Aftermarket front clip. How do they fit.

[ATT]

I was thinking about getting a complete new front clip. 2 fenders, cowl hood, and radiator support. How is the fitment on them. Does anyone have pictures of one they have put together. Any help. Thanks.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Here is a complete front clip with cowl hood installed, painted and truck now sold.. All parts are ones that we sell. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

Sorry for the bad picture, but that is what my program does when it shrinks pictures. WES

[ChevLoRay]

...and no discredit to Wes, but seldom will you find any aftermarket panels that won't need a little tweaking to make the fit what it should be. The shipment of the parts will always result in the need for some adjusting as you install them. Heck, it says so on the parts/invoices that I have seen.

Just be prepared to make those adjustments that you will have to make and accept that they aren't GM parts and are made by some Taiwanese factory.

[ATT]

Thanks for the info. I wish I could find some good original GM that is not filled with bondo.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Most GM parts need tweeking also. These are trucks and GM built them that way. So if you want perfect body lines you will have lots of work to do. The front clip that went on the Garden truck did not require any cutting and if I remember correctly I only had to slot one hole and that was in the Chrome plated steel grill because I wanted another 1/6" clearence for the hood to improve that line. Here is a better picture I hope. WES

[Gray Ghost]

Beautiful truck Wes!!

[thirdstreettito]

Usually they need a bunch of edge trimming from what I have heard.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Usually they need a bunch of edge trimming from what I have heard.

No trimming on the truck above. WES

[SuperJerrC10]

GREAT lookin truck. Makes me like my front end alittle more.

Jerr

[72 Super]

Wes, that was a good looking truck. You must really had your sights on a better project.

[ATT]

Thanks for the pictures WES. That is a good looking truck.

[special-K]

The fact is.If you took a perfectly fitting original clip off a truck,when you put it back on you`ll need to do some tweeking.You don`t just bolt it on.What do people "trim" when installing some aftermarket metal other than egging out mounting holes?Any edge that meets with other body panels is hemmed or rolled.It would not be as simple as trimming an edge if it didn`t fit.
I can`t speak from personal experience so I really can`t comment on aftermarket fit.I do still find old OEM that isn`t full of bondo,though.

[cdowns]

the quality of the fit is mostly a result of the skill patience and imagination of the person doing the installing

[m6z]

Originally Posted by cdowns

the quality of the fit is mostly a result of the skill patience and imagination of the person doing the installing

I would have to agree with this. Everything, weather factory or aftermarket is going to take some time to make it all line up.

[Sinister]

I replaced both front fenders and grill with aftermarket stuff. Fit wasn't too bad, I think like 2 bolt holes didn't line up.

[mbgmike]

Every truck is a little different. They are old and well used. Sometimes they are in real decent shape. We have had to trim some parts at times, even fenders on the inner brace at the back. Most all work takes some skill to line eveything up. Factory parts and aftermarket as stated earlier both require adjustment. Its true for 50 year old trucks and late model cars and trucks also. You have to have patience sometimes and we have guys in the shop sometimes that don't take the time and ***** cause it won't fit. Most of the time we can get it to work. Sometimes the aftermarket fender is not made correct and we need to swap them out for another one. Its true with all aftermarket mfg's. Sometimes the part will not have the edge rolled over the brace correct. We go through this all year long. Thats why its best to buy your parts locally if you can. Mainly the larger panels.We can generally make anything work correct

[PanelDeland]

What they said.Also I will add that if you know an expert bodyman you know someone who has learned the tips and tricks to make it work.Some bodymen keep a 2X4 padded with carpet for lining stuff up.It's just one of the things old vehiclesrequire.They kinda settle like your granny's house.

[Cunit69]

Who makes the best fitting fenders, and who sells them?

[Classic Heartbeat]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I have a couple of projects going on, but the main one is my 67 panel. I decided that it was just setting around and wasn't being enjoyed like it should be, so I put it up for sale and sold it. I couldn't take it if someone would have dammaged it while I was driving it. You would have had to bail me out of jail. The new owner just has dollars invested in it and drives it every day now, even in the snow!! If he wrecks it he will fix it, but it isn't as personal to him as was me.
The best fitting fenders are manufacture by a company called Triplus. We sell Triplus stuff. WES

[ATT]

Thanks for all the comments. I just thought I would check here first before I bought anything. This is the best site in the world.

[texastrendz]

oe parts still need massaging in my book, clean lines were not a big concern in the years of these trucks.

[Premium72]

all aftermarket sheetmetal needs a lil finagleing..but should be okay if you go with a decent company.

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by Premium72

all aftermarket sheetmetal needs a lil finagleing..but should be okay if you go with a decent company.

Not to second guess anyones comments here, but honestly? After 20 years in the auto-body collision/restoration business I have come to realize that even factory sheet metal you have to trim at times.

I will say that when re-pop stuff first starting making the scene about 15-20 years ago, most of it was crap. But now, I can't honestly say that anymore. I have found that 80% of it is as good of quality as OEM parts. That being said means one of two things. Either 1) The A/M companies are getting better at what they make, or 2) the OEM products are crap now. I think maybe a little of both...

Take this for an example. I had a customer come in with a mid 90's burb and it was rear-ended and got pushed into another vehicle. He insisted that I use all OEM parts. When it came time to order the headlamps (he needed both right and left), I got them from GM. They were $190.00 each retail, about $80 more apiece than A/M Depot lights.

When the parts arrived I was pissed to see that GM had ordered Depot lights and had slapped a GM sticker on the box!!! (By the way, they fit perfectly and looked awesome.)

I look at re-pop parts much differently now, knowing that more and more of the companies that make A/M parts are producing replacement parts for the OEM market. The front bumper for my truck is re-pop, cost me 100 bucks and bolted right up without a problem and looks fantastic!

Something to think about.

Besides, need a fender for your '67? Call GM... or better yet, find a good one in the salvage yards. I'll take the re-pop stuff any day! Fits as good as the factory stuff did back in '67!!! Or were all the shims that I found in my truck added later??? Not to mention, spraying a quick coat of Slick Sand and sanding it smooth on re-pop parts is much easier than dealing with 40 year old paint and rust on used parts!!!

One more thing, gotta remember guys that when they made our trucks way back when, they didn't really care if the jambs lined up perfectly or not. They didnt roll a ball bearing down the jambs to make sure everything was perfect. That is only a recent thing, really. They made our trucks for work and they were not perfect from the factory, period. Yes they can be made that way now, but only after spending $$$ paying someone to get everything to fit just so. As long as nothing rubs when I open the door, I'm good.

Don

[mbgmike]

[QUOTE=Richard8971;3054470]

I will say that when re-pop stuff first starting making the scene about 15-20 years ago, most of it was crap. But now, I can't honestly say that anymore. I have found that 80% of it is as good of quality as OEM parts. That being said means one of two things. Either 1) The A/M companies are getting better at what they make, or 2) the OEM products are crap now. I think maybe a little of both...

You should have seen the FIT 40 years ago on the aftermarket panels when the entire quarter panel was a slip on type over the top of the existing panel (or what was left of it). They were made in America and they were piece's of crap to fit. The whole industry has gotten better. We did not have the neat welders like we do now, at least no one could afford one.

I agree on the little of both. I know ford has aftermarket panels stamped with their name and they are not the factory part.