Yeah, I understand that and it's a good point. It was just an option for him to think about if he wanted to get parts quickly and have something to bolt on. Unfortunately, solid, used OEM parts around here are not cheap or easy to find. I looked for a good tailgate for over a year before I just decided to buy a "new" one from NPD. I see used, rusty fenders alone going for $400. I remember when people couldn't give those away. Maybe that's different in other areas? If so, I would definitely stay OEM, but sometimes all someone can afford or find is a re-pop. I wanted to keep all of the original Ford stamped panels so I had all of my body parts aside from the tailgate restored, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to (kinda) afford that.

Anyway, I digress. For the OP here's a solid hood in Texas for $300. Might be worth a look.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11581514941...Bk9SR7z5jtmUYg

 

I live in LA LA Land, about 20 miles east, as the crow flies, from Malibu. You're in the Rust Belt (Michigan) and the OP's "About Me" profile says " lo " I haven't a clue what this refers to.

 

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I noticed the "lo" also. I thought if he lived anywhere near me, I would look around and see what I can find. This area is Ford pickup territory, and a lot of older stuff is sitting around. Not nearly as much as in years past, but still around if you know where to look.

 

After decades of restoring Mustangs, I suggest avoiding reproduction exterior body panels such as fenders, doors, and hoods. They're mostly made in China. The steel is thinner gauge than original and of questionable metallurgy. The stampings are poorly done and body lines don't match up. They tend to fit poorly. Mounting holes may be in the wrong place. Your body man could end up spending so much labor to make the parts fit that you could have bought good used original parts and had them bolt right on. Inner panels can be made to fit and there isn't the concern about cosmetics, but they're still generally low-grade.

 

These are always hard thread to open.
Sure sorry that you had an accident.

 

I recently used the OEM Ford tailgate I bought in the '90s as a dealership was cleaning out old stock, but I was there that day to pick up ordered bedsides and doors, and while it was in the '90s, thos items were in cardboard with a white Ford sticker, but Taiwan wrote on them. I recently bought two front fenders from Auto Krafters, they have "Made in Taiwan" stamped on them too. There were some minor issues fitting them, but really I am happy. The steel was maybe softer ... but it is as thick as my OEM stuff. Scary the prices now.

 

Noticed that too, hence my disclaimer about how expensive parts could be based on location.

I specifically avoided an aftermarket hood even though my body shop ended up charging me the same amount as it would have cost to buy re-pop stuff since I read a lot about the questionable quality. They were trying to push me in that direction since my hood had a good bit of hail damage, but after I told them that a new hood was just about as expensive as what they were going to charge me, plus the fact that they were going to have to straighten it out and charge me more on top of that, they started seeing it my way.

 

I’m located in southeast Louisiana. LMC truck has everything I need except the hood is on out of stock until further notice. I’m going to get her to a body shop they’re most likely going to charge me just about the same if I were to order replacement parts on top of that I don’t want to go through all the hassle trying to get them to align properly. So I’d just rather spend the money and get the original parts fixed.

 

This is where the radiator support is pushed back ,the passenger side frame horn is also folded

 

 

The made in Taiwan crap arrived in the US in 1979 and besides the sheet metal, they also repro'd grilles. Looking at the packages, you would have thought all this crap was genuine Ford parts.

Boxes had Ford part numbers printed on them, parts had paper tags glued to them with Ford part numbers, catalogs they handed out had Ford part numbers and applications for the parts

There were quite a few different importers selling this crap to auto parts stores and body shops. And it wasn't just Ford, Taiwanese were making/selling Chevrolet parts also.

One insurance company told the body shops they were contracted with to use these Taiwanese parts "because they're just as good as Ford and cheaper."

Parts were cheaper but they weren't as good as Ford in any way, shape or form. The parts were crap that didn't fit correctly.

Ford sued and won all their cases against the importers, but so much time had elapsed, that it was too late to do much of anything.

Plus the Taiwanese that were making this crap...didn't give a chit, they just ignored the lawsuits.

I just remembered that in the mid 1980's, Ford began to patent some sheet metal parts. Taurus/Sable, Tempo/Topaz, Escort/Lynx, Ranger and F150 for examples.

During this time frame, of the 10 best selling vehicles in the US, 5 were Fords: Escort/Tempo/Taurus/Ranger/F150.

 

If only people in this country had known how bad that kind of thing was going to get 40 years later we might not be in the mess we’re in now.

 

Well, I have owned all of these 80's models at one time or another.
1 Escort
2 Tempos
1 Taurus
and the '87 F150 in my sig picture.

 

I bought a wrecked F-150 years ago knowing that the frame was damaged (see my build for details). Fixing a bent up frame is a royal PITA so check this aspect of your truck before making any major decisions. Remove the bumper, fender and anything else that prevents you from thoroughly evaluating the frame. Inspect the radiator core support closely. If the frame looks OK, measure for squareness because some issues are beyond what the naked eye can perceive. If the frame isn't w/i specs, nothing else will matter.

 

@NumberDummy and I are lucky gents because we live in California where solid parts are still available in the Pick-n-Pull yards.
A front wrap on a 50%-off weekend may cost $400 or less for fenders and grill and support. Nice and encouraging.
( I just scored a pair of doors off of an early ****** utility wagon for $70 for the pair complete minus wind wings. I should have pulled the rear bumper which are scarce as hen's teeth or honest politician. It even had an early ford flat-head V-8 too.

Before spending much time and grief, I would hire a tilt slide-back tow truck to haul your pickup to a good frame shop to get a quote for straightening.
Then get ahold of a shipper to see what it would cost to have a solid California front wrap, or fender and grill sent to you from a California wrecking yard.
Call J & W Auto Wrecking in Antelope, Calif., to see what it would cost, because if they don't have the parts, they'll find them.
They aren't necessarily cheap, but dependable from my dealings with them for jeep parts. Look them up.
My guess is finding good useable sheet metal on the east coast for these '70's era pickups may be difficult.

Keep us tuned in.