Quality of reproduction parts

[TonyHuntimer]

Hey guys and gals,

How is the quality of first gen F-body window trim compared to stock trim?

What reproduction parts have you experienced displeasure with the fit or quality? Interior, body, chassis, etc.
Have you had good luck with reproduction parts? Danchuck is the best quality for tri-5 Chevy's...is there an equivalent to Danchuck quality for Camaro parts?

Thanks,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[minendrews68]

I have used body parts, chassis parts, from Classic Industries. I have not had any problems with either. The body parts fit pretty good, not without some adjusting, but I put two new GM quarters on my 68 that needed some work. Over all I've been happy.

[MuscleRodz]

Repop window trim sucks. Look for good used. There is some good stuff out there, you just have to know the manufacturer of the part being sold to you.

[mpozzi]

Agree about aftermarket window trim as the top piece on my '68 SS exited stage-left coming back from a Big Sur run on Highway 1. Almost hit another car but flew over their roof and landed softly on the side of the road. Dave went back and got it the following day ... and presented it to me with a big, red bow.

I bought a repop thinking I'd never see that OEM trim again or if I did, it would look unrecognizable as trim. Comparing the two was night and day for quality so I reused the OEM and so far, it's stayed put.

Interior pieces look pretty good and fit well. As the interior was pretty "Pimp Daddy," we redid the entire interior in the '68 and was happy.

Mary Pozzi

[EFI69Cam]

Ask for CHQ parts by name. I got their drip rail trim, wheel well trim and rocker moldings for my 69 Camaro. I cannot tell the difference between them and the NOS stuff.

[Steve1968LS2]

I've had bad bad luck with aftermarket window trim. I always hunt down the real stainless stuff and have it reworked.

Now this is only in regards to the trim around the windows. Also seen bad fit from wheel lip mouldings.

[6'9"Witha69]

Never get the cheaper parts offered. Like Classic Ind has repo core supports. One is $99 and the other $249. Well guess what, the $99 one is JUNK.

[Damn True]

If anyone needs the stainless window sill trim they can have mine.

[Rag-Rat]

There are two major manufacturers of repo first gen Camaro parts, OER and CLASSIC HEADQUARTERS. I stopped in at one of the nations largest first generation parts suppliers and the guy behind the counter told me in a whisper that OER was junk. I have tried to buy only C.H. parts and have had fairly good luck. Much better quality. For window trim there are plenty of originals on e-bay, some raw and some already straightened and polished. You get what you pay for. Always go for originals when they are available. I've paid big bucks to have my original steering wheel, bumpers, convertible header moldings, A-post pillars, etc...rechromed and refurbished because of quality issues. If you're gonna keep the car.....it's worth it.

[yellowrallys]

Ditto on OER stuff. I have one of their dash pads, not much IMO, and their pillar post mouldings the same. Not much out there for window and drip rail trim either. There are some original trim peices to be had at the swap meets. Trim Parts puts out some nice stuff, although not a huge inventory. Most repo bumpers I've seen are thinner than originals and the plating is cheap. I'm talking Camaro stuff. The street rod stuff as well as some tri-5 stuff is a lot better, especially the Brookville, and Bob Drake, etc. products.

[Rag-Rat]

A couple of updates I wanted to add since some new purchases. Trim Parts chrome and Nordan bumpers are a step above most others. I bought a set of door handles and a bumper, they matched the originals and they also fit.....go figure, they can make quality fitting reproductions. If the quality doesn't hold up over time I will post that also.

[Chris442]

I've had a few OER parts fail almost immediately from normal use. Chances are, in my experience, if that happens chances are the part came in an OER box. Their A-pillar pads are also junk, they're about a 3/8" shorter than the stockers, plus if it's molded urethane instead of vinyl wrapped it usually looks crappy, too.

If the molding comes in a bag that says "CORVEX," it's most like crap, too. They look OK when installed, but the metal is just far too thin. The wheel opening moldings are basically one-time-use, since they are to flimsy to be removed without creasing.

