USA made replacement panels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MARTINSR · 04-23-2016, 04:21 PM

I can post pictures of all kinds of goofy stuff and say it's mine, that means nothing. I have been installing AM and reproduction parts ever since the first ones ever available back in the seventies! I have returned MANY reproduction sheeetmetal parts from a Model A fender to a Mustang fender and many more to repair the original smashed and rusted one because it was better than the Reproduction. We just did a Camaro at the shop where I tried to talk the owner out of the reproduction "quality" sheetmetal parts he bought and we would fix the original rusted and damaged ones and he insisted on the new, OMG what a friggin joke that project was. If I was the owner of the shop I would have put my foot down and we wouldn't have touched it. Done MANY over the years from Mustangs to Dodges to Model A's to Ford F-100's and on and on.

But after using some decent AM parts on late model cars a few years ago (fenders and such) I found they were often "decent" but not out and out junk, So after years of not using the repro parts in restoration work because of all the bad experiences I had I thought they had gotten better, I mean those Chinese fenders for a late model Honda were pretty decent. So the next Goodguys show that came along I specifically went to examine the repro Model A and 34 Ford bodies and that sort of thing. OMG they were CRAP, ABSOLUTE CRAP! Every friggin inch would need to be worked to make them paint ready. Ok, so then NACE came a little while later, again, I went there and felt them like a body man, not just looked a their shiny steel but to feel them like a bodyman, were they straight? They were JUNK, Camaro bodies, Mustang bodies, everything I checked out were JUNK. They would take a skim coat of body filler over 80% of them to get them paint ready. Some more than a skim coat, we are talking shrinking metal and stuff like that to get them good enough for filler! And these were the best they have I must assume as they were the ones they chose to display! HOLY CRAP!

Here is it in a nutshell, reproduction parts are "similar" to original and can be used if nothing else is available.

Can they be used, of course they can. Could some be magically much better than the ones I have checked, sure. I am not so big headed to think nothing is worth looking at. Sure there are some worth a little work. There are some that are even better than OEM! Yes, Dennis Carpenter mouldings and emblems and some other parts that were better than OEM! Though I have NEVER, EVER seen a reproduction sheetmetal part that was better.

All I know is me personally, here, just personal opinion. I am building a 1948 Chevy pickup, I don't want a 2015 Chinese Chevy pickup. I want original parts, pure and simple. And I have been fascinated in how often they are available. I have bought so much NOS original stuff for my old cars it's amazing how much is still available, often very reasonably priced, not always of course but often it's not a whole lot.

If you don't like me suggesting to people to not buy reproduction parts and instead fix what they have, I am very sorry, I will continue to do so.

Brian

dwcsr · 04-23-2016, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Though I have NEVER, EVER seen a reproduction sheetmetal part that was better.

Almost every repop made now (between 2005 and now) is better than the OEM for 47-59. with a few exceptions. You just have to know the difference between a rust panel, a crash panel and a reproduction replacement panel. If you use a rust panel as a replacement panel they fit like junk. Rust panels go over an existing panel. Some rocker & steps are made that way still and some corners are made that way.

An example is the two half's of a floor pan are rust panels and take a lot of work to get in place and fitted. A complete floor is a reproduction replacement panel and fits like a glove. You can replace a complete floor in the same time as two half panel and the front cab mounts and its a better finished product

When is the last time you actually purchased a door or large panel? If your referencing the 80's and 90's then I agree with you but most all are on new tooling.

Of course you do have to take into consideration it may be your truck that's bent or tweaked and that may be why it doesn't fit.

04-23-2016, 04:21 PM	#1
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,043	Re: USA made replacement panels I can post pictures of all kinds of goofy stuff and say it's mine, that means nothing. I have been installing AM and reproduction parts ever since the first ones ever available back in the seventies! I have returned MANY reproduction sheeetmetal parts from a Model A fender to a Mustang fender and many more to repair the original smashed and rusted one because it was better than the Reproduction. We just did a Camaro at the shop where I tried to talk the owner out of the reproduction "quality" sheetmetal parts he bought and we would fix the original rusted and damaged ones and he insisted on the new, OMG what a friggin joke that project was. If I was the owner of the shop I would have put my foot down and we wouldn't have touched it. Done MANY over the years from Mustangs to Dodges to Model A's to Ford F-100's and on and on. But after using some decent AM parts on late model cars a few years ago (fenders and such) I found they were often "decent" but not out and out junk, So after years of not using the repro parts in restoration work because of all the bad experiences I had I thought they had gotten better, I mean those Chinese fenders for a late model Honda were pretty decent. So the next Goodguys show that came along I specifically went to examine the repro Model A and 34 Ford bodies and that sort of thing. OMG they were CRAP, ABSOLUTE CRAP! Every friggin inch would need to be worked to make them paint ready. Ok, so then NACE came a little while later, again, I went there and felt them like a body man, not just looked a their shiny steel but to feel them like a bodyman, were they straight? They were JUNK, Camaro bodies, Mustang bodies, everything I checked out were JUNK. They would take a skim coat of body filler over 80% of them to get them paint ready. Some more than a skim coat, we are talking shrinking metal and stuff like that to get them good enough for filler! And these were the best they have I must assume as they were the ones they chose to display! HOLY CRAP! Here is it in a nutshell, reproduction parts are "similar" to original and can be used if nothing else is available. Can they be used, of course they can. Could some be magically much better than the ones I have checked, sure. I am not so big headed to think nothing is worth looking at. Sure there are some worth a little work. There are some that are even better than OEM! Yes, Dennis Carpenter mouldings and emblems and some other parts that were better than OEM! Though I have NEVER, EVER seen a reproduction sheetmetal part that was better. All I know is me personally, here, just personal opinion. I am building a 1948 Chevy pickup, I don't want a 2015 Chinese Chevy pickup. I want original parts, pure and simple. And I have been fascinated in how often they are available. I have bought so much NOS original stuff for my old cars it's amazing how much is still available, often very reasonably priced, not always of course but often it's not a whole lot. If you don't like me suggesting to people to not buy reproduction parts and instead fix what they have, I am very sorry, I will continue to do so. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.