hey guys, my new patch panel just came in today. i was wondering if any of you have put one in. its a 69. and if so what tips or advice could you give me to make the install easy.also which way does it go??? haha any body have any pics? thanks again.

I put this patch in our 68. I cut it down to the shape I needed. The bigest job was removing the shelf in front of the rear window and then putting it back in. I can send you come pics if you e-mail me and let me know your e-mail address. tp.sager@verizon.net

Here's a composite shot showing the shelf removed, then the rotted channel removed and the new panel back in place. Take your time removing that shelf. I took the shelf and the mating part of the panel off in one piece to make it easier to split the welds holding them together.
http://members.cox.net/wrenchbender/images/window.jpg

Hope this helps.

yea thats helps alot also, i under stand more from the angle of those shots. thaks guys!!! anyone else?

Perhaps you would know. Is there something different between the NPD and OPG shelf panels? OPG is about half the price. Is one a patch piece and the other a full panel?

Just to be clear, the shelf is different from the window channel (aka, a repair panel). They are two separate pieces. But in OPG's catalog picture they appear to be combined into a single piece. The shelf is S-shaped in cross-section, but that picture shows it more complex than that. That's why I wonder if it's a combo piece. It might also explain the price.

BTW: The channel I used, and show in the picture, was OPG's CAM0853 piece.

Thanks. I think I will just get on the phone and ask them. An el Camino definitely isn't a Chevelle. Lots of differences. Not just the bed. NPD does list two separate pieces so I'm not sure what gives.

i got the one from th eel camino store. half the price of opg . its a very good piece. and its the patch panel only. i still have to get the rear shelf.