How do you feel about after market body panels? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cincytrucktp · 10-30-2009, 09:11 PM

I think I may have found a truck, but the owner told me that only the frame, engine, trans, cab, doors and hood are original, everything else is after market including all the glass. I know you can build these trucks with very little from an original truck. Anyway if you knew the truck was 60% built using after market parts would that keep you from buying the truck? And why?
I've heard the after market panels are junk and don't fit well, is that true or are there nice trucks out there that using almost all after market panels? Can you tell a truck that uses after market panels just by looking at them?
I've heard this will hurt resale also.

jholley · 10-30-2009, 09:12 PM

I'd buy it. Especially if all the parts were already installed and look good.

mclairmo · 10-30-2009, 09:27 PM

As long as it looks good and everything fits well, who cares?

cincytrucktp · 10-30-2009, 11:50 PM

Are there any brands of after market body panels that are better or worse than others? Just looking at the pics of the truck nothing stands out as looking odd or not fitting correctly, but I just wanted to get others opinions.

**special-K** · 10-31-2009, 08:29 AM

Boby,body,or booby panels?

There are very good panels available.Some pieces it doesn`t matter who`s you buy,they just aren`r quite right.But,you make it right.It`s no bolt-on,but new sheetmetal can make a nice truck.Parts made by Tri-Plus are top quality.Mar-K makes excellent Stepside bed parts.

cincytrucktp · 10-31-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Boby,body,or booby panels?

There are very good panels available.Some pieces it doesn`t matter who`s you buy,they just aren`r quite right.But,you make it right.It`s no bolt-on,but new sheetmetal can make a nice truck.Parts made by Tri-Plus are top quality.Mar-K makes excellent Stepside bed parts.

--

I noticed that last night..........Nice typo!

Thinks for the info, so far most everyone has said not to worry about the after market panels.

67ChevyRedneck · 10-31-2009, 02:29 PM

As far as aftermarket parts, the only ones that I have found to be complete crap and will never buy again are the doors, but you still have the factory ones!

I've seen a complete fleet aftermarket bed in person that a pro bodyshop put together and it's almost impossible to tell the difference. The only weak point is the tailgates aren't as beefy as the original. Some of the older repros you can sit on them and bend them, some of the newer ones are much better.

The front fenders fit well, and from what I've seen the hoods fit pretty good too.

unclewatts · 10-31-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

The only weak point is the tailgates aren't as beefy as the original. Some of the older repros you can sit on them and bend them, some of the newer ones are much better.

I have heard this about tailgates for a long time. My question is, does this only apply to fleetside tailgates or both fleet and stepside repop tailgates? The reason I'm asking is I am considering buying a new tailgate for my step, but I'll just fix the old one if the repop ones are junk.

67ChevyRedneck · 10-31-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclewatts

I have heard this about tailgates for a long time. My question is, does this only apply to fleetside tailgates or both fleet and stepside repop tailgates? The reason I'm asking is I am considering buying a new tailgate for my step, but I'll just fix the old one if the repop ones are junk.

I bought a new step gate for my truck. It was a "counterparts" one sold by The Truck Shop. I'm happy with it, it was only a couple pounds lighter than a factory one. I've stood on it a few times and it didn't bend (I'm about 170lbs.)

One thing i would recommend that I wish I did, was to weld up the seams along the sides at the face of the tailgate.

Longhorn Man · 10-31-2009, 04:04 PM

i know a few years ago you could get a brand new GM gate from the dealer.

VA72C10 · 10-31-2009, 08:30 PM

I've had two NOS gates and two of the repops with the lettering. IMHO the repops are better than the NOS gates. The welds are cleaner including the spot welds. Looking in the recessed area of an NOS gate and you'd need a ton of mud to hide the spot welds. On the repop they're almost smooth already. They weigh within an ounce of each other and the metal thickness looks identical.

That being said, there was a time several years ago that the Repop gates were junk so be careful if you're buying a used repop. Especially the ones w/out the lettering. But even those are better now according to many that have used them on this site.

The final comment is if you are going for a 100 point resto, go with NOS parts because things like the look of the spot welds make a difference...but how many of us are doing that? I'm doing a complete frame-off, but it's a resto-mod so I don't care...and I'm cutting up my gate.

