Rust Repair sheet metal?

[nin9999]

So this weekend I am going to try to do my first small rust repair. I've educated myself on how to do this, but I have one question. Where do I get the sheet metal used for the repair? I really would rather avoid driving to a junk yard and cutting pieces off old autos.

I'm just guessing you need to make sure you have the correct gauge of the sheet so its not to thin or thick.

Where would I go to buy a sheet of metal and what specs do I have to know before getting what I need.

If it matters its for my 59 apache.

[03chevy]

you can go to LMC.com and but the panels you need so all you have to do is cut out what is bad.

[Case 7230]

Several ways to go. One is as suggested by 03. Or go to your local parts store where you should be able to get repair sheets in various sizes, usually around 18g to 20g. Or you can go to a local steel stockist and get a whole sheet, probably 6`x3`of plain steel, in whatever gauge you want. A lot of guys take the easy route of fiberglass and filler, I`m glad you are going to do it right. Good luck.

[wild bill]

they have smaller sheet's at most building supply store like Menard and farm and fleet ,tractor supply ect .

[Fatcat]

I would highly recommend LMC Truck catalog or LMC.com, they may not be the best price although resonable, but they would have any part, piece anything you will need for your truck, i think you said you had a 1959 Chevy Apache, they should have parts for it

Good Luck!

[schweikertcharl]

I just orderd a toe board from LMC for my 55 chevy 1 ton. Not to bad in price.

[87c10slammer]

i got some cab panels for my 87 c10 off ebay. they were a really good fit and were the correct gauge and all. for 20 buck for both of them i cant complain. just read through the seller ratings and see what the guys has

[75K30]

Are there any body lines or contours that have to be duplicated?
Typically, most cars are not perfectly flat, and using a flat piece of steel may require a great deal of bofy work. Unless you are good with an "English Wheel" you nay not get any of the radius, and contours correct.
This is why the machine bent and formed patch panels are worth every cent.
Often even pieces that are romoved from a donor vehicle are also worth decent money.
Getting things true, and accurate is important with this type of work, and patience is key. Too much heat when welding will ruin the panel, and not having a decent fit will also make this a little difficult.
Not trying to be intimidating here, just want you to be aware of some things to look out for.
Good luck.

[nin9999]

The rust is on my hood.

2 good things about that:

1st the rust is almost totally under my hood emblem so most of the repair will be covered.

2nd Its a linear bend. I will only have to shape North/South.

Thanks for the advice on getting new parts, but a new hood is far more expensive than fixing this myself. (unless I mangle it ;-)

I'm going to a hardware store tomorrow and I will tell you what I can find.

[75K30]

I see three different angles in which that short piece has to be formed.
You can try to get a flat piece to fix that, and I must say that I admire your desire.
I will also add that rust is always a larger job than meets the eye.
Try to weld on that nasty stuff, and the metal will have a better disappearing act than David Copperfield. You are going to have to weld way outside of the rusted area to get enough good material to weld to. I am aprehensive about using brass to repair patch panels like this, and try to use my TIG for just about everything. Again keeping the heat down and localized is going to keep stuff from getting a case of the wrinkles.
Should be an interesting fix......