cab support and rocker panel repair

[MAK]

I need to patch a short section of my outer rocker panel and cab support brace right in the center of both door openings. The cab support braces filled up with gunk over the years and the last 5 or 6 inches against the rocker panels have rusted and then also the area immediately above the supports right at the door edge. I started to fab some pieces to weld in on the rocker panel/floor pan but it's starting to look like I just need to buy the patch panels if I want it to look right. I just don't have a brake or the tools to do it right. Can someone who has bought these replacement panels tell me which vendor has the best quality parts? There seems to be a significant cost difference. NPD are $28 ea for the support braces and Dennis Carpenter are $50 ea. NPD rockers are $17 ea and DC is $60 per pair.
Anyone have any experience or recommendations they care to make?
Thanks for the help.
Mark

[AlleyCat]

I haven't had to replace the panels you are working on but I did have to replace the left cab mount in my 72.I bought the DC mount even though it was considerably more money than the other vendors.I'm very pleased with the DC panel.It fit like the original and the metal is the same gauge.

[fordman]

i rather like the original type cab mounts so i would probably go that route myself. as a matter of fact i am going thaat route. what i did was to save the cab mountsfrom a 78 that i parted out. i cut them off the cab with a sawzall. then i took and ground off the excess floor and firewall stuff. and now i have a excellent original cab mount.. the rest of the stuff i am going to get from lmc because they are close to me.

[MAK]

I ordered parts from NPD this morning. I'll post again after they arrive and comment on the quality.

[MAK]

Well, the parts arrived and as has become typical I again found that the repro parts these guys are selling are sub-standard.

I don't have a metal brake or slip roller but I could have made the pieces I need and would have been just or good or better using a hammer and vice... The rocker panel piece isn't even close. Bend angles are way off and aren't even in the right places. The piece I already hammered out and bent up myself is a better fit. Reason I didn't use it is I wasn't happy with the fit and knew I could do better ordering a repro panel...
The cab supports are also laughable. Cuts were made, tabs folded over and then tack welded. No way it would ever pass for an original look if that's what you were going for. They also are not the right size. If I were to cut off the old ones and try to butt weld these in place I couldn't do it. They are so large they slip over the originals. I guess that's how I'll make the repair. Just slip them over the original and then weld all the way around the perimiter and seal-up the old rusted ends.
I'll know better next time. Will have to find a way to get my dad's old sheet metal tools from TX to GA.
Oh well, just thought I would post an update and save someone else some grief since nobody had responded as having experience with those repro panels.

[rjewkes]

oh they have some that slip over the originals on the cab mounts.

and for the rocker i have no idea but it sounds like the better idea is a sawzall and a good looking 67-77 floor complete with good mounts.

[flyboy2610]

The only place selling the correct replacement cab supports is Dennis Carpenter.

[FORDification]

MAK: Can you post a pic of the pieces you received? I'd be very interested in seeing them. Thanks!

[MAK]

MAK: Can you post a pic of the pieces you received? I'd be very interested in seeing them. Thanks!

Here ya go. Notice that top support didn't even get the tabs welded in place...

[AlleyCat]

I'm by no means an expert with sheet metal but I can fabricate better support panels.I think I'll stick with Dennis Carpenter for my stuff.

[MAK]

I'm by no means an expert with sheet metal but I can fabricate better support panels.I think I'll stick with Dennis Carpenter for my stuff.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I guess they count on you not going to the time and expense of sending it back.
Original point of the thread was to try and get some feedback before I ended up with this crap. Since I posted my bad experience several have said go with DC but has anyone actuallu used these parts from DC or just making recommendations based on their reputation? I do have some floor panels and cab corners from Dennis Carpenter and they are pretty good quality but far from what I would consider oem...

[flyboy2610]

The only place selling the correct replacement cab supports is Dennis Carpenter.

Oh.........You're talking about the center cab supports. I thought you were talking about the front cab mounts.
As Emily Littela used to say on Saturday night live:
"Ooooooooh...............never mind."