**LockDoc** · 10-31-2009, 10:01 PM

I bought a Tri-Plus smooth gate for the Red/White '71. I sat on it, stood on it and set heavy stuff on it and never had any problems. I weigh 165 pounds just for info.

LockDoc

unclewatts · 11-02-2009, 01:44 AM

Thanks for the info guys.

10-30-2009, 09:11 PM	#1
cincytrucktp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincy OH Posts: 31	How do you feel about after market body panels? I think I may have found a truck, but the owner told me that only the frame, engine, trans, cab, doors and hood are original, everything else is after market including all the glass. I know you can build these trucks with very little from an original truck. Anyway if you knew the truck was 60% built using after market parts would that keep you from buying the truck? And why? I've heard the after market panels are junk and don't fit well, is that true or are there nice trucks out there that using almost all after market panels? Can you tell a truck that uses after market panels just by looking at them? I've heard this will hurt resale also. __________________ ____________________ 03 Mustang Cobra 452 rwhp (SOON to own a 67-72 Chevy truck)

10-30-2009, 09:12 PM	#2
jholley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: TX Posts: 737	Re: How do you feel about after market boby panels? I'd buy it. Especially if all the parts were already installed and look good. __________________ ------------------------------------------------- Jim Garage fillers... 85 Chevy C10 Silverado LWB 07 Nissan Altima 2006 Mini Cooper S

10-30-2009, 09:27 PM	#3
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: How do you feel about after market boby panels? As long as it looks good and everything fits well, who cares?

10-30-2009, 11:50 PM	#4
cincytrucktp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincy OH Posts: 31	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? Are there any brands of after market body panels that are better or worse than others? Just looking at the pics of the truck nothing stands out as looking odd or not fitting correctly, but I just wanted to get others opinions. __________________ ____________________ 03 Mustang Cobra 452 rwhp (SOON to own a 67-72 Chevy truck)

10-31-2009, 08:29 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: How do you feel about after market boby panels? Boby,body,or booby panels? There are very good panels available.Some pieces it doesn`t matter who`s you buy,they just aren`r quite right.But,you make it right.It`s no bolt-on,but new sheetmetal can make a nice truck.Parts made by Tri-Plus are top quality.Mar-K makes excellent Stepside bed parts. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-31-2009, 02:29 PM	#7
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? As far as aftermarket parts, the only ones that I have found to be complete crap and will never buy again are the doors, but you still have the factory ones! I've seen a complete fleet aftermarket bed in person that a pro bodyshop put together and it's almost impossible to tell the difference. The only weak point is the tailgates aren't as beefy as the original. Some of the older repros you can sit on them and bend them, some of the newer ones are much better. The front fenders fit well, and from what I've seen the hoods fit pretty good too. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

10-31-2009, 04:04 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? i know a few years ago you could get a brand new GM gate from the dealer.

10-31-2009, 08:30 PM	#11
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,267	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? I've had two NOS gates and two of the repops with the lettering. IMHO the repops are better than the NOS gates. The welds are cleaner including the spot welds. Looking in the recessed area of an NOS gate and you'd need a ton of mud to hide the spot welds. On the repop they're almost smooth already. They weigh within an ounce of each other and the metal thickness looks identical. That being said, there was a time several years ago that the Repop gates were junk so be careful if you're buying a used repop. Especially the ones w/out the lettering. But even those are better now according to many that have used them on this site. The final comment is if you are going for a 100 point resto, go with NOS parts because things like the look of the spot welds make a difference...but how many of us are doing that? I'm doing a complete frame-off, but it's a resto-mod so I don't care...and I'm cutting up my gate. __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

10-31-2009, 10:01 PM	#12
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,897	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? I bought a Tri-Plus smooth gate for the Red/White '71. I sat on it, stood on it and set heavy stuff on it and never had any problems. I weigh 165 pounds just for info. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

11-02-2009, 01:44 AM	#13
unclewatts 70 Chevrolet=Obsession Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nice ca Posts: 1,067	Re: How do you feel about after market body panels? Thanks for the info guys. __________________ I'm Just like my truck. Old, Ugly and Grouchy. Except my truck starts easily in the morning and doesn't smoke! IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN! -Kermit the frog 1970 Chevrolet C-10 Longbed Stepside : 350, Muncie M20, 3.08 GM corp. positraction Forest green exterior/light green interior(Where all my money goes) 1996 Toyota Corolla (Parts runner)



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