dibbons
Well-Known Member
One of my ABodies is close to be qualifying for the "rust bucket" class. What's out there to replace panels: fenders, hoods, trunks, floors, cowls, roofs, doors, quarter panels, etc.? Thank you.
What Aftermarket Sheet Metal is Available for '65 Valiant?
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valiantwagonguy
Well-Known Member
Not much .I get used stuff when I can find it. Everything in the aftermarket seems to be 67 and up. Member Lee Robinson on here is a good source sometimes .It took me a couple years to get quarters to use on my 65 Valiant wagon and I never did actually get wagon ones .I'm doing it with 65 Barracuda quarters .There just isn't many options out there for the early A's so you need to get creative .
Try Layson's. I bought some quarter patches and wheel arches that worked well.
Early A sheetmetal choices?
1. Product from a secondary sheetmetal company, usually handmade of questionable fit and thickness.
2. Good used. Usually from desert country.
Sometimes you might find a solid parts car with what you need. Use what you need and sell off the rest.
3. Buy the necessary tools and learn to fab.
1. Product from a secondary sheetmetal company, usually handmade of questionable fit and thickness.
2. Good used. Usually from desert country.
Sometimes you might find a solid parts car with what you need. Use what you need and sell off the rest.
3. Buy the necessary tools and learn to fab.
I bought trunk drops from Desert Valley. (not repopped) THey were good to deal with.
bcschief
Well-Known Member
I think floor pan patches is about all that's made new I don't even think fender patch panels are made so save everything that can be cut up and reused.
It took a lot of time but I fabbed my floors for my 64 Savoy. I had an OEM to go by. Cut, bent, welded...AMD HAD new pans but the last of them were bought by Kramer, a long time vendor. At that time , they were like $475 plus shipping. These are now $1200-1500, I guess depending on who you are. And that pan never included the rear foot pan.
This ain't Chevy country, Toe Doe!!!!
This ain't Chevy country, Toe Doe!!!!
I don't remember where I bought a front pan for the 64 Belvedere a year or two ago, but it is so worthless, I threw it away. It was a total joke.
I make way better and correct 18 ga. hand formed pans than some of these monkeys.
Wally-T
64 Signet
I bought trunk drops from Desert Valley. (not repopped) THey were good to deal with.
Hi Toolman.
Is Dessert Valley a wrecking yard? Can you give me the details please?. Thanks,Wally
Desert Valley Auto Parts in Arizona. Here's there website. Desert Valley Auto Parts
Good luck. Nice dry parts.
Good luck. Nice dry parts.
Wally-T
64 Signet
Thank you kindly!
Between Auto Body Specialties and Classic, they both have pretty much all of the troublesome areas.
I think Layson's has panels that they don't.
Yup. I forgot about them cause they're so dang high. lol
I agree, plus we don't have a lot of options either.
Shaun3406
Well-Known Member
Too Cool !
Shaun3406
Well-Known Member
Wow at one time, someone was Rough on that 65.
valiantwagonguy
Well-Known Member
Yes the PO was very hard on it.When I first saw it the thing was mint! That was 1988 left him a note asking to buy it and 6 years later he gave it to me free looking like that photo all rusted and full of dents .I took pity on it and saved it from the crusher and am now in the process of doing it again after using it for the past 30 or so years.We make them work,find what we need for them here and there . It's a slow process to gather body parts for early A's but it can be done.
Laysons makes lower QP and rear fenderwell patches
I figure vendors make nothing. They sell parts someone else made???
I bought a pair really good heavy ones.
The early A-body patch panels we sell are made exclusively for us....and they are made right here in the USA.
Good to hear.The early A-body patch panels we sell are made exclusively for us....and they are made right here in the USA.
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