Fiberglass vs Steel Panels

**Slayer84092** · 12-08-2010, 09:56 PM

I found a site that has a ton of fiberglass panels for my 84 C-10. Everything from full step side beds to full front clips. How does fiberglass measure up to steel? If I get in an accident am I gonna get crushed? How does it take heat (does it crack or warp)?, what is the weight ratio of fiberglass to steel? Any advice would be much appreciated.

**RichLockyer** · 12-08-2010, 10:01 PM

It doesn't dent... it breaks.
Used to be significantly lighter, and on an 84 it may still be, but with the thin crap that cars are made of now, I'd be willing to bet that it's pretty close... and glass may even be a bit heavier.
An accident is a concern. The front fenders are your primary crumple zone. The frame is a secondary.
With glass fenders, they are going to shatter, and make your frame your primary crumple zone... a relatively minor accident would mean a bent frame.

Personally, on a DD, I draw the line at a glass hood (and prefer steel).
Now, on a late 60s muscle car, ya... pretty much no crumple zones there, and the stock steel is heavy.

**Kode-X-Kustoms** · 12-09-2010, 07:05 AM

I would do the hood and a rear roll pan if I wanted to do somthing to shed some weight. Plus there always seems to be fitment issues with anything more then hoods now a days.

**00RCSB** · 12-09-2010, 10:05 AM

I would never run a fiberglass panel besides a hood, or rollpan on any vehicle that is not a unibody. First reason is strength, there will be none with a fg clip, meaning if you were to be in a wreck the only thing to stop the blow is the frame. if you were to rearend my truck or a truck at a higher ride height the only things to stop the blow would be the engine and cab because the fg clip would break away. Second is the fitment usually is not the best. Third is damage factor if for example you thro rocks off your rear tire and hit the rear fender it will more then likely start to star crack it like a windshield without any undercoating on the inside.

**CKTA** · 12-10-2010, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Slayer84092

I found a site that has a ton of fiberglass panels for my 84 C-10. Everything from full step side beds to full front clips. How does fiberglass measure up to steel? If I get in an accident am I gonna get crushed? How does it take heat (does it crack or warp)?, what is the weight ratio of fiberglass to steel? Any advice would be much appreciated.

If you are talking about US body panels (or a name very similar) RUN! and RUN fast! There parts su(k, and their customer service is even worse.

**Slayer84092** · 12-10-2010, 02:39 PM

I was thinking about getting the hood and the one piece pre-tubbed stepside bed. The hood could cut down on my weight a lot and the one piece bed seems like a dream come true. You can still install a wooden bed kit and its perfect for custom tail lights. CKTA, tell me more about your experience with usbody.com. I've been looking online and I can't find a single review.

**Kode-X-Kustoms** · 12-10-2010, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Slayer84092

I was thinking about getting the hood and the one piece pre-tubbed stepside bed. The hood could cut down on my weight a lot and the one piece bed seems like a dream come true. You can still install a wooden bed kit and its perfect for custom tail lights. CKTA, tell me more about your experience with usbody.com. I've been looking online and I can't find a single review.

I would stick to just a hood for street use. Unless your looking to build a drag truck I would not even begin to look at a full fiberglass bed and everything else.

**Slayer84092** · 12-10-2010, 04:39 PM

I AM looking at making it a drag truck. The FB rear would be really nice, as it wouldn't have heat issues like the front clip. My only issue with it is that it's probably somethin like 3/4 the weight, and traction will probably become an issue even with wide tires, a lid, and the light rear end. If it's that prone to cracking etc, I think I'll stick with steel.

**Kode-X-Kustoms** · 12-10-2010, 07:37 PM

Ok for a all out drag truck, I would consider all fiberglass, but only if I was planning on going 7's and even then I would just look for a ex pro stock S10 rather then a fullsize C10.
For a street truck, Hood, roll pan, and maybe a fiberglass front bumper depending on how much I actually drove.

It's still a fullsize truck, if you want a 2500 pound truck get a ex PS S10. Plus a true steel truck with a nice paint job will always look 1,000,000x's better then a fiberglass truck.