GM NOS Fenders... Keep/Fix or Sell?
 

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So I FINALLY was able to open my Genuine GM NOS front fenders. I purchased these back in 2003 from the GM dealership I work at. There were only 6 LH and 30 RH fenders left at the time in the warehouse we got them from.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...Large%2529.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...Large%2529.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...Large%2529.JPG

So they have been one of my prized purchases I made... up until I put them on the car! :shakehead: :(

The body lines on these GM NOS panels make my aftermarket doors and rear quarters look GREAT! They obviously were stamped near the end of life of the GM tooling. They are TOTALLY rounded out and DULL compared to the other panels. Fitment seems good... but NOT the body lines.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...Large%2529.JPG

Here are some Examples:

Body Line of aftermarket door:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I...Large%2529.JPG

Body line of Quarter panel:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...Large%2529.JPG

And Here is the bodyline of the GM NOS fender: (notice how rounded and dull it is)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...Large%2529.JPG

I can not tell if the top of the fender is as bad... but they do seem a bit more dull than the line on the doors. Do they look correct?
NOTE: these panels have not been fitted and are just hanging on the car.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...Large%2529.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...Large%2529.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...Large%2529.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m...Large%2529.JPG

The wheel openings also look like they are rounded out. I think these are suppose to have a more squared off lip?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...Large%2529.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...Large%2529.JPG

So... now my BIG question. Can these be fixed? I was thinking that I could use a dolly on the back of the panel and try and reshape the line by hammering it out a bit more pronounced. BUT, should I be doing this on Genuine GM panels? Are they still a better panel than the aftermarkets?

I know I have read about NOS panels having bad body lines before, but never read how they were fixed or handled?

Or am I better off just ordering some AMD front fenders and sell these GM NOS ones? It is not like my car has many GM panels left on it anyway.

PLEASE give me your thoughts! Just not sure which way to go...

Obviously just my opinion, but in your case I would sell them to someone who needs to have NOS, and buy some quality repops that will better match your lines. Most all new metal is going to need work though.

Sell the GM stuff...you can just about name your price. You will make enough to buy some AMD panels, and a LOT of other items you need. This is what I'd do.

Just a thought here but why do you think the GM panels are wrong?? It is more likely that the aftermarket parts are wrong. Unless you have matched them up with original fenders and then the line do not match? Any way how good are you at metal work? If the line need to be sharpened up you can do it but it takes lots of time and patience! I would say as others have, put them up for sale on eBay and then use the money for other parts.

One other thing I would do before you sell them, check out the aftermarket ones to see the lines on those match your other sheet metal?

Hire someone good to re-work the NOS panels. A good bodyman can fix those issues, but the problem with aftermarket sheet metal is the door to fender gaps. A friend of mine had a 68 Firebird and those gaps were about 3/8" wide. They spent more hours trying to get them close to mine. I just looked at AMD website and it lists some fender, but it doesn't say that it is the official GM restoration parts. AMD also sells Goodmark, which has a different part number. My 67 RS Camaro has all NOS parts, and it was the best decision that I made in the past. Although, I did buy my 67 NOS fenders in the 80's for only $189 each.

Jeff

The body lines on the other panels all match each other. I also have the original sheet metal from the car, and you can see a definite difference in the body lines comparing to the new NOS panels.

I think at this point I will order in the AMD panels and see how they fit. I will keep the GM NOS panels until I know I am satisfied with which ones I will use on the car, then sell the others off.

I would sell the GM and make yourself a ton of money. I put AMD on my wifes car and the door to fender gaps were HUGE. I had to add metal to door to get gaps correct. I called AMD (been over a year ago), spoke with one of the owners and informed them of the gap issue along with pics of GM fender vs their fender. I was told the issue was the inner structure of fender was incorrectly installed not allowing the outer portion of fender to get the gaps right. The owner said he would investigate production line to check QA. I dont know if this is still an issue or not.

