CK5 - The Full-Size GM Off Road Community

I need the rear side panels for my K5. Is this an aftermarket item I can buy? Im interested in seeing pics of what other members have done with there side panels.

Thanks for the help in advance.

I need the rear side panels for my K5. Is this an aftermarket item I can buy? Im interested in seeing pics of what other members have done with there side panels.

Thanks for the help in advance.

As I said in the other thread, I used my used factory panels to make templates.

I basically laid the whole thing out over a sheet of thin (1/4") plywood, and traced the whole thing. The factory panels were covered in vinyl, with padding underneath that, so it wasn't an exact trace. I lined up one straight edge of the plywood with the top edge of the panel, so at least one side was square to the body of the truck. With the rest roughly traced, I started fitting it in the K5, and trimming where necessary. I eventually got what I felt was a really good fit. The plan was to make an exact duplicate of that panel, then cover both with foam and vinyl. I just never got around to it.

The factory panels that I bought were constructed with that cheap fiberboard stuff. I believe the plywood would last longer, especially if clear-coated or protected. My brother has a hookup on 4'x8' sheets of ABS plastic. I've thought of using that stuff for panels. It'd be indestructible for the most part, and cheap to replace. It's available pretty thick, like 1/4" and 1/2", and even thicker. To make a good thing even better, it's textured on one side, similar to the texture on the factory instrument/dash panel. So it'd basically match part of the factory interior. Use it raw or cover it with foam and vinyl.

If you're interested, I can probably send you a small sample to see if it's a material you'd be interested in working with.

I don't have side panels to trace from.

I don't have side panels to trace from.

Well, someone asked me to trace mine on paper, roll it up and mail it to them. If I can get my panels out of storage, I'll do it, throw 'em in a long mailing tube, and see them to you too! :D

That would be great. I think I might make mine out of half inch pvc or maybe a material called dibod.

That would be great. I think I might make mine out of half inch pvc or maybe a material called dibod.

Yeah, I checked outside... I had pulled the plywood panel I'd made from my tracing. It's been in the elements, and it's trashed. I'll make a new tracing from scratch when I get my panels back out of storage. I need to get them anyway to sell.

I'll probably make a new plywood panel to check fitment in my truck.

Either way, PVC would be good as well, and last forever. It's really easy to add upholstery to it as well, with some foam backing and naugehyde or vinyl or whatever.

Not to hijack or anything here, but I got a quick question. My K5 is a custom deluxe so it didn't come with side panels but i'd like to put some in. I haven't been able to find the brackets for the bedsides so I was thinking about making some or finding a junkyard silverado but I don't think there are factory screwholes in my rig. Does anyone have any pics of the bedside brackets I could take a peek at for placement and such?

Not to hijack or anything here, but I got a quick question. My K5 is a custom deluxe so it didn't come with side panels but i'd like to put some in. I haven't been able to find the brackets for the bedsides so I was thinking about making some or finding a junkyard silverado but I don't think there are factory screwholes in my rig. Does anyone have any pics of the bedside brackets I could take a peek at for placement and such?

Mine's a Custom Deluxe too. I've never seen a Silverado with the panels removed, so I don't know what they look like.

I was going to just drill holes in the bed rails and either tap the holes, or use self-tapping screws to secure my panels.

They have some brackets in the middle of them along the inner bed well. I have seen pictures here but cant remember who's truck I will go look and see if I have any pics.

Boy I am good! There they are I just bought them out of a truck and will use velcro to hold on inner metal.
http://coloradok5.com/floorremoval/nomorefloor.jpg

http://coloradok5.com/floorremoval/fenderwellout.jpg

Boy I am good! There they are I just bought them out of a truck and will use velcro to hold on inner metal.



Are they there just to add support to the center of the panels? Those stock panels are cheap fiberboard, easily damaged.

If I do the ABS or PVC ones, I plan to glue strips to the back to limit flex and provide some structural support.

