The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Replacement sheetmetal - quality differences?

I'm working on a 58 fleetside and need to replace the front bed panel and possibly some other sheetmetal - there are a lot of sources - is one better than another (Mar-K, Classic Parts, LMC, Jim Carter)?

Thanks!

Bed parts I would get from Mar-K. Other sheet metal & patch panels I get from American Classic or Jim Carter

Gobolt...The general consensus is tht Mar-K seem to be the guys to deal with for bed parts.
Made in the USA and usually with some good incentives(discounts) for 'bolters.
Most of the other stuff seems to be made elsewhere.
A lot of the aftermarket stuff requires a little 'fettling' to get a good fit.
Maybe I was lucky,my cab corners fitted quite well with minimum adjustment.

I bought My bed parts from Mar-K and they are the best parts I have gotten for My truck a 52-3100 if We could just get an American company to start making the other parts We would be in great shape , with that said ,the body parts all need to be fitted just takes time , I just started building My truck in march of this year and My bigest learning curve was the sheetmetal and My truck needed alot of it , I had to teach Myself how to mig weld and SEE how the fitted part would look after it is done I also got into fabing some of My own parts , I built My own brake and got a sand bag from My Son to hammer curves into some parts Myself . And You'll get alot of help here on the Bolt .

Pete

Thanks gentlemen - very helpful advice.

I've had the truck 2 months and start the teardown today. The over/under on completion date - 2yrs!

I am 16 months into my frame off build and I am putting the truck back together now,I would be pleased if I could finish in two years, but there is always the learning curve that can slow you down,especailly when you are working by yourself!!

Gobolt Depending if you are going to do it your self or have it done will very how much time it will take. For example I am doing a frame off and I had the frame Power Coated took a few weeks to get the frame back. Next I upgraded to Disc Brakes and all new A-Frame Bushings,Tie Rods, New Steering Box,new Bushings on the Trailing Arms with renforcements to the Arms, S/S Fuel tank and 100 Micron Fuel Filter, News fuel and brake lines Etc. All this was done by me and it takes time if you are working by your self. Sixty Percent of my S/S Trim has been polished and the inter fender wells are Powder coated Engine,Tranny are mounted plus the Radiator support has been PC'ed along with a new Aluminum Radaitor and Fan installed. This has taken about 21/2 years so far. Now I have not worked very much this year on it because of a eye operation with the other eye to be done soon. Like most of us here we budget so much each period for parts etc. All the work has been done by me except the Powder Coating and Polishing. I am expecting to have a cab on roller next year at about this time! I hope. LOL!
My feeling is if you have the cash flow to send it out it will be less time down if not more time on the rebuild if doing it your self. Look in Custom Classic Trucks or Classic Truck Magizine for several good sources in those mags.
62Blue
Don

Classic Truck magazine did an excellent article on TF cab corner/rocker panel replacement. I have the magazine somewhere, but a lot of my stuff is in storage right now because I just moved a few weeks ago. When I get it dug out I can post the month/year it was published. Well worth the reading, and has pictures of how to cut the panels to fit properly.