Patch Panels...who's the best source???
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Brentwood, TN
Patch Panels...who's the best source???
I have used EMS panels for other restoration projects but now that I have gotten into the F100s I see that there are even more options/sources. Midfifty, Dennis Carpenter, etc all advertise repair panels (and most say that their product is superior to "other" vendors products)...I am looking for the ground truth on which panels are REALLY the best. Would appreciate any firsthand experiences, either pro or con, with these products before I invest a lot of cash. Thanks...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Moro Bay, AR
My experience with patch panels is they sometimes are close to fitting, but it is up to the customer to make it fit right. All of the cowl panels and the rear cab corner panels that are sold come from the same manufacturer. I had pretty good luck with the cowl panels, but the rear corners are pretty much a joke. I bought the cowl panels from Mid-fifty and the corners from BOTP.
Jeff
Jeff
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
Haven't seen anyone offering roof patch panels, but it's not a complex shaped area to make your own. Don't try to do the whole length in one piece, cut out a section, fit and weld in a replacement patch, move down and cut another section out and replace it. I'd do no more than 1/3 the length at a time, that way you won't have problems with supporting the roof or it going out of alignment. Do the corners last. You may be able to make the corners out of an exhaust pipe bend of the right diameter and radius or a rear cab corner patch if you don't want to try to form the curve yourself. It's not very hard to form that shape from flat metal with a little practice of the right technique.
If there is enough interest I could do an article on metal shaping.
If there is enough interest I could do an article on metal shaping.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 307
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From: Carnation, WA
Nuthin,
I too needed to repair the roof as it was rotted out above the gutter. Depending on how bad, i.e. how high up the rot goes you may be able to do what i did.
I cut the rot out pretty much as AX describes, a bit at a time and found that I could replace the material with flat sheet cut into strips then just a little persuation for the final shaping.
If you want to see what I mean there are quite a few pics on my site under build/Cab.
Cheers
Lee
I too needed to repair the roof as it was rotted out above the gutter. Depending on how bad, i.e. how high up the rot goes you may be able to do what i did.
I cut the rot out pretty much as AX describes, a bit at a time and found that I could replace the material with flat sheet cut into strips then just a little persuation for the final shaping.
If you want to see what I mean there are quite a few pics on my site under build/Cab.
Cheers
Lee
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Brentwood, TN
Originally Posted by mechmagcn
All of the cowl panels and the rear cab corner panels that are sold come from the same manufacturer.
Jeff
Jeff
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Moro Bay, AR
Originally Posted by CharlieLed
That's interesting, it sounds like the answer may be "you pay your money and take your chances".
Jeff
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
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I think all the vendors may get them from Mill Auto Supply which is where I bought mine many years ago when they only sold wholesale and were the only place you could get them. They have a website now (rustrepair.com). You might take a look there.
Lou
Lou
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Wisc.
Patck Panels
I just finished putting all four corner patch panels on my 53. My experience echos what others have said. They are somewhat close but need allot of massaging. The bend radii in the area that wraps into the door openings are way too big, they have to be closed up. On the rear, there was not enough material in the area that goes into the door openings, there were wrinkles, some of the wrinkles ending up being folded over each other so there ended up being 3 layers of material. Be prepared to make patch panels to add to the patch panels. Mine came from Mid-Fifty.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
I'm really curious so let's take a poll: what percent premium would you be/had been willing to pay over the price of the overseas panels for guaranteed to fit ones? Or would you have still gone for the cheap ones simply on price and adjusted them yourself?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
When you consider confidence in my metal shaping skills (zero), and the fact that the ones out there now are only $30, I'd probably pay at least twice that to avoid having to modify the junk patch panels if it was required for my truck. It's enough of a challenge just to learn how to weld straight.
The rust through on my truck isn't that extensive, though, and it doesn't approach the doors. I'm hoping I can get away with a round patch that's only about 6" by 6" on the bottom curve of the rear cab corner.
The rust through on my truck isn't that extensive, though, and it doesn't approach the doors. I'm hoping I can get away with a round patch that's only about 6" by 6" on the bottom curve of the rear cab corner.
Last edited by F250Rob; Sep 19, 2006 at 11:56 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Rural Southern Colorado
For myself, not having either the skills or equipment, I'd cheerfully pay double as well. When you're stuck with relying on someone else to set the patch, you really don't want much room for error. It'd be well worth it.
Thinking of providing a service to your less-able friends, are you?
Thinking of providing a service to your less-able friends, are you?
Last edited by Nuthin; Sep 20, 2006 at 12:42 AM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Moro Bay, AR
Even though my metal working skills are above average, I would still be willing to pay double or more for panels that "fit". My main concern on the "patch panels" is the guage of material they are made from. I know the cowl panels that I put on my 53 are not as thick as OEM.
Jeff
Jeff