Aftermarket core support RANT!!!

[BubbaGreen]

I have a replacement aftermarket core support for my 71....and have some issues with it and would like to hear from others there experience.
1st, the lower radiator mounts had the weld nuts welded inside the supports, ok, no big issue, ground the down so the rubber inserts would fit.
2nd, went to mount the upper radiator brackets and the drivers side weld nut is not center correctly, ok, enlarged the hole for that radiator bracket into an oblonged pattern and that fit.
3rd, went to mount the battery tray (that fit perfectly on the stock core) and using the pattern on the aftermarket core, it twisted this tray into an unlevel trapazoid. The 3 weld nuts that are closest to the radiator are welded in, in such a manner that they dont run parallel to the core, but follow the bow of the support....I either need to redrill the core -or- redrill the battery tray -or- get a GM replacement core....
I havent even attempted to put the brackets to mount the fenders or fender wells...also, I dont see the weldnuts to mount the charcoal vent canister.
If anyone can recommend a good brand -or- actually has used a GM one, Please comment. Thanks!!!

[Joe67]

Ouch.
I think there is only one company making the reproduction core supports?

[70rs/ss]

I think goodmark makes them, and thier quality is very good. I used a factory quarter panel and it hung perfect.

[Joe67]

It appears one vendor, Tri-Plus (Taiwan), makes the core supports for the 67/68, 69-72 trucks.
Just spoke with Goodmark, everything they sell is made in Taiwan

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by 67c10step

It appears one vendor, Tri-Plus (Taiwan), makes the core supports for the 67/68, 69-72 trucks.
Just spoke with Goodmark, everything they sell is made in Taiwan

So is the goodmark piece from Tri-Plus? I thought they manufactured their own stuff? Well, my hoods (x's3) and my 70 Camaro quarter fit as well, maybe you got a bad one? It is too late to return it because you have modified it. One other piont to ponder is that a lot of "factory" crap didn't or doesn't fit that well either?!

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

So is the goodmark piece from Tri-Plus? I thought they manufactured their own stuff? Well, my hoods (x's3) and my 70 Camaro quarter fit as well, maybe you got a bad one? It is too late to return it because you have modified it. One other piont to ponder is that a lot of "factory" crap didn't or doesn't fit that well either?!

That is how it appears. I spoke with two suppliers and both stated the core supports are only made in Taiwan by Tri-Plus.
Goodmark is only a reseller (with an awesome marketing team)

[Palf70Step]

I didn't have any problems with mine, but I bought it two years ago.

[redhead69]

I just did my core support (aftermarket) from Classicheartbeat and the only problem I ran into was the battery tray holes. The 2 that go thru the front lined up good but the 3 down the support were way off. I ended up just using the middle hole because it kept the tray level. I did have a new battery tray too, so that could have been the problem also.

[Huck]

The goodmark products are no better then the tri-plus as they are the same just reboxed and marked up about 25%. I just got new Goodmark doors and one has 4 push out dents from the stamping used. Hard to imagine that all their BS about QUALITY and it's obvious NO ONE in Goodmark bothers to actually check as this defect is common to every door they produce!! DA!!! I wouldn't buy another Goodmark product again unless it's at or below the tri-plus price!!! Original GM stuff is almost always better then aftermarket--trick is finding it without rust, dents or bondo---for a fair price.

[Green Machine]

Yep, used a triplus core support on my 68, didn't have any radiator problems, but had problems with battery box holes, had to enlarge the holes 1/4 to 3/8where fenders bolt on to get adjustment, had to file the edges down where top of support meets the fenders as it was not square there, also the entire top is a dead giveaway that it is a repro, doesnt have the same bends or shape as original, doesn't hurt any thing and in general it turned out ok, but I will fix the support on my currrent project, rather that buy a repro again.

