Resurrecting rare car parts

[MushCreek]

I'm putting a '68 grille on my '72 F-250; a steel grille. The headlight doors/bezels have become rare as hen's teeth. You can get re-pops, but they are aluminum. I'm not sure if they fit right, so I kept looking for steel ones. I had one badly rusted old set, and one decent set, except for a sharp crease in the edge. I tried hammering the thick steel out, but was making it worse instead of better. I finally just cut the dented part out, cut the the same area out of the rusted one, and welded it back together. Came out OK; you really have to sight along it in strong light to see any ripples. I just put rattle-can white on it for now; I may touch it up a bit more when I do the finish painting.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks good enough for a 50+ year old truck. It's not a show truck, get that thing out and drive it.

 

[i7083]

Hey, that looks good. Nice job!

 

[genog]

+1

 

[jack stand]

I just happened across a YouTube video of a factory in Taiwan that is making LOTS of classic American sheet metal, they have many of the original Ford, GM, etc. dies. The video included pickups, K5 blazer, original Bronco and all the way to the VW bus with all the windows around the top.
They apparently also sell complete shells of several models.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks great !

 

[Swervyjoe]

Have been to Verbe Temple's in Batesburg-Leesburg?

 

[MushCreek]

It seems like they're producing more parts for the '67-72 Fords now. They recently started selling repro hoods. They do make the headlight bezel- in aluminum. Probably not a big enough market for steel ones. I could check with Temple's, but I'm satisfied with what I have for now. I'm trying to finish up the various body work so I can get on to paint and reassembly. It's not gonna be a show car; in fact, it will be a working truck, although I'd like it to look presentable.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think it's going to look fine.