I thought I would title this thread Body Work, so maybe it can be expanded on if anyone cares to. My question right now is, has anyone ever used front fenders from LMC? Seems like they have a good price on them, around $100/each, but has anyone used them? Are they good quality? Thickness of metal? Fit/form/function? Or should I find some rust free fenders from an older truck? Living in the midwest, it makes it harder to find rust free body parts because of the salt in the winter time on the roads but I dont want to buy something that I wish I hadnt if they dont fit properly etc...

 

I was talking to a kid I was buying parts from the other day. He said he bought to off lmc and they were great fit felt like oem. But I don't personally have experience

 

I just restored my pickup fully using LMC fenders.



I was very pleased with how they fit. I've also had no problems returning anything to them. I had trouble with an aftermarket hood, but the hood was from a different cheaper local supplier.

The sub grille metal piece and front bumper are also reproduction LMC parts, so you know. Also, the rear bumper plastic

 

you can also go to your local body shop, the one around here will order you what ever they can get, and charge like 10 bucks. but the parts ship for free( thats a big deal when buying oversized fragile parts)

an on another note, they wont be as thick a metal as the originals, its just not cost effective for them.

 

We used to be in the autobody business, some times you can get great deals on slightly damaged panels, If dad calls, one place will even dent them to order.

 

I've always had great luck with junkyard trucks. I had to replace the beack of my cab and bed an used a junkyard truck for parts. That way it is Fomoco panels and still factory metal. All the panels I have seen sold from LMC and other suppliers have been china quality.

I wouldnt use LMC namely because I can go to a junkyard and pick what panels I want

 

If you look in the lmc cat they have 2 prices oem and cheap ones be careful what you buy

 

Will be getting rid of the cat on my truck... no emission tests around here.
ALSO, what is the best thing to use for "painting" the frame? Paint, such as POR15? or undercoating? Bed liner coating? Something else? What would last the longest and simple to apply (if there is such a thing). Have heard POR15 is good stuff, anyone have experience with this? Also, can you use it as a primer? When putting on a new box and fenders was thinking of spraying at least the inside of them with it, figured it may help some. On the frame, sometimes doing nothing is better than putting on crap, that may crack or flake, leaving open "pockets" where water, salt etc.. can get in behind it and the nasty stuff begins. Is there anything besides a total sand blasting down to bare metal that you can do, that works? POR15 advertises that you can paint right over the rust (hence the name POR) but does this really work and last?

 

Certainly looks good from the photo. Any differences from factory metal? Thickness of metal or anything? Did you have any fit issues at all? Almost seems too easy. LOL

 

Here are a couple reviews on POR15 from various places. The last link sounds the best. Lots of different people chiming in throughout the thread and some even updated the thread years later on how it was holding up. Hope this helps. Proper prep is what seems to be the common strain throughout the reviews.

http://forums.off-road.com/jeep-shor...years-use.html

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showt...e-rough-review

http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series...st-bullet.html