New body panels

[Guyz55]

I am restoring my 55 2nd series short bed ....at the suggestion of the body shop doing the work , I have ordered new body panels like the front and rear fenders doors hood , because there was rust and the body guy said the project would come out better with new panels ...what needs to be done to these panels once they get to the body shop ....I have seen on car shows where they apply a skim coat of body filler ..Is that necessary ?

Thanx

[PDW HOTRODS]

You need to put the truck all together and test fit everything. The new parts will need modification to fit right. Do all major body work with the truck together or you regret it. Then you can take it apart to do fine work and block sanding. Most aftermarket parts are not good enough to paint and install. Some are better than others, and some need a lot of work.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Guyz55

I am restoring my 55 2nd series short bed ....at the suggestion of the body shop doing the work , I have ordered new body panels like the front and rear fenders doors hood , because there was rust and the body guy said the project would come out better with new panels ...what needs to be done to these panels once they get to the body shop ....I have seen on car shows where they apply a skim coat of body filler ..Is that necessary ?

Thanx

That body shop doesn't have a clue on restoration work, not a clue. Those panels fit like crap from what I have seen. The original ones fit bad enough, they don't know what they are in for.

Brian

[mongocanfly]

and you'll probably hear this more than once....use oem panels if at all possible. ...fitting new panels costs as much as using/repairing orig stuff...but new stuff uses paper thin metal...the exception is mar-k bed parts. ..

and then you'll hear where people never have issues with new panels...

[Jemezcrusher]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

and you'll probably hear this more than once....use oem panels if at all possible. ...fitting new panels costs as much as using/repairing orig stuff...but new stuff uses paper thin metal...the exception is mar-k bed parts. ..

and then you'll hear where people never have issues with new panels...

I agree with that when it comes to fenders, hoods, etc. Beds, being essentially separate from the body are a different story. I have a new bed for my 50 that I got from MAR-K and is very nice. Very straight panels and a very nice reproduction of the originals. They come with an electrostatic coating of some kind that will need scuffing before epoxy primer. Would need to be blocked like the rest of the truck, but not "straightened by Bondo"