NOS or repop.....opinions please

[knsmodels]

Would like opinions on what repop parts are better than OEM.....my truck has been done for about 6yrs now and it was my DD for 3 of them it has about 30000 on the resto.....I cant think of any of the repop parts that I am satisfied are better than OE parts....even though some of the stuff looked good it does not wear like the original....jmho and I would like to hear others....

[dukkie]

My honest opinion, its 2010, nothing you buy now last as long as what was new in 1970 something.
example when i was 8 we pulled into a K mart parking spot but couldnt fit cause someone left a microwave box in the space. my dad got out to move the box, and the microwave was still in the box. whoever bought it had forgotten to load it. He moved it over then parked the car and figured whoever it was would be back for it. on our way back out of the store the box was still there so we threw it in the car and took it home. even after being moved thru 7 houses we still used that microwave about 12-15 years later i dont even know when my mom finally upgraded. Or imagine grandpas power saws and hand drills completely metal casings not meeting any of Californians fire codes and shock hazards but the thing will not die, and think to yourself how many plastic cordless drills have you owned and replaced.
Warranty today are now more like expiration dates because they company has tested and tested and that's as long as they could get the product to work and konw if they warranty it another month they would have to start repairing stuff at their own cost

Re Production parts are cheaper in price because they are cheaper in quality
that's my rant, and the reason i bought a 1972 chevy not a 2012

[dougo]

just saw a friend of mine today who's preparing a frame up restoration on a
'72 burb. He runs a restoration shop too - he knows his stuff. He told me early on to restore my emblems... because I would not be happy with the chrome on the repop (would not last long). Over the weekend he found two front fenders (circa '72). Turns out the fenders weigh 40 pounds more than a repop fender (each weighed individually).

[red71c10]

My repop outside door handles have been on my truck for about a year and they are already starting to pit. They work fine and look good otherwise, but the finish is already starting to go and to me that's unacceptable.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by red71c10

My repop outside door handles have been on my truck for about a year and they are already starting to pit. They work fine and look good otherwise, but the finish is already starting to go and to me that's unacceptable.

I had a re-pop outside door handle and the pin popped through the chrome on the button. The button fell off, rendering it useless. Most of them are junk.

The only part that I have ever heard where the re-pop is better than NOS or original is the chrome bumper guards that were an option on 67-70 trucks. I think this came up on the message board a while back when member uncle was selling some.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by dougo

just saw a friend of mine today who's preparing a frame up restoration on a
'72 burb. He runs a restoration shop too - he knows his stuff. He told me early on to restore my emblems... because I would not be happy with the chrome on the repop (would not last long). Over the weekend he found two front fenders (circa '72). Turns out the fenders weigh 40 pounds more than a repop fender (each weighed individually).

fenders depend on which company made them

[67/72junkie]

I have installed several sets of tri plus rocker panels and they fit perfect.I have a set of NOS rockers in my attic and they are same thickness and the lines and curves are just as crisp as the nos. all the other aftermarket rockers I have tried have been worthless.

[msgross]

Everyone says that tailgates and doors are really junk in the aftermarket world... I have seen the Mar-K side trim for 67-68 and think that it's better or equal to OEM...

[knsmodels]

I have had the same experience with emblems and door handles....paint was flaking and chrome pitting within 2 yrs.....sheet metal I bought 1 LMC door and one Goodmark and was not real happy with either could definitly tell the sheet metal was thinner.....the fenders dont seem as bad but they are supported much better on the truck and seem to be holding up.....rubber floor mat did not last long about 1 yr before it started showing signs of wear.....I was fortunate enough to get an NOS grille and emblem and they are still as good as the day I put them on in comparison......Have not bought any Mar-K stuff but perhaps I will have to give them a try but arent all the parts made in the same place????????

[msgross]

Mar-K's parts are made in the USA, but they only make certain trim and bed parts...

most sheetmetal is the same, I think the steel is a softer alloy than OEM...

[Duncan and son]

Now you know why Jason and I spend so much time looking for original un-restored trucks.

[71 super]

I am a firm believer in NOS if possible, but I will agree as far as triplus rockers are concerned, they are equal to the NOS gm rockers I have installed, infact the last passenger side rocker I used from GM did not fit as well as the triplus used on the driver's side. The doors are garbage as are the tailgates. Chrome is what it is, get NOS if you can find/afford it, but the repop stuff is not too bad, however the woodgrain on the 69-72 type is incorrect (it has texture) and is pretty easy to pick out if one knows what to look for.

[dan42]

X2 on the fenders - they are way lighter than originals. Get a used one.

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by dan42

X2 on the fenders - they are way lighter than originals. Get a used one.

My triplus fender isn't that much lighter....if any. My only complaints are, the back edge is nowhere near straight and there is a small flaw in the grill area. you can see pics of the back edge in my build.

[HOTFUN]

NOS but anymore with the value of the parts you have to have the right situation and vehicle to use them. Some people have bottomless pockets to spend and on the other hand I have seen a lot of NOS pieces get used as driver replacement pieces cause the guy got them for next to nothing somewhere. I agree sell them to someone who needs this high quality part for a $40k restoration and use the aftermarket for the driver. I personally love to have a shelves of NOS pieces that I lose track of what I paid for them so I can use them when I need them.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by msgross

Mar-K's parts are made in the USA, but they only make certain trim and bed parts...

most sheetmetal is the same, I think the steel is a softer alloy than OEM...

It has a higher tensile strength like all new cars. tehy don't make the older steel any longer