Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks

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This isn't going to be a money maker in any way, shape, or form. Our trucks weren't popular to begin with, have less years of manufacture, and frankly, aren't worth very much restored. The only truly collectible Dodge truck is a step side.

But the final nail in the coffin...

We are all cheapskates.

your comments apply to any Chrysler product. Maybe they should not make parts for Cudas, Chargers, Road Runners etc either..... That logic does not work.
As for cheapskates- speak for yourself. There are plenty of guys who would buy box sides etc if they were available. I would buy several sets myself.

You obviously haven't seen the prices for the cars you mentioned.

Dodge truck guys ARE cheapskates. Because good early beds are out there. You just have to pay to have them shipped. In fact, cheap rust free trucks are out there. For cheaper than the AMD bedsides plus the cost of welding them on, and repainting. But MoPar truck guys are too cheap to buy them. Shorty's truck is a prime example.

I've been restoring Mopars for over 25 years. It's my business. Mopars are all I do. I know what my customers want. I wouldn't consider any of them cheap skates.
We have been patching up boxsides for decades because we have no alternative. I have drilled off used sides and installed them. If I could remove the old sides, blast and spray the inners and weld on fresh new boxsides, that would save time and money and make a better product. The customer would be happier and so would I.
25 years ago we were patching up Chargers and Road Runners. And guess what. They were not worth it back them either. Then along came the skins and the cars got better restorations and were worth more. Then along came full 1/4 panels like AMD sells and now we have excellent restored cars that are worth it.
Do you remember when you couldn't buy 1/4's for Mopars? I sure do. It was frustrating. Now it is a pleasure to restore them.
As a bodyman, I guess I see things differently than guys who don't do this every day.
You see dozens of restored 67-72 Chevs running around because one phone call gets any body part they ever wanted. I would like to be able to do that with the 72-80 Dodges. Around Washington, Idaho, Montana and Western Canada there are lots of these trucks and lots of guys who love them.
It would be a simple a panel to tool up and manufacture for a company like AMD since it is a single skin with no complicated bends and has no spotwelds at all. It is just a skin. And it fits 9 model years!
New box sides would make otherwise rough looking trucks look mighty tempting.
And even your average cheapskate could install them in his driveway......

Posted By: Cooter

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/25/13 03:02 PM

Well said, and non-confrontational.

Yet, I still disagree. You aren't seeing cheapskates coming into your shop because, well, I think that is obvious. The top of the Dodge truck market is very low. Look at the original LREs, Machos and Rod Halls- they just don't pull over 20K easily.

Posted By: LilRed7879

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/25/13 04:20 PM

Well just to throw my

in. I HOPE someone makes them but I doubt the cost development can be justified. The market is pretty small for those willing to pay the money needed to make it worth while.

I have a few doors and fenders from when they still reproduced them and have had a hard time selling them because no one wants to pay shipping cost let alone the cost of the part itself.

It is a pretty select market and it is pretty hard to get a decent ROI even on the small parts we have done. I looked into the flat bumpers for the rear and just could not see me getting my money back for 5+ years let along actually turning a profit.

BUT I still hope someone with deeper pockets than myself makes any and all the parts we need for our trucks!

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/25/13 05:16 PM

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Well said, and non-confrontational.

Yet, I still disagree. You aren't seeing cheapskates coming into your shop because, well, I think that is obvious. The top of the Dodge truck market is very low. Look at the original LREs, Machos and Rod Halls- they just don't pull over 20K easily.

that may be, but you also don't see any 1978 Chev or Ford pickups selling for over 20K either. And they can order boxsides. Pickups have always been more of a do it yourselfers project. Guys like to restore or build trucks themselves and rarely does anyone make a buck on them. You certainly could not pay a shop to restore a 78 Chev or 78 Ford and expect to make money by selling it. Pickups are restored because their owners are passionate about their trucks.
Around here trucks are very popular. 67-87 Chevs, 72-80 Dodges and 78-79 Fords are all desirable and being built by their enthusiastic owners all the time.
The repro box sides and other parts for Chev and Ford trucks sell because they are available.

