All replacement body parts junk? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Ace in the hole · 05-11-2007, 10:24 PM

I am fairly new here and have been researching many things on these forums. Man there is a lot of great info here!

One thing that strikes me as odd is that the general consensus seems to be that there are a lot of different replacement parts out there that are junk, take tailgates for example. Why do some of the venders that support this forum and are so highly reguarded continue to sell them if they just plain don't fit right?

I have been thinking of what I need for my truck and how I want to go about repairing it. Sure would be nice to know if I want to sink money into replacement parts that if you buy from xx vendor or xxx vendor you know you will be getting stuff that will fit right the first time or at least have minimal headaches trying to make it fit.

*72CSTC5* · 05-11-2007, 11:38 PM

One thing about aftermarket parts is if you want to fuss trying to make them fit or do you want to have experience cutting and welding and doing bodywork to cut out rusted parts on original sheetmetal? You decide which will be less expensive and easier for you to do. These trucks did not fit "perfect" when they were built 35 plus years ago.

1bad chevy · 05-12-2007, 06:33 AM

i have found making adjustments are required whether it is original or aftermarket

1bad chevy · 05-12-2007, 06:41 AM

and believe me i have used alot of replacment parts

jamis · 05-12-2007, 06:45 AM

Replacement panels are a roll of the dice. Whats good today...sucks tommorow. The factory parts are such much better...but you have to deal with the rust. I rather roll the dice with a new peice then have the rust come back after a couple of years.

Bishops Trucks · 05-12-2007, 07:42 AM

Replacement parts are not perfect but using them does perfect your bodywork and fabrication skills. Anytime you work on an old vehicle with a new part, you will have to work it a little to get it right. It's just part of the game.

Ace in the hole · 05-12-2007, 02:15 PM

Ya, I hear you. I would not expect perfection and I realize that some minor tweaking should be expected. It's just that with all the negative comments about the (here again I will use the tailgate as an example) junk tailgates, I am surprised to see them still available.

retodd7711 · 05-12-2007, 05:48 PM

i replaced both rocker panels on my 69. left side was perfect fit, right side required cutting,shaping, cussing, straightening, and half a day.
like the man said roll of the dice. but, when you're finished it feels so good

**67 cst swb** · 05-12-2007, 05:52 PM

I hear aftermarket doors and tailgates are the worst...

PanelDeland · 05-12-2007, 07:29 PM

Tailgates are easy.Just look up the price on a N.O.S. one and you will see why people buy them.The reason the BB vendors carry them is that there is no alternative.The ones being built for aftermarket are pretty flimsy but if it's that or nothing what are you going to do?The fenders and rockers seem better but the doors are still a little off.It cost's lots of $$ to have the dies to stamp parts made and most companies are in business to make money not because they want to supply people with quality parts.
The BB vendors here build trucks themselves.They use what they sell.They know parts are cheaper than labor.So they try to carry the best parts available.Unfortunately we are talking 30-40 year old trucks which were used as trucks,the manufacturers did not have near the quality control they do now,and realisticly the average classic vehicle builer today demands much closer tolerances than these rides were ever designed to have.Look at the name builders and you will see that the door gaps etc on what they build are precision fitted by body professionals who have spent years developing the skills to perform this type of work.
The reality is this is what we have to work with and the best looking trucks will be built by the people who take the time to tweak these things and fit them like the pros.

*Billla* · 05-13-2007, 10:47 AM

A good read on this is the Year One YOCLASS rating system, link below. Bottom line is that factory tooling was far better than aftermarket tooling - and it shows in the quality of the part. We're lucky; if you're willing to invest some "sweat equity" there are a lot of good used parts out there and the new parts are getting better

http://www.yearone.com/pco/C_0307/0250.asp

05-11-2007, 10:24 PM	#1
Ace in the hole Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Posts: 538	All replacement body parts junk? I am fairly new here and have been researching many things on these forums. Man there is a lot of great info here! One thing that strikes me as odd is that the general consensus seems to be that there are a lot of different replacement parts out there that are junk, take tailgates for example. Why do some of the venders that support this forum and are so highly reguarded continue to sell them if they just plain don't fit right? I have been thinking of what I need for my truck and how I want to go about repairing it. Sure would be nice to know if I want to sink money into replacement parts that if you buy from xx vendor or xxx vendor you know you will be getting stuff that will fit right the first time or at least have minimal headaches trying to make it fit. __________________ 1970 K20, 350--- SOLD 05 silverado extended cab short box- duramax Jeep wrangler unlimited

05-11-2007, 11:38 PM	#2
72CSTC5 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deer Park, Tx. Posts: 2,524	Re: All replacement body parts junk? One thing about aftermarket parts is if you want to fuss trying to make them fit or do you want to have experience cutting and welding and doing bodywork to cut out rusted parts on original sheetmetal? You decide which will be less expensive and easier for you to do. These trucks did not fit "perfect" when they were built 35 plus years ago.