[Classic Heartbeat]

This is the first that I have heard of any problems with the battery tray fitting the core supports. I will be contacting Tri-Plus about the problem once I can take some dementions to give them to relocate the bolt holes and weld nuts. I have used 4 of thier core supports without issues, but it has been over a year since I used one. I will check them with an original battery tray assembly, then one of thier reproductions. Hopefully they will fix the problem, but to be honest with you it could be a crap shoot. I have been on thier cases for 2 years about thier doors having too wide of a gap where the window rolls up and so far they have not fixed that problem. I guess that not enough people have complained about them. Any way it chaps my ass when you can explain a problem, draw up diagrams to fax, and even take multiple pictures to show the problem, and still doesn't get fixed. Don't get me wrong, I do still think that Tri-Plus has the best stuff available, but I sure would improve wherever I knew that there was a problem... WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[uncle]

I got 1 for a guy that had the same problem with the battery box. Must have been a bad run, because I 've sold a few also.

[roger0080]

Yeah when I bought my core support I could only use 2 of the 3 bolt hole as the other didn't line up at all.

The square holes for the headlight plastic plug+bolts where too big.

There was something else too that needed tweaking also before use.

Pathetic.

[krue]

Note to self....don't buy aftermarket core support.

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by krue

Note to self....don't buy aftermarket core support.

[dmec]

so why do people want to pay less than half price for original parts in good condition?

[Blue Beard]

I bought a Goodmark unit from a local distributor, only to find every blind nut on the wrong side of the unit.

Contacted Goodmark direct, they checked into it and found there was a manufacturing problem.

They contacted me back and sent me a new one, and they paid the freight. Totally free of charge.

Still have the bad one in the shop.

Give them a shot if that unit is a Goodmark product.

[kxmotox247]

Just digging through some old threads here looking for feedback on aftermarket core supports... It's a rare day to find an original in good shape (no rust/rot) so I'll be buying an aftermarket. Anyone have any recent feedback on Triplus or Goodmark? One of the same still? I can get dealer pricing on Goodmark stuff so it't real tempting to put up with the problems that everyone seems to be having.
Do they ever re-tool to perfect things? I also noticed that Goodmark is selling a "premium quality" front fender. I wasn't aware that they had two different grades.

[SoCal71K20]

Two different grades....you say. Yeah, there's crap and crappier. Seriously, unless you luck out finding decent and workable original sheetmetal, then the alternative is overseas junk. You can cry all you want, so what, as long as they sell 'em they'll continue making 'em the same way. Good luck.

[stllookn]

so why do people want to pay less than half price for original parts in good condition?

Very good question! Probably becuase they have never had to do any extensive sheet metal work...I suspect! I refuse to buy any reproduction sheet metal except patch panels...which almost always need work before they fit properly.

I wish they would just make a patch panel for the passenger side of the core support and the lower passenger side of the inner fender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They could sell one to every truck owner on the planet...LOL!

[Luvlegs]

Originally Posted by stllookn

I wish they would just make a patch panel for the passenger side of the core support and the lower passenger side of the inner fender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They could sell one to every truck owner on the planet...LOL!

Amen

[heavy71chevy]

Im glad I found a mint used one up here in SC....I was gonna buy a replacement

[Gray Ghost]

My buddy got a couple of fenders from Goodmark and his bodyman told him that they needed a ton of work to be straight....he was right. When I looked at them, they had visible seams where there weren't supposed to be any.....I guess he got a very poor stamping [maybe it was a Friday or a Monday].

I will be buying two cowl hoods this year if I am lucky....sure hope they are better than the fenders I saw.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by BubbaGreen

I have a replacement aftermarket core support for my 71....and have some issues with it and would like to hear from others there experience.
1st, the lower radiator mounts had the weld nuts welded inside the supports, ok, no big issue, ground the down so the rubber inserts would fit.
2nd, went to mount the upper radiator brackets and the drivers side weld nut is not center correctly, ok, enlarged the hole for that radiator bracket into an oblonged pattern and that fit.
3rd, went to mount the battery tray (that fit perfectly on the stock core) and using the pattern on the aftermarket core, it twisted this tray into an unlevel trapazoid. The 3 weld nuts that are closest to the radiator are welded in, in such a manner that they dont run parallel to the core, but follow the bow of the support....I either need to redrill the core -or- redrill the battery tray -or- get a GM replacement core....
I havent even attempted to put the brackets to mount the fenders or fender wells...also, I dont see the weldnuts to mount the charcoal vent canister.
If anyone can recommend a good brand -or- actually has used a GM one, Please comment. Thanks!!!

Was it the correct kit for your truck, it sounds like quite a bit of work.

[qksilver]

brothers sells a patch for the core support for under the battery tray............