The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I purchased a cowl induction hood for my 68 K10 that i am doing a complete restoration on from Classic Industries. When my body man started test fitting all of the body parts he tried everything to get this hood to line up with the body lines. It seemed to wide on the firewall end, it would not line up with the cowl etc.. So i gave Classic Ind a call and told them the issues. They asked me if i had it at a body shop or restoration shop, said i need to do some shimming and asked me to send several pictures. So they finally agreed to pay to have the hood shipped back but they are going to test fit it and if they see it is a manufacturing flaw give me a full refund and if they dont see any issues they will give me a refund minus return shipping. Meanwhile a friend of mine let me try his 68 Goodmark cowl induction hood and it line up a 100 times better. Even after offering to send the pics of this hood on my truck they are still saying that their r and d department has to check it out. Sorry to ramble on but i just wanted to let people know how they treat customers.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

There was a post a couple weeks ago from GMC Paul of GMC Paul's he went on at length about how he won't sell one because it just doesn't fit. He said that the people who stamp the hood are aware of the non-fit problems and the people who do sell them they HAVE to know about the bad stamping but he is the only vendor that has stopped selling them cause he said they plain just don't fit. He said he has tried several different times to get the "stampers" to make the corrections yet they remain hard headed. He also said that the hood is "too long" according to him and the lines never line up almost causing a second body line or a ghost line type thing. There were sevral replies to that post so you might do a search on his recent post to see if you can find it there may be something in there helpful to your cause. Jim

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I did find that exact write after encountering this issue and even told them about the issues. They still act as if i am not telling the truth and keep me waiting several days for my refund. One would think a company of this size would not give a customer that spent well over a thousand dollars and potentially much more, so much trouble for the shipping cost. I just wanted to get my truck reassembled and painted.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

the bad part is they knew dang good and well BEFORE they shipped you the hood that it wouldn't fit. Paul had said everyone that is in that business know the hoods are off but it is their decision to continue to sell and hope that nobody figures it out. Jim

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I wish i had known this before i ordered the hood and it would be nice if they were all like Paul. Honest about selling a good product. I will give an update on what they determine.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

It sucks that you're put in that position. The best you can do is stop spending your money with them, and start informing others as you are.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I can understand why they need to see for themselves if it is as bad as you claim. I know you showed pictures, but in the end the skill level of the one installing is a factor to consider. Your body man may be the best on earth, but they have no way of knowing. I just flat out don't buy any part like that if shipping is involved. For this reason and just as much to eliminate risk of damage in shipping. It could be spread from compression where no signs show other than overall dimension. I have read where site vendors flat out won't sell the hoods for poor fitment issues. It pays to read around this site. Lots of information like this discussed, then there are review boards. I believe there's a thread in there on this. A while back I put together a '68 front clip from all top quality repro and the results, after all the shimming, were very disappointing. Parts just flat out made wrong

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

dme922, Are you also using aftermarket front fenders and/or radiator support? There is a reason I ask.
I have a cowl induction hood on my '68 that never fit right no matter what I did so I looked everywhere for an excellent condition [U]original[U] hood. I finally found one and when I installed it, the fit was no better than with the aftermarket hood. I think my aftermarket front fenders are the culprit.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Classic's brand rubber parts-

i bought quite a few rubber pieces from them for my 69 shortbed.

steering column to firewall boot, gas tank grommet,and a few others. all the parts have done is sit installed on the truck for a very short timeand EVERY PIECE OF RUBBER IS ROTTEN.

i can literally see day light through the firewall rubber and the gas tank rubber looks like it would split apart if touched.

sorry its rubber nopt body parts,but i had to tell people about this from them. extremely aggrevated

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Steve Cole, my fenders are original but my core support is after market. What brand is your cowl hood? The Goodmark hood that i got from a friend to try fit really well.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I can't say for sure because the PO installed it but I believe he said it was a Goodmark. I guess it is hit or miss with this stuff.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I believe we will only see more and more of this until we stop outsourcing to China. I would rather pay double the price that they are charging for the Chinese repops for an American made part with the correct materials and better quality control.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

good mark is now sold thru LKQ if you are wanting to try their after you get your money back.
its too bad to read about these cowl hoods. I was really looking forward to buying one... well not buying one but putting one on my 67

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I just got a call from Classic Industries and they are refunding me the full amount. I am glad it worked out this way but its a shame that it took several weeks of back and forth with them. Also yesterday when i got to my boiling point i informed them that i was going to start this thread and got the call at 8 am their time right when they open.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

review(s) and feedback can like hurt their business, oops ..

from what I understand ( the majority, or all of them ), of these panel(s) come from over sea(s). and their product control varies I take it ( at who is on the clock or not ). probably just had a bad batch of item(s)

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Thats what i tried to tell them. I know by working in manufacturing plants that every once in a while something can go wrong and get some bad parts. Being made overseas their quality control isnt quite the best.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Unfortunately that will never happen. Too late :smoke:

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

It's very hard to buy replacement sheet metal ,Most all of it is "replacement quality" at best not anywhere near original in my opinion tap on an original fender then a replacement fender they don't even sound the same . Having something shipped half way around the world and then expecting it to bolt up correctly and fit is a hard bill to fill . it's really up to the body man to do whatever is required to make it fit by bending /cutting / re welding or just stomping it into submission ! It's only a piece of metal until it's assembled,primed and painted and driven down the road , Then it's a truck .:chevy:

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

The goodmark hood and the classic industries hood are manufactured by the same company. It is more about the inconsistencies in their manufacturing process and lack of quality control. WES

