[TheCirque]

I need to repair a few areas and wondering what material guys are using for sheet metal patches. Specifically, what guage material is best.

I'm sure it's expensive but for smaller stuff is it acceptable to grab a sheet of steel from Home Depot?

Wheel wells
Body panels


Thanks.

[gotyorgoat]

I used 18ga. It seemed to be the same thickness as the rear fenders and wheel wells. 20ga seemed too thin for exterior body panels, but can be used in certain areas where more bends are needed or where it doesn't span without support, etc. Good to have both materials available and use your own judgment.

[sts]

Home Depot sheet metal works fine. I don’t remember the gauge, but they only have a few, 3 thicknesses I think. I used the one step down from the thick gauge on the wheelhouse. There’s a lot in there; can you see it? When you look at from inside the wheelhouse, it’s an excellent forgery, including the handihammered bead-roll. I also used Home Depot, actually Lowes, to patch the fender and door with a rough “paint” sketch.

A while ago, I remember reading about people potty mouthing the gauge, about whatever, but I have never seen any of them post pictures of their fabrication work, so I cannot say one way or the other what the complaint is. It worked fine for me.

By the way, I did post pictures of fender patch, and posted them here in the winter of ’05-’06, and it was a pretty complex one-piece patch. Actually I was pretty impressed with it because it wraps inside the fender, looking exactly like factory. And I’m usually not overly impressed with my work, always thinking it could be better, like my recently painted car. No one seemed to be interested, so I didn’t see the need to keep updating the post as I continued with the metal work. I never took pictures of the door because it was such an easy repair, it didn’t seem worthy of pictures.

I took the pictures with an antique digital camera that used 3.5” floppies, and posted them using Image Shack. Before I had a chance to burn them on the disc, the files became corrupted. If you felt like fishing through my post history--I don’t--the fender patch pictures may still be there. It was the fall/winter of ’05-‘06.

[gto406]

Looks great STS! If Home Depot or Lowe's has it - go for it!

I purchased 18ga cold-rolled 4X6' for the patches I am doing on the GTO from a place here in Toronto known as Metal Supermarket. Price is what it is.

So far, it has been very good, and has come in handy doing patches. Most of the ones I am doing are not visible (pics posted in my '72 GTO Project' thread). E.g. on my interior floors which will be underneath primer/rubberized undercoating, Hushmat and carpet- are simply layed on top and welded in (after cleaning underlying area of course).

I am getting to the money sides soon (1/4 panel replacement) - and my hope is I can do as nice a job as STS has done on his beautiful '69 Bird!

BR/Brian.

[arbys]

We have a steel supply place here that's called Alro Steel. You may have something similar in your area. They have all sizes of "metal drops". A whole lot cheaper that HD or those other big box stores. Right now it $.99/lb.

[irgoatmike]

18 gauge and I agree with the above posts, find a sheet metal shop, it'll be cheaper. Irgoatmike

[PaulatFast]

I use factory metal. It welds to the other factory metal the exact same temp. All it takes is an old deck lid or hood. Usually they can be found for free or scrap price... Since this metal has the same make up, it will shrink and expand at the same rate. Just don't get your welds too thick or overlap your repairs.

[TheCirque]

How about the wheel tubs. Will 18 guage be enough?