CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => Restoration => Topic started by: GI JOE on September 05, 2012, 06:02:23 AM
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Can anyone suggest what is the best fitting and technically correct sheet metal for a 68 Camaro? Any help at all is greatly appreciated.... I really need to get my cars done and time is a ticking... Thanks GI JOE
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Apparently it's the USA made stuff from Heartbeat City..
From my own experience, OER/Dynacorn is NOT.
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AMD is best and it's thicker than all the rest.
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Find NOS, good or repairable used GM. I've used D.corn, CHL, Goodmark, Legion and AMD. AMD quarters are the best of the bunch. They're not without isssues and I expected that. AMD requires a minor one at the quarter window. Other RH quarters have multiple issues that require more mods. D.corn roof skin went on with only a minor A-pillar mod. Goodmark fenders poorly stamped around headlight and have voids, LH fender bow wrong. Goodmark quarters have multiple issues shared with D.corn and Legion and CHL. Goodmark door hem bad. Decklids run narrow. Some tailpanel bodylines in wrong place, AMD is correct. AMD quarters line up well with their tailpanel. Beware of driprail bead inconsistencies between sailpanels and roof skins. All repro tin varies and requires mods no matter what. Expect more and you will be disappointed.
What does Heartbeat City make on this dirt and where is their facility?
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What does Heartbeat City make on this dirt and where is their facility?
Don't know and have wondered the same.
http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/category/1/390/Front-Fenders/
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The answer is on their site. Now I need to find out if anyone else shares this fender tooling. Presently, Matt's Classic Bowties offers the best price on AMD quarters. AMD used to supply low and high grade quarters. They've discontinued the low grade.
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The location is yes. Manufacturer too?
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No, only states Michigan. I called and they are not yet available and no known ETA. This holds true for other cars as well. I'm waiting indefinately for GTO quarters. Some Mopar tin is on hold. Companies are not dumping money into manufacturing and production if there is not sufficient demand.
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Sauron,
Aside from quarters which have more involved contours and bends, have you used any of these brand door skins? I'm looking to replace a skin and being it's basically a flat surface with miniman bends I would hope the repos would fit nice.
Thanks,
mike
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OER and AMD both appear to be licensed by GM. Whats the difference or are they both made from the same tooling. I need to replace both rear quarters on my convertible. There was a thread here some time ago questioning wether they had the correct door pillar stampings that look like an old telephone hand piece. Are either correct in this respect these days?
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I have a 68 NOS fender and extension along with a 67 fender and extension that I do not need. Sent you a PM....
Oh some of the things seen to make aftermarket fenders and panels fit.
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I like AMD for fenders. Put a Dynacorn SS hood on my 68 & it was excellent. Saw a Dynacorn 69 complete body shell ($13,000 +) being installed & it looked pretty good too. Assume any vendor brand will need some tweaking & some body work it make it perfect. If you buy AMD panels because they are thicker, be sure to check the "roll" on the edges.
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What does Heartbeat City make on this dirt and where is their facility?
I could be wrong, but I don't believe Heartbeat City actually manufactures sheet metal. They're just one of many vendors selling reproduction parts. For instance, you can get the same fenders from CLASSIC INDUSTRIES (http://www.classicindustries.com/camaro/parts/3941965.html) as well as others. They're not cheap, but they ARE very nice. I had to replace the passenger side on my 68 several months ago and HERE'S (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=200615&highlight=slid) my take on them (post #5).
Ed
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I like AMD for fenders. Put a Dynacorn SS hood on my 68 & it was excellent. Saw a Dynacorn 69 complete body shell ($13,000 +) being installed & it looked pretty good too. Assume any vendor brand will need some tweaking & some body work it make it perfect. If you buy AMD panels because they are thicker, be sure to check the "roll" on the edges.
AMD, Legion, Goodmark, CHL all have larger edge radii. AMD quarters are nice but still have issues. If you know what a GM panel looks like, AMD and other repros require mods in various places to replicate a factory panel. I'm just finishing two qrts and a tailpanel. Maybe Dcorn has perfected their manufacturing; I know someone who had extensive mods to make on the shell.