Also, I don't think anyone makes a decent dashpad for these cars, at least not in my experience with '68 stuff. The Al Knoch we have looks good until the upper studs are tightened. Since it's fiberglass backed and not steel backed, it bends very easily. Plus, it bulges even worse if you leave the car in the sun, which is a big problem when you live in Phoenix, LOL. The vinyl at least looks decent on it, if it was steel backed in would be a nice piece.

[trapin]

Nothin' but bad luck with aftermarket trim. I think I have the majority of my windshield trim but will have to go aftermarket for the rear window. The front stuff will need to be restored anyway and I'll have to send it out for that.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Basically,it's all junk,IMHO.

It all fits horribly and is usually 1/4" shorter in every dimension than the original piece it's replacing.After you massage every part to make it fit,it looks pretty good for awhile but give it a year or so,then report back....:ripped:

The only upside is that it's available...

[yellowrallys]

Nothin' but bad luck with aftermarket trim. I think I have the majority of my windshield trim but will have to go aftermarket for the rear window. The front stuff will need to be restored anyway and I'll have to send it out for that.

Tony, there is still some decent GM trim out there at some swap meets, maybe a few minor dings or scratches, but usable.

[paul67]

Just ordered an aftermarket windscreen trim kit, will post when it truns up.

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

Well guys, I have the answer for the crappy aftermarket trim...As you know I have been working on the flush mount glass system..I am glad to say that I got the final approval pieces and they fit great..I am working on the final trim features and then we are good to go...

Here are a couple of pics to show what the glass looks like...These are the plain jane glass with out the Defrost and antenna options....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount-1.jpg

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

Here are some pics of the glass just laying in the hole...I am having them glued in tomorrow...I am waiting on the top corner pieces to the windshied...The previous pics dont have the Dot Matrix Border that will been on the production glass... The Border will also be narrowed a bit and the Dot Matrix added, it should look less bulky then...The weatherstrip does not go over the body at all, it just touches the inside edge of the window frame...I will post some more pics after the glass is Glued in and centered out....To put the Weatherstrip size in perspective, it is about 3/8 of an inch wide depending on body work and paint thickness...The weatherstrip will absorb variations in bodywork and paint thicknesses...

I am looking at being able to deliver these sets to your door in less than 6 weeks...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount7-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount6-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount4-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/mount3-1.jpg

[Vegas69]

From my experience a vast majority of OER is pure junk.

[WILWAXU]

From my experience a vast majority of OER is pure junk.I've only seen 3 of there parts so far and all of them did not fit.

[Jim Nilsen]

With better machinery and better materials the only thing keeping parts from being the best are the people involved. It has to make you ask if there is any pride left in what they do. It is the liking to drawing outside the lines in a coloring book and saying that it looks good.

Repro parts are done to be less expensive yet we buy several of the same part only to find that none of them fit right. Then someone comes along with an exact fit part and the cost is double of what the cheap ones are and we complain about the cost, all after we just paid half as much for something that didn't work and we were dissatisfied with ,yet we bought 2 that didn't fit? When you have nothing ,you will accept what you can get and there is the root of the problem.

Even GM can't even repro a decent part from the original tooling. The people in charge of all of this crap need to just be told to go home and stay there ,yet we promote them and give them raises?

And some of us wonder why we can't finish our cars !

[Vegas69]

A perfect example is I had two OER emergency brake cables break in about 10 pulls. The rest was lokar so I had them send me a generic and just made one and it won't ever break because it's quality and made in America baby!!!!

[Rick Dorion]

It's sad that almost 40 years later, parts aren't made to the same fit/finish as in the 60's. I will say my two piece floors were very good as were my dropoffs. They were made in Canada.

[paul67]

ok sorry for the delay parts stuck in custom ,done a quick fit with the repo trim and it fits realy well,bit thiner but fits the car well.Only cost about $70 plus postage for complete front, they were for CarPartsDiscount off fleabay.Packaging says corvex mouldings,hope this helps someone