Yea just to keep them from going in they are held on by tiny lil screws from factory. Now if you want to pop for some new ones here ya go!
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BRPS3A2

But love don't come cheep! You like salior? Love you long time yea?

Ouch...$400 seems a little steep. I was just gonna trace some stocks and cut them out of hardboard or something, then cover them with vinyl as you guys have mentioned. Maybe add some small lock boxes and rear speakers, I just need to get ahold of some factory brackets or fab something up. Thanks for the pics metro, those inverted V brackets are what I'm looking for.

_/--\_ kinda like that but flat on the edge to panel.wider part goes to bed wall. Does that make sense to you? They are about like the metal strap used to hold a down spout to a house.

If you need to make some I would use one of thes down spout gutter clamps. Just bend it like one of the factory.
http://www.guttersupply.com/file_area/public/categories/ImageUrl_1202305220_5100.jpg

Yeah I've seen them in silverado rigs before I just needed to see where they mounted to on the side of the bed. I might have the factory holes under the paint or something. Not that it matters I'm just OCD about that kinda stuff and I wanted to put the brackets in the factory locations. Thanks again for the pics and the info.

10-4 on the anal part I am same way if your doing it do it right! Yea I have a set out of a 77 buried in my storage van. Wrong style for my year but was using them as a fail safe.

I have seen used ones go for $359 on eBay. There is a plow truck at a car dealers with good tan ones for my year and they will not sell them. It is a shame because the truck is just to the point where the rust is going to bleed through to them at the back.
:'(

I just took a look at my bed sides and I don't have the factory holes but I might be able to get some measurements from a buddy of mine. Do the panels screw into the bedrails at the top as well? I don't see anything they could touch at the bottom either, but I seem to remember they aren't connected at the bottom. I'm also gonna get the whole thing line-x'ed so that might throw the measurements off of a factory side panel as well.

I just took a look at my bed sides and I don't have the factory holes but I might be able to get some measurements from a buddy of mine. Do the panels screw into the bedrails at the top as well? I don't see anything they could touch at the bottom either, but I seem to remember they aren't connected at the bottom. I'm also gonna get the whole thing line-x'ed so that might throw the measurements off of a factory side panel as well.

As I recall from looking at my panels, there are screw holes along the top and side edges, nothing at the bottom as you stated.

Since I'll be using a different design if/when I do mine, I plan on mounting some angle iron along the floor and wheel well to secure the panels.

I'm OCD/anal about it too, but I want mine to be gap-free and totally waterproof, so I'll be going a different route than the factory did.

Honestly, I'm surprised that this isn't something that LMC carries. You could damn near build an entire K5 from the amount of parts they sell. :eek1:

Yes along top the front along door area I think there were three and at the rear post also. Hold the fort I think I have a picture brb

back! You can see the screw holes if ya look good!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/Metrodps/post%20pics/sidepanel.jpg

Am I good or am I good? http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/Metrodps/Forum%20GIFs/dancin.gif

One more for the rear shot!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/Metrodps/post%20pics/b7_3tan.jpg

back! You can see the screw holes if ya look good!

Am I good or am I good?

Indeed! :bow::bow::bow:

Yeah, they look exactly like mine, same color (dark red). They don't match my truck's interior (or lack there of) at all, I bought them strictly to use as templates.

Do I remember correctly, that you need to remove the front seatbelt retractor to install the panels?

Yes sir! If you look at the left side you will see the three bigger holes.

Yeah now that I see the pic I remember having to pull the retractors to take the panels off of my buddy's rig. I also didn't notice that the ash trays were in the panels. On the custom deluxe's they are mounted to these flimsy metal tabs. I'd just as soon cover them up...on second thought that might be a good place for some lock boxes. Just big enough for the 9mm and maybe a wallet or something. I wasn't even thinking of going that far forward with the panels...it'd be good enough to end them just before the pillars. My K5 was an old forest service rig so it's got that great grabber green paint job head to toe. Whatever doesn't get painted will need to get covered.

so who wants to send me a template????? It would be great to get side panels on the truck.