Best manufacturer of replacement panels?

[mdainsd]

I need to order a couple replacement panels. Wondering who makes the best as far as fit and quality?

 

[jeffncs]

You’re going to get a smattering of opinions (such as mine!). Short version is that it’s going to vary by panel. I’ve ordered the same panel from different suppliers with varying quality of fit. I’ve even had the same panels from the same vendors have varying quality of fit!

Venturing a guess - most of the vendors are probably buying from the same suppliers and likely driven by cost.

Dennis Carpenter and NPD seem to invest more time selecting vendors and testing part fit. They’re also (generally) more expensive.

Building 3 broncos…I’m paying attention to costs so I tend to use price as a driving variable.

I’ve had great luck with CJ Pony Parts. They’re a couple states away so shipping is cheap or free and super quick.

 

[Timmy390]

Which panels? yes it makes a difference.

I've put on rockers and front fenders. Rockers form 2 different vendors, both needed trimming. Fenders from DC and both needed 8 hours of work each to fit perfectly with original grill. Front fenders are 3 or maybe 4 separate parts welded together. I think you can get unwelded ones form DC.

In general, everything is going to need some tweaking and most parts are from the same china company in different boxes. Shipping IMO is the biggest consideration. DC has flat rate shipping and I've found that to be the cheapest way to order in big replacement panels.

Tim

 

[mdainsd]

Well I need a drivers fender and door. Minor Collison damage, no rust. probably better off going for 8 hours worth of bodywork to retain the original parts.

Drivers floor, probably any panel as all I need is a part of it about 4 inches long and an inch wide.

Thanks for the insight, I figured the parts were coming from China but the wild swing in prices is why I asked.

 

[DC_Gearhead]

No panels fit perfect and Broncos weren’t straight to begin with. I personally like the weld through primer panels because I feel like the coating is more durable and I don’t have to grind off primer to prep for welds.

I bought an entire front end from one manufacturer mentioned above and it didn’t fit together with itself. I compared it with my factory stuff and it was about the same fit.

All that is to say……I’d focus on price. The same parts could fit great on one Bronco and not fit another at all.

One recommendation I do have is to get a galvanized tailgate and stainless window frame. Both rust really easy because of the way they are built.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fordguy]

I used my original fenders vs fit of aftermarket. We had to highly modify a set of quality aftermarket fenders to make them work On another bronco. We would have been better off buying the 3 piece fenders, because in the end we deconstructed them and built back on the bronco.

 

[duffymahoney]

I eventually pulled my re popped grill, front fenders and rear quarter fenders for NOS or used. Fit was 100x better.

 

[pcf_mark]

Well I need a drivers fender and door. Minor Collison damage, no rust. probably better off going for 8 hours worth of bodywork to retain the original parts.

Drivers floor, probably any panel as all I need is a part of it about 4 inches long and an inch wide.

Thanks for the insight, I figured the parts were coming from China but the wild swing in prices is why I asked.

If you have Ford parts I would spend days repairing that versus aftermarket today. Even good fitting replacement I would repair.

 

[AZ73]

I've bought cheap panels and panels "stamped with original dies" ALL of them needed work. The exception was the grill except I have slightly larger gaps between the hood and fenders. I don't know if it was the hood being too small or the grill being too big. I left them.