Quality of Replacement Body Parts

[rainman15]

Well I've been daily driving my 84 for a few weeks since we finished the body work and paint and I've noticed a few things that I wish I knew before I started, and may be of value to others. 

I bought my replacement sheet metal panels for the cab from another vender, at the time I didn't know this website existed yet.  The cab patch panels fit good and feel like they are thick and tough as the original sheet metal they replaced, which is good.

Here are the parts I'm not happy with.  I bought a generic replacement drivers door shell and blank tailgate (no manufacturer name stamped in the middle). Fitment was good, especially with the tailgate, but the door did need a little massaging to make it line up correctly. 

Since I still have the original door on the right side to compare the aftermarket piece to it is very obvious how much weaker and thinner the aftermarket piece really is.  I can push against the door skin on the new door with my finger and it bends very easily.  The right door does not bend at all.  When I adjust my mirror the door skin flexes badly enough that I have to hold the base of the mirror so it doesn't move while I'm pushing on the mirror to adjust it. Again the right door does not flex when I adjust my mirror.

The tailgate I bought is a blank aftermarket piece and its quality is about the same, perfect fitment and everything lighted up perfectly, but I'm scared to put any weight on it because I'm sure it will bend.  I can touch the outside above the latch handle and it bends easily with very little pressure. 

Bottom line, if you are replacing a complete panel like a door shell or a tailgate, unless you are on a shoestring budget, spend the extra money to do it right and get an original GM piece.  I'm certain I will eventually have to do the same.

[jaredts]

I've got a brand new aftermarket door that I decided not to use because of similar advice from this forum.  Sorry you're not happy with yours.  On my factory doors there was a plate behind the screws to the mirror to reinforce that area.  I've seen mention here that you can get by without that piece on a factory door, but need it on the aftermarket doors.  Might be something to look into so your door doesn't get screwed up from adjusting your mirror (unless its already installed).  If you need to it would be very simple to make.

[rainman15]

When I pull my door panels out to refinish them (still on my "to do" list) I'll take a look inside the door to see if it has a plate.  I had a friend swap all the internals from the original door to the replacement shell so I'm not sure if it has one or not.  Thanks for the info.  Steve

[Jim Rockford]

Welcome to the NWO.....

[VileZambonie]

For the mirror use the support bracket. For the tins, you'll notice the aftermarket offers two prices for doors. One is typically $80 - $100 cheaper. These sound like the ones you got. They're good for a work truck, a beater or a clunker but if you want good results get the more pricey ones. The one's Chris sells are the thicker gauge better formed units. The better quality gates are well over $200 bucks

[78 Chevyrado]

The only gripe I've ever really had with aftermarket doors, is the shell itself isnt THICK enough.  meaning when the outer door skin is lined up properly, there more than 1" gap between the inner skin and the weatherstripping.

As far as an after-market tailgate, be careful, everything that goes in your bed, goes over that.  I bought the $80 tailgate once, while we were painting up my 77 in shop class.  well I was 160lbs and was just standing on the tailgate when it bent in half and dumped me in the floor.  I took it back to the place i got it from and they told me it was made to GM specs exactly...  BS  They made me mad enough I ended up chucking it into the warehouse door through a bunch of windshields they had sitting there, and went from there to the chevy dealer and bought NOS for $179 at the time...  Search the junkyards, NO, and I mean NO aftermarket parts fit as well as GM.  period.  I'll never believe it.  Doors MUST be GM, fenders you can fudge on because 4 sides don't have to line up, some hoods and tailgates work, but they'll bend in half the time a GM part will.

That aftermarket tailgate FOLDED under a 160lb load....  I know for a fact the old rusted out POS tailgate I was replacing held 600lbs at one point cuz I put it on there....   Body panels are the one thing you should never cut corners on, ever if you want the truck or car to look anything resembling good.

[ToddN]

My advice would be to save your money, unless you really really need to buy aftermarket skins.  Body parts are still out there.  Especially with gas on the rise again.  Lots of people are starting to part out because they can make more rather than just selling their whole rig.  Try to keep some cash on hand so when something does come up like on craigslist, you can move on it.  I just picked up an entire bed, inner fenders, tailgate, fenders, bed floor all with minor surface rust for a cool $175.  Thats about what it costs for shipping on one Chinese made panel.

[topp]

My advice would be to save your money, unless you really really need to buy aftermarket skins.  Body parts are still out there.  Especially with gas on the rise again.  Lots of people are starting to part out because they can make more rather than just selling their whole rig.  Try to keep some cash on hand so when something does come up like on craigslist, you can move on it.  I just picked up an entire bed, inner fenders, tailgate, fenders, bed floor all with minor surface rust for a cool $175.  Thats about what it costs for shipping on one Chinese made panel.

Where are you located?

By me, thats a $600 item.

[ToddN]

Maine.  Now don't get me wrong...they arent all over the place.  But they do come up. I had to sit for about a month and a half looking everyday. 

[ToddN]

Yep...its usually about 600 here too.

[fitz]

$600 sounds about right in Mass. A few years ago mint beds were selling for $1,000 but people aren't spending money like they used to.

[arcountryboy]

wish I had a way to get them beds up there to ya'll.  I just sold a nice rust free one gate and lights saturday for 200, got another one sitting here with no gate or lights with dual tank doors for 100.

[79chevykid]

I just talked to a guy an craigslist that makes trips to arizona and brings back rust free cabs and beds and fenders and he's asking 750 for stepside right now but I'm looking for a 6' fleetside

[ToddN]

Another thing Ive started doing is, when I'm looking on craigslist and sites like it, I type in chevy trucks in the all category instead of autoparts.  Ive seen a few complete trucks for the price of body parts.  I was looking at a kids truck who blew the tranny and he was asking 500 obo for the whole darn thing.  Good cab, good front fenders, decent interior etc etc.  had a running 350 in it too.

[tbarrii]

where are u located at arcountryboy, i might be interested in the bed, i need a bed for an 85 with dual tanks.  do you still have it