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| | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 334 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2005 Posts: 334 | 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 | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | 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. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 | 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. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | 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.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | 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. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 453 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 453 | Don't get me started on the inner to outer cowl panels! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 465 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 465 | 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. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | what has been the common problem ?
width,radius, or brake mount location? Yes | | | | | | OLTrucks Unregistered | | OLTrucks Unregistered | 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. 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 | | |
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