aftermarket bedsides

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Oct 2, 2003 | 10:39 AM

dbarracuda

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aftermarket bedsieds

HAs anyone here ever put aftermarket bedsides on their truck? Is so are they any good?
THanks
David

Oct 2, 2003 | 10:51 AM

grapegravy

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From: Southern NJ

I've never gotten bedsides, but have gotten quite a few aftermarket panels and all have been of poor quality. They seem to use a thinner sheet metal to fabricate them. I recommend against them. Have quite a few friends who are also gearheads and they concur. That's why we started making them ourselves

Oct 2, 2003 | 11:22 AM

KJKozak2

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From: Cleveland, WI USA

How do you make body panels yourself? I've actually thought about doing that, but I'm no Jesse James.

Just curious.

Kevin K.

Oct 2, 2003 | 11:36 AM

grapegravy

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From: Southern NJ

It takes some know-how and the right tools, but not impossible in the least. We make a tinfoil mold first, many layers. Then shape the sheet metal to it through heating/bending. Quite a bit easier to make them out of fiberglass, you might want to try that for a few trial runs before going to metal, fiberglass is much more tolerant. Oh yeah, and we get junk panels from the junkyards to take apart for the indivdual sides of each panel for stuff like fenders and such. Takes some time and an even temperment, lots of patience, lol. Too bad you're not closer or I'd invite you over to learn the next time we do one. My buddy is planning on doing a full bed this fall. Actually, I plan on making a completely custom front end out of fiberglass for my truck. The only way you'll be able to tell it's a Ford is when it's pulling Chevys out of the mud

Last edited by grapegravy; Oct 2, 2003 at 11:46 AM.

Oct 2, 2003 | 12:08 PM

KJKozak2

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From: Cleveland, WI USA

That's pretty cool! I thought about the fiberglass thing too. I was going to make a mold from a junky bedside and lay the fiberglass into it. It seemed like too much work so I gave up the idea.

Since long beds are more plentiful, I think I might get one of those and shorten it. I really only need the sides and maybe the front. Kinda going for that CORR look and don't really need to haul anything.

Kevin K.

Oct 2, 2003 | 12:47 PM

Torque1st

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There is a big difference in the quality of many sheet metal parts. The NOS parts or parts made in OEM tooling are usually much better than many of the imported parts. The OEM tooling requires good steel of the proper thickness and strength to make the dies work. The imported parts are often made of softer and thinner steel for easy manufacture. Some of the steel is of low quality and corrodes rapidly. This is a real good example of "getting what you paid for" sometimes.

Oct 2, 2003 | 05:33 PM

grapegravy

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From: Southern NJ

Exactly Torque. Kevin, the fiberglass is very easy to work with, you should give it a few tries to get the feel and then you're golden anytime you need a new panel. That is if you have the patience,,,