05-12-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
1bad chevy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: POWNAL VERMONT Posts: 343	Re: All replacement body parts junk? i have found making adjustments are required whether it is original or aftermarket __________________ 1972 c-20 chevy 500 caddy/4.10posi / 1972 3/4 ton gmc 350 4x4/4.10posi front&rear

05-12-2007, 06:41 AM	#4
1bad chevy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: POWNAL VERMONT Posts: 343	Re: All replacement body parts junk? and believe me i have used alot of replacment parts Attached Images __________________ 1972 c-20 chevy 500 caddy/4.10posi / 1972 3/4 ton gmc 350 4x4/4.10posi front&rear

05-12-2007, 06:45 AM	#5
jamis F.A.S.T. president Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,883	Re: All replacement body parts junk? Replacement panels are a roll of the dice. Whats good today...sucks tommorow. The factory parts are such much better...but you have to deal with the rust. I rather roll the dice with a new peice then have the rust come back after a couple of years. __________________ F.A.S.T. President and Founder Fabricators for the Advancement of Sawsall Technology "A fear of the Sawsall is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." ~Sigmund Freud, "General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" Last edited by jamis; 05-12-2007 at 06:46 AM.

05-12-2007, 07:42 AM	#6
Bishops Trucks KEEP ON TRUCKIN' Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sterling, Va. Posts: 5,731	Re: All replacement body parts junk? Replacement parts are not perfect but using them does perfect your bodywork and fabrication skills. Anytime you work on an old vehicle with a new part, you will have to work it a little to get it right. It's just part of the game. __________________ JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 Father/Son Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER"

05-12-2007, 02:15 PM	#7
Ace in the hole Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Posts: 538	Re: All replacement body parts junk? Ya, I hear you. I would not expect perfection and I realize that some minor tweaking should be expected. It's just that with all the negative comments about the (here again I will use the tailgate as an example) junk tailgates, I am surprised to see them still available. __________________ 1970 K20, 350--- SOLD 05 silverado extended cab short box- duramax Jeep wrangler unlimited

05-12-2007, 05:48 PM	#8
retodd7711 chrome makes it go FASTER! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cleveland Tennessee Posts: 2,884	Re: All replacement body parts junk? i replaced both rocker panels on my 69. left side was perfect fit, right side required cutting,shaping, cussing, straightening, and half a day. like the man said roll of the dice. but, when you're finished it feels so good __________________ She can't cook and she won't clean. But she looks good in a skirt and she brings me beer. She can stay for now. EDIT:: But she left me anyway, So forget her. 1962 GMC Stepside V6 4 speed My rolling resto thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324226 My old farm truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3465005

05-12-2007, 05:52 PM	#9
67 cst swb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 2,281	Re: All replacement body parts junk? I hear aftermarket doors and tailgates are the worst... __________________ My Trucks: 1967 Chevrolet Short Wide Box 327 TH350 9" w/3.90 gears paint will be White - Current Project 1967 Chevrolet Custom LWB 283 TH400 3.73 Posi, no-AC, no-PS, no-PB, bench-seat, small-window - mostly orig driver 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB originally a 327 TH400 3.73 Posi AC PS PB, had Buddy Buckets, Small Window - parts truck 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB, 283 MT 3.73 had Buddy Buckets, Panoramic Window - parts truck 2001 Chevrolet 3500 2WD Crew Cab Dually 8.1L Allison White

05-12-2007, 07:29 PM	#10
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: All replacement body parts junk? Tailgates are easy.Just look up the price on a N.O.S. one and you will see why people buy them.The reason the BB vendors carry them is that there is no alternative.The ones being built for aftermarket are pretty flimsy but if it's that or nothing what are you going to do?The fenders and rockers seem better but the doors are still a little off.It cost's lots of $$ to have the dies to stamp parts made and most companies are in business to make money not because they want to supply people with quality parts. The BB vendors here build trucks themselves.They use what they sell.They know parts are cheaper than labor.So they try to carry the best parts available.Unfortunately we are talking 30-40 year old trucks which were used as trucks,the manufacturers did not have near the quality control they do now,and realisticly the average classic vehicle builer today demands much closer tolerances than these rides were ever designed to have.Look at the name builders and you will see that the door gaps etc on what they build are precision fitted by body professionals who have spent years developing the skills to perform this type of work. The reality is this is what we have to work with and the best looking trucks will be built by the people who take the time to tweak these things and fit them like the pros. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

05-13-2007, 10:47 AM	#11
Billla Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Monroe, WA Posts: 3,815	Re: All replacement body parts junk? A good read on this is the Year One YOCLASS rating system, link below. Bottom line is that factory tooling was far better than aftermarket tooling - and it shows in the quality of the part. We're lucky; if you're willing to invest some "sweat equity" there are a lot of good used parts out there and the new parts are getting better http://www.yearone.com/pco/C_0307/0250.asp



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