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I think I might start looking at repairing what I have got. The price of the panel isn't the issue and I would be happy to pay the money if the thing had all the right profiles and only needed minor adjustments to suit the car. When I need to add freight to Australia they become expensive if the quality is poor. By the look at some of the photo's posted, there will be less work to make sections and weld them in and file them up.
I don't understand why as consumers we allow manufacturers of these and a lot of other parts to make them to such poor specifications and standards and then simply complain about them. We should stop buying their parts until they manage to get them right. I know that EVERY panel will need some work before they are fitted including NOS ones, for a multitude of reasons, mainly they are 40+ year old mass produced cars that didin't have the processes and techniques they do today. I fthese parts are licensed by GM then I would think that they have examined them to asses the quality of them before giving their approval.
Never the less WE choose to own them and restore them, and have opinions of what should happen.
Maybe a pair of NOS ones will turn up at a realistic price.
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L22K19....from my experience, licensed by GM does not mean better quality. This applies to all parts, not just body sheet metal. I still think the best way to get quality parts is by getting input from forum members, and others that have gone through the restoral/replacement process.
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After a couple of rounds of the Licensed By GM I quit buying any of it. All of it was junk.
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" I fthese parts are licensed by GM then I would think that they have examined them to asses the quality of them before giving their approval."
I suspect that 'licensed by GM' doesn't mean much more than that the mfg/seller has paid GM a licensing fee to use the GM logo in their advertising....
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After a couple of rounds of the Licensed By GM I quit buying any of it. All of it was junk.
OER is the perfect example of GM licensed junk that's made offshore as cheaply as possible..
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After a couple of rounds of the Licensed By GM I quit buying any of it. All of it was junk.
OER is the perfect example of GM licensed junk that's made offshore as cheaply as possible..
After reviewing the different user experiences with the different brands, I went with AMD because of the seemingly better fit and thicker metal gauge. I called AMD yesterday to order a door skin and had questioned what the difference was between the same part number, but one has an 'X' in it. I spoke to a gentleman who told me the parts without the 'X' are made with their owned tooling and was of better quality vs. the X. When asked if they were made here he said both parts are made over seas. The price was slightly higher by $10. I should get it this week and likely hang it this weekend so I'll post my results to share when done.
As for made over seas, until we have another world war upon us to reverse the trend, I'm afraid the business generation of greed will continue with the shameful practice of moving jobs off shore.
Mike
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AMD does not selll the lower quality "X" quarters anymore. Matt's Classic Bowties has good prices on AMD tin. Due to sales volume they beat my price even with a discount. There's a thread on Team Camaro about AMD quarters' pros and cons.
Mike, Make sure to fit the shell to the adjacent panels first, loosley hang the skin on the shell, and final fit it before nailing it home. Disregard if you've done this before.
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Thanks everyone. I am leaning towards AMD for quarters, tail pan and floor... I got positive reviews on AMD from a lot of folks around here as well.
I brought the L78 to the body shop last week. So the fun begins... :D
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Thanks everyone. I am leaning towards AMD for quarters, tail pan and floor... I got positive reviews on AMD from a lot of folks around here as well.
I brought the L78 to the body shop last week. So the fun begins... :D
Joe, sure its in good hands but assume you have good knowledge of the body shop. Many do great work but have seen first hand work that was not correct or sat due to being busy with insurance work. Many do not have jigs, or the knowledge to install to a factory look.
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" I fthese parts are licensed by GM then I would think that they have examined them to asses the quality of them before giving their approval."
I suspect that 'licensed by GM' doesn't mean much more than that the mfg/seller has paid GM a licensing fee to use the GM logo in their advertising....
I have inquired into licensing from GM for a project I was considering, and it's a little more involved than that, however IMHO it is not near strict enough...
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how are the AMD front 69 inner fenders
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Any experience on using the quarters from Year One?
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Any experience on using the quarters from Year One?
Don't worry too much about who sells them, worry about who made them. AMD quarters are the best right now.