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Look here to find out why MAR-K parts are better!
Jump down to the following parts:
THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN MADE BED SIDES
MAR-K’s electro-galvanized steel bed sides are made here in Oklahoma City, USA. This is important because you know it will have the correct steel gage thickness and welded construction like the
original. A complete GM bed side is made up of the bed side panel, the front and rear stake pockets and the steel angle strip.
Ford complete bed sides are made up of the bed side panel, the front and rear stake pockets and the front and back extension panels. Fender holes and angle holes are punched with the correct hole patterns. Bed sides can also be purchased with or without the stake pocket holes for no additional charge.
There are also 15 other options for your bed sides. These custom “UPGRADES” are a MAR-K exclusive.
Since we make your bed sides right here, we can customize them in lots of different ways. This can save you time and money at the body shop. Try polished stainless angles or teardrops welded on. Choose no latch, no angles, no fender holes or no embossment - it all depends on what you want to do with your ride. We also have some specialized upgrades for certain makes and models, for example, we can install the latch pin to work with MAR-K’s custom tailgate with handle and latch mechanism. If you like the old style Ford tailgate, we can make your bed sides to work with it. See the many examples below and you’ll know why MAR-K is the better bed side.
  
  
MAR-K makes bed sides in a dedicated manufacturing "cell" so that custom bed sides with upgrades can be made as soon as possible. Our computerized production control system allows us to make custom bed
sides with upgrades right along with the standard bed sides for minimum delays and to assure consistently accurate parts. USA made means not only better quality, but quicker shipment and custom parts available.
See pictures from the “cell” below.
  
 
WHY ARE MAR-K’S GM 67-72 STEEL FLOOR CROSS SILLS DIFFERENT?
 MAR-K manufactures steel floor cross sills for
67-72 Fleetside trucks using the same gage steel materials that were used originally. When you are talking about the parts that help support the bed of your truck, this is very important! Also,
all of our MAR-K cross sills are made with accurate bends and dimensions and welded construction like the originals. Be careful where you buy your truck parts. You do not want to put a
lesser quality cross sill on your truck to support a steel floor bed and any load you might be carrying!
Another important thing to note is that other companies are selling one “universal” cross sill for all cross sill locations. This is NOT original. MAR-K cross sills are made like the original and
are specific to each cross sill location. See the pictures below. The black cross sill on the bottom is the other
company’s cross sill. You can see two different cross sills that MAR-K makes on the top. These two are different from the first and from each other. These are located at the 2nd and 3rd locations on a short fleetside
and on the 3rd and 4th location on a long fleetside. Bolt holes are punched in the MAR-K cross sills where the other cross sill has none. The MAR-K cross sills also have brackets welded in place where the other cross sill
has none. Not only does this make a difference with the structural integrity of your truck floor, but it also makes it easier to install.
In addition to the cross sills, MAR-K also makes 2 sizes of reinforcement strips for this truck, just like original.
All of this comes down to the fact that MAR-K can control the quality of its parts because ours are made right
here in Oklahoma City, USA. We ARE the manufacturers. And we go to great lengths to ensure that our parts are made correctly and fit great!
WHY MAR-K’S MOULDINGS OFFER GREATER VALUE
 MAR-K moldings are carefully manufactured to match the shape and
dimension of the original parts. We use original vehicles or original parts as patterns and reproduce the curves and shapes for correct fit. Passenger car door moldings include the tabs on the backside that
match the locations of the original tabs.
 MAR-K moldings are carefully buffed to produce a highly
reflective surface, and all aluminum moldings are bright anodized for long term durability and to protect the shine. The photo of a 62-66 molding shows the superior reflectivity of
MAR-K moldings (left in photo) compared to the import molding (right in photo). This picture also shows the differences in the shape of the spear. MAR-K’s moulding on the left is the same
shape and dimensions as the original.
 MAR-K moldings include the clips needed for installation on your
specific truck or car. We often manufacture the special clips that are needed for correct installation. The 55-59 GM door and cab molding clip set includes the special bolted clip that secures the end of the door
molding at the top.
We purchase aluminum and stainless alloys that are designed specifically for automotive trim applications. Our suppliers are very quality conscious and supply excellent materials. We work with American polishing
and anodizing companies that understand our requirements for quality workmanship. You can be assured that MAR-K moldings will be shiny for a long time.
 Moldings that have a painted accent stripe are carefully cleaned
and prepared for painting, then masked by hand and painted. We have done extensive research and experimenting to obtain a durable paint system for this application.
As are all MAR-K parts, they are made in Oklahoma City, USA! So you can be sure the quality is better than anything made anywhere else.
MAR-K TAILGATES VS IMPORT TAILGATES
MAR-K tailgates are manufactured using the same thickness steel materials that were used originally. This
results in a product that is as strong as the original tailgate and has the same look as the original. It does not
feel springy or "flimsy" as do the tailgates from other companies. The skin of our tailgates is 16 gage steel,
electrogalvanized, and formed and welded like the original. An import "no script" GM stepside tailgate weighs about 23 lbs while the Mar-K no-script tailgate weighs 28 lbs, as does the original tailgate. This
lightweight construction causes a significant reduction in strength and would not be acceptable for most pickup truck applications. The last thing you need is for the tailgate to be damaged by someone innocently
stepping on the tailgate or pushing on the truck and buckling the tailgate and ruining your paint. Select Mar-K parts that will perform to your expectations.
MAR-K tailgates are spot welded with substantial welds that are accurately spaced and aligned with the bends and edges. We use a purpose-built spot welding machine that controls all the processes with a
computer and is very repeatable. We regularly perform destructive tests during each production run to verify that the welds are strong. The photo below, left shows the welds on a MAR-K tailgate. As you can see, the
welds are consistent and evenly spaced.
 
The photo above right shows an actual import tailgate which has welds that are much smaller and that are
very erratically aligned. Unfortunately, poor quality such as this is all too typical. This lack of caring about
appearance and size of the welds is not appropriate for a properly built custom truck. Compare that to the photo of the MAR-K tailgate with the precision welds accurately spaced (above left). The MAR-K tailgate is
stronger and has a better quality appearance. There is a difference and you don't have to settle for inferior products. Specify MAR-K Quality Parts, and you will really receive top quality products for your truck.
MAR-K tailgates are available in a wide-ranging variety of custom options. Because our tailgates are made right here in our Oklahoma City plant, we can manufacture and supply custom tailgates such as louvres,
embossed bowtie, smooth, no-script, no latch, flush fit double wall, and tailgates with integral latches and handle. There are 16 types of tailgates available for a 50 Chevy stepside and this is just one example of the
many choices. These options are just not available from importers and we continue to develop more varieties to satisfy your need for custom tailgates.
At Mar-K we regularly test fit our products to make sure that all dimensions are accurate and will fit the original
trucks. Tailgates must fit and operate smoothly for satisfactory performance. The bends are made on our modern computer controlled presses for repeatable accuracy. When you choose Mar-K, your parts will fit
properly you will get the best value for your money. And best of all, the parts are manufactured right here in the USA by Americans that really care about providing the best pickup parts for your ride.
The differences between tailgates is typical of the differences we see between all of the parts we make and those of the “other guys”. Insist on MAR-K manufactured products and BUY MAR-K QUALITY!
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