Where can I find patch panels for a '55 Belair?
I'll need the eybrows and the rockers for a four dour.
Also, does anyone out there make an updated version of the guage cluster?

Clasic Chevy has all the panels as does Danchuck and many others.Dakota Digital makes a neat insert with your choice of LED color.Also have seen other inserts that accept VDO and similar sizes gauges.Grab a copy of Hemmings,tons of advertisers in the 55-57 section.See Ya!!
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Daryle

Ditto on Danchuck and Classic as far as panels...Cyberdyne makes some real slick guages real similar to VDO and Dakota Digital.

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Dipstick Streetrod Association Member
If ya aint throwin' sparks ya aint low enough!

Another good source for body panels is Sherman Autobody supply http://www.shermanparts.com/ If this works this should be the page in their catalog for 55 Chevy stuff http://www.crosscanadaparts.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/cgi-bin/pagegen.pl?U+sherman+pyzz7878fff3f5f3+pyzz7878fff3f5f3+727&728
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George

You may also want to try www.carsinc.com I got quarter panel pieces for a 55 from Sherman a while back and the quality was really poor. The stuff does'nt have the sharp lines to go with the original panels either.
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Digger
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DSRA Member

I threw it away yesterday, now I have to go buy one
Just when you think you have won the Rat Race along come faster rats

Cars Inc, Classic Chev. lots of sheetmetal suppliers. I used the Dakota Digital in my 55, love it. Look in the Tri5 section on chevytalk, www.chevytalk.com ,many vendors listed there.
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www.my55chevy.com

That's good to know about Sherman's quality, digger. I've never bought from them but I saw they carried a lot of different stuff.

A few years ago I swore off project cars that needed panels. I'll spend the extra money for a rust free body if I can find one.
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George

George,I'm with you on looking for a rust-free car to start with.I have started with less than perfect cars in the past,spent $$$ to repair them,only to have a problem down the road.Repaired doesn't compare to never screwed up in the first place!Finding a rust-free car is money in the bank! See Ya!!
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Daryle

George--Daryl you're both right, its always better to find a rust free body if you can, I tell customers that all the time. Go to Arizona or somewhere in that part of the country an find what you are looking for, the savings in the long run will pay for your trip, even if you have to pay for shipping it.
I have to buy panels or fabricate them once in a while because I have to work on what people bring in, otherwise I would never buy aftermarket panels, none of the ones I have seen are all that great--some are just worse.
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Digger
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DSRA Member

I threw it away yesterday, now I have to go buy one
Just when you think you have won the Rat Race along come faster rats

Luckily when I started my project 8 years ago, I didn't mind a lot of rusted out places like the floors cuz I was doing a major chop job with new floors anyway. But I can tell ya that a rust free is really the way to go if possible. I've welded in patch panels and new design panels and it's a lot of work. My next ride might be tupperware. Dave
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Life's too short to drive an ughly car!
Massachusetts Safety Inspecter for KKOA
www.geocities.com/stupidbaker57/custom_green

Dave, You may be on to something there with the tupperware car. I`ve been rust bustin` for over 30 years. My coupe is the first plastic car I have ever owned. I couldn`t be happier knowing I will never fight rust again.
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

My last rod was a 23 T C-Cab. It was plastic but had a few rattles. If I build my next roadster/coupe, it may be fiberglass, but I will have to hand lay it myself, cuz you know me, radical is normal to me. Besides,,,,,,,I'm cheap! Dave
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Life's too short to drive an ughly car!
Massachusetts Safety Inspecter for KKOA
www.geocities.com/stupidbaker57/custom_green

Kinky!
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

Hey! I'll bet if we all write to the big auto makers, they might start making cars out of glas. Whadda ya think? Maybe even stainless steel to help fight rust. LOL.

phil


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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

The Saturn is almost all plastic, What a POS that is.
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

at least they're selling Saturns. How many Deloreans did they sell? (Seen one, you seen 'em all).
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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

Theres another over rated piece of garbage.
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

Yeoman, about 20 years ago, Ford built a couple of cars completely (other than the frame) out of Stainless steel. They used the original tooling for each and ran them down the line. The cars they picked....a 35 2 door coach and a 57 T-bird. They were in the front lobby of the Windsor, Ontario engine plant as a display for the better part of 2 years. Wouldn't you like to glam on to that 35 to rod.
Rochie

Got any leads on where the 35 went to????
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association