I have a buddy into old Cadillacs. He would love to restore them, but you can't buy 1/4's or even patch panels, so his cars just sit.
If panels were available you can bet you would see lots of Cadillacs back on the road.
Same goes for AMC's, Scouts, and so many other old vehicles.
Like the old saying goes. If you build it, they will sell.
You can't sell something that doesn't exist
AMD makes Dart fenders. Who would have ever thought we would see those?
Great things happen when people put their mind to it. I say let's speak up and help to get more parts for our old Dodge trucks made.
Just because a person doesn't see the merit in producing certain parts doesn't mean they should discourage those who do want them.
Next time you buy a reproduction part for your own project, ask yourself what if everyone said " why bother, it's not worth making it". You might not have the vital part you need.
Quality parts sell themselves.

Posted By: Mpetros

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 01:48 AM

I would buy a pair in a Heart Beat

Posted By: Cooter

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 03:29 AM

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Well said, and non-confrontational.

Yet, I still disagree. You aren't seeing cheapskates coming into your shop because, well, I think that is obvious. The top of the Dodge truck market is very low. Look at the original LREs, Machos and Rod Halls- they just don't pull over 20K easily.

that may be, but you also don't see any 1978 Chev or Ford pickups selling for over 20K either. And they can order boxsides. Pickups have always been more of a do it yourselfers project. Guys like to restore or build trucks themselves and rarely does anyone make a buck on them. You certainly could not pay a shop to restore a 78 Chev or 78 Ford and expect to make money by selling it. Pickups are restored because their owners are passionate about their trucks.
Around here trucks are very popular. 67-87 Chevs, 72-80 Dodges and 78-79 Fords are all desirable and being built by their enthusiastic owners all the time.
The repro box sides and other parts for Chev and Ford trucks sell because they are available.

I have a buddy into old Cadillacs. He would love to restore them, but you can't buy 1/4's or even patch panels, so his cars just sit.
If panels were available you can bet you would see lots of Cadillacs back on the road.
Same goes for AMC's, Scouts, and so many other old vehicles.
Like the old saying goes. If you build it, they will sell.
You can't sell something that doesn't exist
AMD makes Dart fenders. Who would have ever thought we would see those?
Great things happen when people put their mind to it. I say let's speak up and help to get more parts for our old Dodge trucks made.
Just because a person doesn't see the merit in producing certain parts doesn't mean they should discourage those who do want them.
Next time you buy a reproduction part for your own project, ask yourself what if everyone said " why bother, it's not worth making it". You might not have the vital part you need.
Quality parts sell themselves.

But the thing about the Ford and Chevy is that they ARE more common, and thus, have more of a market to spend the cost of the tooling and R&D.

That is the reason the Dart fenders work; there is enough of a following, and there has been, along with fans willing to pay the price to fix them. Demand on the A bodies went up before the AMD panels came out, not the other way around.

As stated above, good rust free parts are still out there, and going unsold. I would love to see quality "first gen" bumpers out there again, as the rear bumpers have become much harder to find. I would love to see a quality bedside, as well. But again, I don't see the money in it. It is hard enough to sell a rust free "first gen"truck bed to begin with, and rust free Dodge trucks, RCs and TDs are going dirt cheap in the Pac NW, and I have found quite a few for friends down here to bring back for cheaper than what a pair of bedsides and installation would cost them. Plus, they don't have to worry about cab supports, floor pans, or roof rails that are rotted away.

Repair panels have existed for the Chevy and Ford pretty much all along. Because the trucks were popular. Not the other way around.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 02:22 PM

Good rust free sheet metal is getting harder and harder to find, most are banged up really bad. I'm interested in a truck bed for my macho and I cant even get any one to give me a quote to get it back to where I live. I would buy a pair of these quarters for my truck.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 06:54 PM

You might want to check this out, very cool. Looks like Goodmark already jumped on it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Goodmark-Outer-B...54b&vxp=mtr

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 07:09 PM

never mind it's not a full quarter panel, just a section. For some reason it looks longer then the 60" panel that I'm used to? I didn't remember it going past the gas tank hole that far? I always though it stopped right after the tank hole a little ways.