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Agreed. The only other option is to locate sources of original sheet metal before you need them. I live in the suburbs with my tiny piece of land and I am thinking of picking up spares as I find them and just making room in the garage.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

The first cowl hoods on these trucks were made by bodymen who knew what they were doing and cannibalized cowls from other old chevys and made them fit ! if yours doesn't fit find a better bodyman it's only metal.:chevy:

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

^ LOVE IT!!! ^ I tell everyone that same thing.. It's true.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I got mine from mothertruckers about 8 years ago it has a sucky fit as well. I finally jocked the cab core support and fenders enough to get the gaps ok but even after pie cutting both sides the whole length of the hood and flattening it out it still sticks up above the fenders in the middle by 1/8" I believe the curve stamped into the front is off too.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I have been working in manufacturing industrial products for 18 years and all I can say to this is post is hahahaha.....In my job I deal a lot with manufacturers and every single one without exception has tons better quality from Chinese manufacturing than American Unions. it is valid that you will pay double the price for American made but the flip side is you will receive a lot worse quality. Just to clarify I mean manufactured goods and not small business or hand craft. Not trying to start a war but this perception is way out of date.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I run a one man body shop, I get all my aftermarket parts from LKQ / Keystone. Same thing. They deliver to the door and if something needs to be returned they pick it up next day. No questions no problems no shipping. I would talk with a local body shop about having them order sheet metal for you, they get 30 per cent off so they make a buck and you save shipping.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

There are no wars starting just a group of guys sharing their opinions. If you ask 10 people you will probably end up with 11 different opinions.
I am just referring to the fact that the Chinese (or Tiwanese) made repops are made with thinner metal and not to the same standards as the American made units.

This time last year I was restoring a Jeep Jeepster and the repops for them were easily oem quality and made in America. Jeepsters were made from 1967 through 1973 and in all that time they only made about 60,000 of them. In the same years Chevy turned out close to 2 million C/K 10-20 trucks. There is just not enough demand for the Jeepster parts to be made overseas so they are made here in the USA. The parts cost about twice what they cost for the 67-72 Chevys but the quality is there. That is what I am hoping will eventually happen for us. If there is enough demand for a premium product it will eventually be made.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

I purchased a 69-72 cowl hood from Brothers ( Not sure who the MFG was )
But it had a couple of issues, but my body guy was able to correct them both and made the hood fit great. One issue was the front pass side of the hood was curved in-ward so there was a gap between it and the grille. That we corrected using a big slide hammer with a wide flat hook to pull this area out. That took some effort !!! The other issue was the hood was narrower than the cowl on the top of the hood. So he pie cut the cowl on both sides to bring it in and line it up with the hood. He did a great job on it and I love how it looks !

He was confident he couple work out the isses, and I felt this was easier than shipping it back and taking another role of the dice on another hood.

A good body guy is worth his weight in gold !

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

This is one reason to sometimes try and find original sheet metal parts when at all possible. Even paying a premium price sometimes is worth it.

Although I am sure some sheet metal parts are as good. I think.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Sneakyfast i am a steel worker and it does sound like your wanting to start a war. My whole point of starting this thread was due to poor customer service.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

i found the best way to go after bad vendors is let your credit card company do it for you. They will pull out of their account!

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Not sure what kind of war he's expecting to 'not' start. I can attest to the fact the chi stuff = horrible quality. Want picture proof evidence? The cust. service is probably a result of the vendor not wanting to deal with them either. LOL ;)

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

If the overseas quality control is better, then why can't they produce body panels right? And, it's not like this stuff made in China is any cheaper than when it was made here. There's just a super huge profit margin for Mr. Big

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Sneakyfast, you are more than welcome to provide some proof that import body panels are better quality. I don't think you can. And as for bashing American Unions and American made parts... I think you might have gotten on this forum by mistake.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

DME... I apologize for straying off of your original post. We can move on.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Thanks guys. I am proud to be Union and Sneakyfast may want to look at who built his truck. Anyhow like i said my main point of this thread was to point out the run around i was getting on my hood. The hood i received would have cost me a lot of extra labor ($) to get it right and if the Goodmark and Tri plus are made by the same company then the Goodmark must have been stamped on a better die or something. As i said in a previous thread Classic Industries did give me a full refund and i now have a Goodmark hood that is a much better fit. On with my build.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Yeah fair point. I retract....sorry to distract from the main point of thread..apologies.

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Sure, anything the Chinese can steal and copy from us is usually good enough. Our designs, specs, processes you name it they steal it. But here is the problem(besides they don't respect property rights). It's the materials. They will put $hit in our oatmeal... we will eat it. Because the real, and good, oatmeal is priced out of the market. Do a search on Chinese sheet rock. Yea... china... there's a bill coming due for us selling out to them. Think cheap is good... maybe... most times NOT!!!!! I'm not liking this whole China thing. Getting way out of balance!

Re: The pain of returning a hood to Classic Industries
 

Also, I meant to point out. I bought a Grant steering wheel from NPD. I returned a grant steering wheel and they gave me no trouble. I told them I was going to get another so they paid return shipping also. I'm not sure if paid return shipping is their policy. I became skeptical of all the new steering wheels and have not yet bought another. I liked NPD. It was my first time dealing with them and I liked them. But I was not being deceitful when I told them I was getting another. But I did some looking around on this site and the new re-productions are being reported as flimsy. So I have to have one in hand for inspection before I make a purchase of one. Of course fenders, whole different ball of head ache.