Replacement body parts?

[blackheart]

I hope someone can help with this...

My '97 Ranger has started to show its age, though with only 87k miles I still consider it to be a puppy. Both the doors and the bed have some serious rust going on from the winter salt here in Northern Illinois. The truck's white, so it's looking pretty pathetic. I stopped by a local, reputable body shop and the owner recommended replacing them.

I called around to the local Automotive Parts Recyclers (tm) looking for a bed (6' Styleside, no wheel molding) with no luck. Though I did get some chuckles when I told them I was looking for one with minimal rust ("Ain't going to find a '97 without rust."). I'm currently trying some of the online sources, but anything I find that sounds worth taking a look at is a least a days drive away.

How does one go about getting a decent replacement bed? Can these things be freighted (for a reasonable price, I mean)? How can I find out what other years are compatible so I'm not limited to looking for a '97?

Anyone?

 

[Musick17]

To bad its not a stepside... http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/2532190882.html

 

[Musick17]

But thats something you gotta keep checking junkyards and craigslist for until it shows up.

 

[blackheart]

But thats something you gotta keep checking junkyards and craigslist for until it shows up.

I forgot about craigslist, I'll have to keep an eye on them.

 

[adsm08]

Lmc.

 

[RangerBoy94]

 

[blackheart]

Lmc.

[google...] Ah. LMCtruck.com. I will give them a try. Thanks!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

We have a place in town to get body panels. I just bought a used truck that someone replaced the bedsides and it makes the truck look new once painted. I crawled underneath and it looks fairly simple to do. Remove metal where needed for clearance and attach new bedsides. Apparently there are some glues out there that hold better than welding... as an option, or even screwing them on may be a possibility.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[blackheart]

We have a place in town to get body panels. I just bought a used truck that someone replaced the bedsides and it makes the truck look new once painted. I crawled underneath and it looks fairly simple to do. Remove metal where needed for clearance and attach new bedsides. Apparently there are some glues out there that hold better than welding... as an option, or even screwing them on may be a possibility.
Good luck,

Thanks, Richard. I tried looking for just Styleside bedsides, no go. Tried LMC, J.C Whitney (they'll always be Warshawsky to me, dammit), and several other online parts places. Earlier models or flaresides... no problem.

Also tried searching for a body parts dealer within around a 70mi. radius. Couldn't find one of those, either.

I'm keeping one eye on eBay and another on Craigslist. The problem there is that the few eBay listings there were for beds said "local pickup only" and California or Washington State is a bit too much of a road trip for me. ...and anything near enough to me (Great White North) that I could pick up will probably be in as bad or worse shape, rust-wise, as what I've already got.

Sooo... I'm still open to suggestions as to how to get a decent replacement bed (or sides) for my '97.

 

[Bannanatruck02]

Try these guys:
http://www.partsbyweller.com/
They're outside of Grand Rapids, MI ( I saw that you mentioned northern Illinois, so I don't know how far/close this is?) Also, try:
http://www.lkqcorp.com/
http://www.lkqcorp.com/auto-light-truck-parts/aftermarket-parts-by-keystone.aspx
They're an automotive recycler that is pretty decent. Of course, there is also e-bay motors, craigslist, junkyards, etc. I'd also suggest calling around body shops in the area, you'd be amazed who has an extra panel/fender that's been laying aroundFOREVER and that they would like to get rid of.
Try these guys also:
http://shermanparts.com/ecat/base/index.php
Former parts/counterman and body shop guy.... Hope this helps.

 

[blackheart]

Try these guys:
http://www.partsbyweller.com/
They're outside of Grand Rapids, MI ... Hope this helps.

Whoa, whoa. Slow down, man!

LKQ I'd already run across on one of my searches. Sherman Parts and Parts by Weller were both interesting sites, but apparently nothing on hand at this time.

I'm getting the impression that this repair is not going to happen anytime soon. Looks like I'll just have to keep checking the various online resources periodically as well as phoning the local boneyards every other week or so.

Thanks, Bannanatruck02!

 

[Bannanatruck02]

Whoa, whoa. Slow down, man!

LKQ I'd already run across on one of my searches. Sherman Parts and Parts by Weller were both interesting sites, but apparently nothing on hand at this time.

I'm getting the impression that this repair is not going to happen anytime soon. Looks like I'll just have to keep checking the various online resources periodically as well as phoning the local boneyards every other week or so.

Thanks, Bannanatruck02!

No prob, my friend. Haha, sorry about that, a lot of info to throw out in one post. lol.