I would use the panel with the sharper body lines. I look at patch panels as something you cut up and only use as much as what you need to repair. If it were me, I would only replace the lip and leave as much original metal as possible. Since you are not going to do final finishing, I can see why you would want to hide the weld seam behind the trim. Your way is not the wrong way, I just see too many people thinking they have to use the entire patch when they don’t have to.
Too much time telling us that you're going to tell us something. Just tell us. No hate, lots of CZcamsrs do it. This isnt a tv show where you have to stretch it to fit in more commercials. Otherwise, nice gararage, nice work.
I was interested in this video because of the content. I am a seventy four year old man who does fab work. If you want to learn how or what ways to straighten metal products, then look no further than a channel called Carter Auto Restyling. Kyle by leaps and bounds is the best body man and teaches every thing you addressed. His playlists are very informative and easy to follow. His playlist on a 36 chevy pickup is one that you can learn from as all of them do go over certain ways to make or fix metal. Don't let his sense of humor get to you as he is just different and most likely after being beat up in the comments, taken a different approach to teaching
I have restored a 79 f250 I bought new.All panels came from LMC. VERY pleased with quality. Just happy they were available. Much better than what I could fabricate my self. No splitting hairs here.😊😊😊
Most panels are stamped on a press and subject to the wear on the tooling the quality and accuracy of the part will suffer. Taiwan, has for decades generally made great quality tools and parts. I have some Blue Point/Snap On stuff (along with other brands) that are made in Taiwan and the quality of those air tools is superb. An interestnig video with an honest opinion based upon actual bought in parts for comparison, credit to you young man. There are some "manufacturers" here in the UK that source their parts from China, and 99% of it is junk.
I have owned a garage and autobody shop for 37 years and the panels you get today are a lot better fitting today than 20 years ago. But very few fit right on the first time around also you can order the same parts a month apart and not get the same ones twice, Thats rust work!!!
Ahh yes CZcams, where people who have zero experience in a field review products as though they do to make comparisons. 20 yrs in paint and body, I own a paintbooth. There isn't a single manufacturer out there making perfect panels. They all are aftermarket. The ford dies for dent sides went to south America at the end of 79.
I just done a 67 C10 for a customer and waited weeks to get AMD fenders because they are supposed to be licensed by GM, What I got was sheet metal from tri star. If I wanted to star sheet metal I could have gotten that weeks earlier from any number of suppliers
I've bought a lot of product from LMC over many years, including panels. Most of the time it's good stuff. But I've had questionable panels from LMC as well. Like you said, it comes down to how much work you want to put into it, and what level of perfection. I think where LMC really shines is the amount of stuff they carry. For my 1960 Chevy Apache and my 1980 GMC pickup they have just about everything. I order new catalogs from them every year for all my trucks just to thumb through and drool over the pages. Well, and buy parts when needed, LOL.
That crease in the arch on the tabco panel is minor enough you can correct it with a high build primer and light blocking before color stage, far as the waves go all I can suggest is pick a spot and pull the slack with a ballpeen or cross peen to shrink it and doctor the spot you crease with some glazing putty or filler, or try blocking it out with some high build primer and see where it gets you.
I installed both larger bed patch panels from lmc on my 79 Ranger. Yes there's scratches and few dings but panel was heavy and when welding seemed heavier that factory metal. It fit I think well being aftermarket . My doors I replaced with summit racing and they weighed more than factory door shells and other than some shipping dings fit really well
when i ordered my panels through LMC about 2 years ago, i got the black wheel arches. Im not terribly impressed with the body lines, but other than that, its fixing the holes.
I would use the panel with the sharper body lines. I look at patch panels as something you cut up and only use as much as what you need to repair. If it were me, I would only replace the lip and leave as much original metal as possible. Since you are not going to do final finishing, I can see why you would want to hide the weld seam behind the trim. Your way is not the wrong way, I just see too many people thinking they have to use the entire patch when they don’t have to.
Too much time telling us that you're going to tell us something. Just tell us. No hate, lots of CZcamsrs do it. This isnt a tv show where you have to stretch it to fit in more commercials. Otherwise, nice gararage, nice work.
I was interested in this video because of the content. I am a seventy four year old man who does fab work. If you want to learn how or what ways to straighten metal products, then look no further than a channel called Carter Auto Restyling. Kyle by leaps and bounds is the best body man and teaches every thing you addressed. His playlists are very informative and easy to follow. His playlist on a 36 chevy pickup is one that you can learn from as all of them do go over certain ways to make or fix metal. Don't let his sense of humor get to you as he is just different and most likely after being beat up in the comments, taken a different approach to teaching
I have restored a 79 f250 I bought new.All panels came from LMC. VERY pleased with quality. Just happy they were available. Much better than what I could fabricate my self. No splitting hairs here.😊😊😊
Most panels are stamped on a press and subject to the wear on the tooling the quality and accuracy of the part will suffer. Taiwan, has for decades generally made great quality tools and parts. I have some Blue Point/Snap On stuff (along with other brands) that are made in Taiwan and the quality of those air tools is superb. An interestnig video with an honest opinion based upon actual bought in parts for comparison, credit to you young man. There are some "manufacturers" here in the UK that source their parts from China, and 99% of it is junk.
I have owned a garage and autobody shop for 37 years and the panels you get today are a lot better fitting today than 20 years ago. But very few fit right on the first time around also you can order the same parts a month apart and not get the same ones twice, Thats rust work!!!
Unfortunately American made doesn't mean better quality sometimes. Taiwan does make good tools for the most part.
Ahh yes CZcams, where people who have zero experience in a field review products as though they do to make comparisons. 20 yrs in paint and body, I own a paintbooth. There isn't a single manufacturer out there making perfect panels. They all are aftermarket. The ford dies for dent sides went to south America at the end of 79.
I just done a 67 C10 for a customer and waited weeks to get AMD fenders because they are supposed to be licensed by GM, What I got was sheet metal from tri star. If I wanted to star sheet metal I could have gotten that weeks earlier from any number of suppliers
I've bought a lot of product from LMC over many years, including panels. Most of the time it's good stuff. But I've had questionable panels from LMC as well. Like you said, it comes down to how much work you want to put into it, and what level of perfection. I think where LMC really shines is the amount of stuff they carry. For my 1960 Chevy Apache and my 1980 GMC pickup they have just about everything. I order new catalogs from them every year for all my trucks just to thumb through and drool over the pages. Well, and buy parts when needed, LOL.
Hi Cody,
I bought a set of floor pans & cab corners for a 1979 F350 from Tabco after being told repeatedly that they're the best.
I’ve used a few Sherman Made in the USA panels on my 69 Camaro and I’m very happy to say they fit perfectly!
That crease in the arch on the tabco panel is minor enough you can correct it with a high build primer and light blocking before color stage, far as the waves go all I can suggest is pick a spot and pull the slack with a ballpeen or cross peen to shrink it and doctor the spot you crease with some glazing putty or filler, or try blocking it out with some high build primer and see where it gets you.
Thanks for the info. I'm gonna need some panels soon. Your summery is very helpful.
I installed both larger bed patch panels from lmc on my 79 Ranger. Yes there's scratches and few dings but panel was heavy and when welding seemed heavier that factory metal. It fit I think well being aftermarket . My doors I replaced with summit racing and they weighed more than factory door shells and other than some shipping dings fit really well
when i ordered my panels through LMC about 2 years ago, i got the black wheel arches. Im not terribly impressed with the body lines, but other than that, its fixing the holes.
Very useful video, thanks Cody.
I used LMC Very helpful and pleased that they had what I needed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you for your comparison on the body panels