Attached picture 7866699-getimage.jpg

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 07:10 PM

picture of the one on ebay, does look way longer then the 63" one.

Attached picture 7866702-$T2eC16dHJGwFFZfT-3tKBSJVICnZQQ~~60_12.jpg

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 07:30 PM

Yup it looks like this one is 72" x 36. I never even knew that made this longer one, pretty cool.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 08:52 PM

Kind of wondering what the length of a long bed is minus the corner pieces at the end of the bed. This is got to be pretty close to a full panel for a long bed.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 09:27 PM

This part listed on ebay is discontinued and the company selling it on ebay does not have any to sell. He's going to remove it. So it does look like we are in need of some quarter panels to be made as no body has them any more.

Posted By: Cooter

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 09:44 PM

TheGoodmark price was about $50 cheaper, depending on shipping.

But who knows how many (if any) are left.

72" is only 6', and I don't see the third stake pocket (or was that in the end cap? Either way, I cant see 2'of cap) Who knows correct the picture is, either. Both bed sides would run you nearly $700 with shipping. I could see it is it was full length. I would think you should be able to find someone to send you a bed, as long as you were able to get it to ride with something else headed your way.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 10:12 PM

Goodmark is all out as well, the guy told me they only stocked a couple at a time as they weren't a very big seller.

Posted By: Cooter

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/26/13 11:47 PM

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Goodmark is all out as well, the guy told me they only stocked a couple at a time as they weren't a very big seller.

I truly wish that wasn't the case. But I know I couldn't make any money dragging rust free Dodge truck parts back from ABQ when I was down there last spring.

So I grabbed a pair of Duster fenders, and now AMD is repopping them.

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 12:40 AM

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Goodmark is all out as well, the guy told me they only stocked a couple at a time as they weren't a very big seller.

and patch panels for Chargers, Cudas etc aren't very big sellers either. But full 1/4's are.
Many people will procrastinate and do nothing until the parts they want are available.
Those 5 foot long patch panels are OK for patch panels. But they sure aren't full panels either. I've installed several. Those vertical splices and top splice need a lot of fitting, welding and body filler to hide. Given the choice, who would ever want the patch panels if nice new full box sides are available? Spot welds or plug welds are a snap compared to 11 feet of lap or butt welds and finishing.
I have installed OEM boxsides on many trucks over my auto body career. A full panel is one of the easiest panels to install. Especially the Dodges and Fords that were just an external skin. The GM trucks were actually worse to replace because the OEM panel came with the inner and you had to get all dirty underneath to attach it to the box floor. I could beat the flat rate time on the Fords and Dodges with my eyes closed as most bodymen could. Those 1980 - 1996 Fords, 81-93 Dodges were a common insurance claim and a snap to replace. If we had full box sides available for the 72-80 Dodge trucks, the time saved and quality of repair would FAR outweigh the cost of patching up a banged up rusted out boxside.
I say we team up to help convince AMD or some other company to make new box sides for these trucks. There IS a market for quality parts.

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 12:55 AM

Back in the 80's the only panels available for Road Runners, Chargers, Darts etc were the handmade patch panels. They were flat and they sucked. But it was all we had available, so we used them and sculpted them to look acceptable. Then in the early 90's the stamped skins came out. We though we had hit the lottery! We cut off those patched up 1/4's and welded on the new skins. Yeah they were oversized, and they were thin guage metal, but we did that 7 foot lap or butt weld and bondo, and were pretty happy. Lots and I mean LOTS of mopars got those skins. Then a few year ago AMD and Goodmark started making full 1/4's for the Mopars. And what did we do? We cut off those skins and welded on new full 1/4s. Now we finally had the panels we wanted. And junkers and parts cars suddenly were brought into shops everywhere to get new full 1/4's and be restored.
You think Dodge truck guys don't want new box sides?
Think again.

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 03:15 AM

All I can say is, I live in the rust belt and there is a guy near me,
(a member here too), that will sell me an entire rust free box for $700.oo. kinda hard to pay 3 to 4 hunert + shipping, per side with a whole bed available. Either way I have a few more bucks to save up.

