The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1969 - 1972 Blazers and Jimmys Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-01-2018, 12:55 AM   #1
J_T
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 18
Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

Hello all, I have some rust at the front bottom near the door jam of the bedsides (both sides). I know there are patch panels for that area... But they also have full bed side? I was thinking spending money on the complete besides if it will save money in the prep department may be more beneficial? I'm not looking for show truck, numbers matching but rust free driver that I'm proud of the way it looks. Once the kids grow up I may look into a nicer restore.

Is the quality of bed sides decent? Is it overkill for just a few rusted areas? I'm on my phone so if I need missed anything I apologize but can fill in details if needed.
J_T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2018, 07:43 AM   #2
A1971Blazer
Senior Member
 
A1971Blazer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 2,099
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

They all tend to rust there...
also the lower section of the B pillar and the brace are likely rusted as well....
good news is...all of those pieces can be sourced, as well as the lower section of the bed side...
there are full sides available....from what I have seen or read...they need a considerable amount of work in order to fit/look right
__________________
1967 C10 Step side
1968 C10 Step side
1970 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer
1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer
.............
A1971Blazer is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2018, 08:32 AM   #3
68panelman
Registered User
 
68panelman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Delaware and Long Island, New York
Posts: 3,433
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

I would just cut out whats bad. New steel just doesn't have the same quality as OE
68panelman is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2018, 09:58 AM   #4
hemi43
Registered User
 
hemi43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,496
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

The time spent repairing the old sides makes it unpractical. If new panels are available, use them. As far as metal quality being inferior, that's not true anymore. Aftermarket panels (depending source) are as good as old panels.
hemi43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2018, 05:18 PM   #5
J_T
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 18
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

I was looking at Brothers, Auto Metal Direct, Raybuck, Classic heartbeat, and LMC which all appear to use the same pictures so I would guess same supplier and best option is which ever gets it to my door cheapest.

The reason I ask is I can structurally weld so I figured I can weld in seams and do spot welds and perform much of the replacement myself as my welds can be smoothed and many hidden. If I was welding in patch panels that are in the smooth part of the bed sides then they would need some finesse to make them look good before a good coat of paint is applied? Any thoughts? I appreciate the help.
J_T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2018, 12:14 PM   #6
hemi43
Registered User
 
hemi43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,496
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

Quote:
Originally Posted by J_T View Post
I was looking at Brothers, Auto Metal Direct, Raybuck, Classic heartbeat, and LMC which all appear to use the same pictures so I would guess same supplier and best option is which ever gets it to my door cheapest.

The reason I ask is I can structurally weld so I figured I can weld in seams and do spot welds and perform much of the replacement myself as my welds can be smoothed and many hidden. If I was welding in patch panels that are in the smooth part of the bed sides then they would need some finesse to make them look good before a good coat of paint is applied? Any thoughts? I appreciate the help.
A repaired panel is exactly that, a repair.It will still need filler to smooth it out. If a new side panel cost $2000 then it would be worth your while.
hemi43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2018, 05:31 PM   #7
lks dcvn
Registered User
 
lks dcvn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,338
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

I would imagine there is more rusted away behind that one bedside spot when you dig into it...these things rusted from the inside out in that spot where several pieces of metal came together and held the water, etc.
lks dcvn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2018, 06:04 PM   #8
68panelman
Registered User
 
68panelman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Delaware and Long Island, New York
Posts: 3,433
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

^^^that's a guarantee.
All depends on how far the OP wants to go with metal work. Will easily become a can of worms, and major dollars.
68panelman is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2018, 09:55 PM   #9
7D2N
Senior Member
 
7D2N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Morgan County Utah
Posts: 639
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

Quote:
Originally Posted by 68panelman View Post
^^^that's a guarantee.
All depends on how far the OP wants to go with metal work. Will easily become a can of worms, and major dollars.
I will agree with others but you also said you were not looking for a show truck but a solid driver. IMO if you can do the patch clean and to your satisfaction you will save $$$
__________________
Just for the fun of it
7D2N is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2018, 12:28 PM   #10
J_T
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 18
Re: Opinion on replacing beside lower front Corners or the entire sides

Thank you all, Great info. It all comes down to budget I guess. i wasn't sure if there was sacrifice on quality by going with Repo parts so better to keep repo to a minimum or having a truck without original metal so the goal to minimize replacement metal?
J_T is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com