they require some fitting too.

Even parts coming from a used cab are going to require some fitting- there wasn't a whole lot of consistency on the originals. However, some of the aftermarket panels lack the details of the originals.

I doubt seriously that JC has an exclusive on parts made in the US. If you buy the same parts from another vendor they come from the same source. I bought all of my cowl panels from JC and the only part that did not require extensive cursing to install was the full outer panel. The inner-to-outer part is notorious for being impossible to fit without extensive reworking.

There are several guys here who have posted photos of their cowl replacements and no two are alike so be prepared to have your patience tested.

Don't get me started on the inner to outer cowl panels!

Oh , I thought I was doing something wrong.
what has been the common problem ?
width,radius, or brake mount location?


All this beating for badly made parts, and my door still won't hang correctly.

Yes

Well many of the Cab part are and have been made in the US (Missouri & Iowa) for years by Jim Carters most of the other suppliers choose not to and order from a book of Asian made sheet metal parts. Only in the last couple of years did Jim start to carry the asian made sheet metal parts too, mainly by customer request.

Samantha
Is correct in that his toe board, inner cowl panels, inner to outer cowl panels, outer cowl panels, and floorboard sections. Plus many other parts that most suppliers don’t carry.
Jim Carter has the same old books but has been in the business long be for asian companies were making truck parts.
I do agree with all of those that said they all (replacement panels ) will need some custom fitting.
Mike