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 04:00 AM

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All I can say is, I live in the rust belt and there is a guy near me,
(a member here too), that will sell me an entire rust free box for $700.oo. kinda hard to pay 3 to 4 hunert + shipping, per side with a whole bed available. Either way I have a few more bucks to save up.

no offense, but if you think a 33-41 year old truck box has no rust, you are fooling yourself. It may look rust free but there is rust lurking in between, just waiting for you to put fresh paint on before it bubbles through right above the wheel opening. Trust me, it really ruins your mood when you see bubbles 3 months after you spent a bundle getting the truck painted.
And what if the the "rust free" box does that? Then what? You are cutting, patching, bondo and repainting. Suddenly your used box doesn't look so peachy and cheap anymore.
Not to mention the dents and cracks that any old truck box accumulates over it's life of use.
This isn't meant to hurt your feelings, I'm just speaking from experience. There are good used boxes out there, factory take offs etc, but we are talking about trucks that were built decades ago now. A perfect box is a rarity

Just like on muscle cars, you don't know what you have until you take it apart.
Ever cut the bottom off the lower 1/4 of any old car to patch it? Know what happens when you open it up? Damp dirt, rust, bottle caps and rusty nuts and bolts fall on the floor.
There may not be any visible rust on the truck box you have found, but it will have pitting happening where you cannot see it, and it is a ticking time bomb before it comes through. And has the box been painted before? After 33-41 years, most likely. Are you going to assume it's good and paint over it? Or strip the paint to bare metal? More $$. What's hiding under the paint? Does it have unecessary trim that needs removing and holes welded shut? More $$
Is the gas filler where you need it? There were no less than 3 combinations of filler openings. Is the back side of the box sides clean and smooth and new? Don't think so. But they are on brand new box sides.
Want to knock the dents out of the inner panels for the show truck? How do you do that with the box sides on? With them off you have full access to the inner panels to address any dents, rust etc, or to add in handy ties down hooks while the sides are off.
Take any banged up old truck box that is basically free, remove the banged up box sides, sandblast the inners and epoxy them. Weld on new box sides and Presto!
Nice straight box with no surprises waiting in behind.
You can transform a piece of s**t box into a beauty with new sides.
The fact is, quality panels will make a quality box, which is a huge part of any old truck.
I for one would rather have straight new box sides with No bondo, No dents, No rust. no welded in patches. Try that with old box sides

Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 04:08 AM

Good boxes don't grow on trees and the trucks that need them are in rust belts, not in desert areas where another rustfree box would be located.
There are lots of cool Dodge trucks that could be restored if the parts were available. I totally agree they would sell enough of them to make it worthwhile. A lot of good Dodge trucks have been junked because the box sides aren't available.

Sheldon

Posted By: BulletBob

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 04:24 AM

I've found it easier to buy the whole truck than to buy some of the sheetmetal.

Grandpa trucks are on the CL a bunch & most of the time if you need a bed you will need other rust free sheetmetal as well too

I'll give you guys a tip on the ones repairing rusty sides

Drill & split the outer wheelhouse off
treat the area on the backside & seal it well along with the wheelhouse
pop rivet or screw the wheelhouse back in

*welding this back in negates the treatment & seal as welding will help create rust*

I learned this 25 years ago or more & haven't had a rust comeback since Works on brand X also

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 06:12 AM

Over 5 years, 70-74, Chrysler built 126,000 Barracuda/ Cudas.
Assuming a 10% survival, that could mean 12,600 Barracudas that need repro parts.
Darn near evey part is being made for Barracudas

Over 9 years, 72-80, Chrysler built over 1,500,000 pickups.
That's more than 10 times as many. Assuming a 10% survival rate, that could mean 150,000 72-80 style Dodge pickups out there that could potentially need boxsides, floors and other panels.
Even if only 1% of the trucks suvived, that's still 15000 trucks that could need parts.
You can't tell me there isn't a market.
We aren't talking about Pinto's or Chevettes here. Dodge trucks have a big following.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 02:07 PM

I agree with your statement about if they had full bed side they would sell much better. Who wants a bed with a bunch of work done to it. I'd much rather have mud free bed sides and just do a bunch of spot welding. I've done like you said and contacted AMD just to let them know I'd be a buyer for them. The fact of the matter is the beds are getting harder and harder to find and crazy hard for people like me to get being located in Maine where every thing is rusted out. Plus it look like the larger patch panels are not to found any where. I found a bed from a fellow member in CO but they quoted me over 1500 just to get it back which would mean I'd have over two grand in the bed. Then I would need to get it sand blasted, fix all the dents in the side of the bed. New AMD bed sides would be a much easier item to ship then a complete bed, I would buy them.

