So I'm doing some sheet metal re and re. What do you guys use? Does it have to be brand new material? Can you use up some metal off a donor truck or whatever etc, provided its not rusted and in good shape? Metal is metal isn't it? lol. Thanks again for answering my stupid questions!

 

Donor truck metal is best in my opinion because it will be the same thickness.

 

That was exactly my thoughts meangreen...

 

Hope you're not using this as a rationale for cutting up something which might be really save-able...

 

tabco metal is real good

 

In my limited experience, sheet metal seems to have "memory" in that, once shaped in a certain way it will tend to keep and even return to that shape. This can be a good thing if your re-purposing takes advantage of that bias. Conversely, working against that grain will be more difficult than using fresh new metal from flat sheets. 2X on meangreen's concern about salvageable body panels. It can be amazing to see how crumpled sheet metal can be restored to its former shape. Metal memory plus metalworking skills can appear to be magical.

 

I have a donor supercab, cab only, that has been walnut shell blasted. Got it for $200! I think that's pretty good. Already took portions of the drip rails off for my truck. The cab floor has been rotted out and looks like practice patched a few times lol. Lots of donor parts including flat sheet metal here and there. Figured it would be my sheet metal supplier for awhile...

 

What exactly are you working on? If doing wheel-arches in the bed, you can take factory front fenders and cut the arches from them to use as patch panels. Benefit = factory ford metal, vs aftermarket stuff...

I've bought patch panels from raybucks, and I'm pleased with the thickness of steel used, and the stampings, but haven't installed them yet.

 

I'm pretty ammeter sheet metal worker but get by. Sometimes I use flat but I also have a pile of 30s-40s fenders and hoods to cut compound curve patches from.
I brought home a 77 T-bird hood because it had the crown I needed and ended up using most of it building this car.

 

When I salvaged these rough back doors for my 40 Panel truck, I used a lot of pieces from other old truck doors with just the right curve, and had ro use some flat, old shelving IIRC, for part of it.

 

 

Also, I forgot to mention, sometimes I just make a cardboard template of the repair patch needed and go around a junkyard until I find something that matches pretty close. Surprising how many times those old chevy van hoods had just about the perfect curve.

 

That's quite the project you have there willowbilly3. You concern yourself with hidden rust in behind panels as you work on them? You treat it with anything?