Posted By: 79machocharger

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/27/13 08:52 PM

Well this first time I've ever seen one of these, NOS ramcharger quarter on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-NOS-1972-8...83b&vxp=mtr
If AMD wanted to make it they should grab this one as they are crazy hard to find.

Posted By: Webster

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 09/29/13 02:48 PM

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Plenty of rust free sheet metal around here. Kinda hard to imagine having to buy aftermarket stuff, much less major rust repair. Bad rust here is when ya get a few bubbles around a wheel well. Never seen the drip rail rot here either.

Sounds like I need to start locating parts for yall and shipping them out!

You might have something there

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 10/01/13 03:25 AM

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All I can say is, I live in the rust belt and there is a guy near me,
(a member here too), that will sell me an entire rust free box for $700.oo. kinda hard to pay 3 to 4 hunert + shipping, per side with a whole bed available. Either way I have a few more bucks to save up.

no offense, but if you think a 33-41 year old truck box has no rust, you are fooling yourself. It may look rust free but there is rust lurking in between, just waiting for you to put fresh paint on before it bubbles through right above the wheel opening. Trust me, it really ruins your mood when you see bubbles 3 months after you spent a bundle getting the truck painted.
And what if the the "rust free" box does that? Then what? You are cutting, patching, bondo and repainting. Suddenly your used box doesn't look so peachy and cheap anymore.
Not to mention the dents and cracks that any old truck box accumulates over it's life of use.
This isn't meant to hurt your feelings, I'm just speaking from experience. There are good used boxes out there, factory take offs etc, but we are talking about trucks that were built decades ago now. A perfect box is a rarity

Just like on muscle cars, you don't know what you have until you take it apart.
Ever cut the bottom off the lower 1/4 of any old car to patch it? Know what happens when you open it up? Damp dirt, rust, bottle caps and rusty nuts and bolts fall on the floor.
There may not be any visible rust on the truck box you have found, but it will have pitting happening where you cannot see it, and it is a ticking time bomb before it comes through. And has the box been painted before? After 33-41 years, most likely. Are you going to assume it's good and paint over it? Or strip the paint to bare metal? More $$. What's hiding under the paint? Does it have unecessary trim that needs removing and holes welded shut? More $$
Is the gas filler where you need it? There were no less than 3 combinations of filler openings. Is the back side of the box sides clean and smooth and new? Don't think so. But they are on brand new box sides.
Want to knock the dents out of the inner panels for the show truck? How do you do that with the box sides on? With them off you have full access to the inner panels to address any dents, rust etc, or to add in handy ties down hooks while the sides are off.
Take any banged up old truck box that is basically free, remove the banged up box sides, sandblast the inners and epoxy them. Weld on new box sides and Presto!
Nice straight box with no surprises waiting in behind.
You can transform a piece of s**t box into a beauty with new sides.
The fact is, quality panels will make a quality box, which is a huge part of any old truck.
I for one would rather have straight new box sides with No bondo, No dents, No rust. no welded in patches. Try that with old box sides

Nope didn't hurt my feelings. You know what they say about opinions right?

Posted By: Mopar Mark

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 08/06/14 06:47 AM

I ran across this and I see the last reply was from 2013. Check out LMC Truck, it looks like they carry full sides.

Posted By: demon

Re: Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks - 08/07/14 05:30 AM

Yes, LMC carries them now and I saw last week that Goodmark also has them too. Looks like the same panels. And cheap!
This is great news for us Dodge truck guys.

Brand new box sides for 72-80 Dodge trucks