The AMD metal is thicker than other brands. I used their qtrs and door skins as was very happy with the panels. Hopefully the fender issues have been corrected.

Either way, you will have to do some metal work with GM or aftermarket.

Selling NOS on E-bay is not a guarantee that you will make as a private owner a ton of money. I seen NOS 67 Camaro quarters that were 80's stampings, but they only sold for $700 a side. While a dealer might charge a higher price. So, you might see online price of $1200 a quarter with a dealer, but you won't be able to sell them for that price.

Jeff

Jeff I had a bunch of NOS sheet metal I bought back in the 90's. I sold all of it on eBay and in most cases I made more then the dealers were getting for their stuff! Not saying that your wrong, but just saying that not all cases are the same. What one person gets is not what another one will. That goes both ways up or down.

It all depends on how you market it.

Case in point, I just sold a new spray gun on eBay a few weeks ago for a friend. I looked and said he should get about $300 or so as that is what others have sold for, he said fine. He needed the money real fast so I just gave him the $300 and then just sat on the gun. Then I thought I have how many spray guns :headscratch: I don't need three of the same one so I listed it. 5 days later I got $392 for it. Oh and yes I offered him the rest of the money less fees but he said no!

You never know what you will get until you try to sell it.:topic: :cheers:

Jarod, that's not a bad idea. This way if they match the rest of your sheetmetal then you can use the NOS fenders to see what's different from the AMD fenders. Then put them up for sale and see what you get.

I would also list them for sale on some of the Pontiac forums you may have good luck there and not have to pay the fees on eBay?

I have sold NOS at higher price, but the prices vary on them time year and you and the buyers location. I seen dealers on there trying to sell at high price and the items never sold. So, yes, it depends on how you market it.

Jeff

I PM Jarrod earlier and there is not any Pontiac Firebird AMD sheetmetal. They don't make it. I remember talking to another member about Pontiac sheetmetal 2 years ago, and AMD claimed that they was going to make firebird sheetmetal. Well, it looks like it never happened. So, his only choice is Goodmark from that same Taiwan supplier that manufacturers the other brands as well.

Jeff

Well that sucks, but it's still worth a look at a fender.

Jarrod if you have a LKQ/Keystone in your area they own Goodmark now and can get you the parts and most likely not cost any shipping??

Im looking for a pair of Oem 67 Firebird quarters... Our standards have changed after 40 years, We have taken cars that were just everyday drivers and spent a ton of money and time turning them into rolling masterpieces. The standard in the car hobby has been raised so high that most builders have to spend countless hours just on the bodywork. I'm not sure how many hours are normally billed out by shops just to smooth out the oem parts vs.the aftermarket panels.I have never used any aftermarket sheetmetal when replacing quarter panels but I have had a few OEM sets installed and was always vey pleased.

Please PM me with prices on any oem sheetmetal you want to sell..

If Mark said he was going to make firebird Sheetmetal, then he will make it. You have to understand that AMD is a relatively new company, and the amount of detail that Mark is committed to putting into his products is VERY time consuming. Mark is a Mopar guy at heart, and that's what parts he started stamping. Then he moved on to other popular models. Shoot, I can't even get a door shell for my 70 Chevelle yet. He's gonna do it, it just takes a lot of time, because its all made in georgia, and not in Taiwan.

Mark is the previous co-owner of Goodmark, hence the mark in the name, and he told me once that Goodmark had gotten so big, because of demand, that the quality had gotten away. He was ultimately unsatisfied with what he was building, so he sold the business and started his very own. :flag2:

Jarrod (OP) talked to AMD today and seems that AMD don't have interest now in developing Firebird parts.

AMD facility in Georgia only shows a warehouse, so show me Photos or a video of a manufacturing facility.

Ok, I found where AMD buys the parts from and it is taiwan. The original Shipper is a company called Triplus. I even included a video of the company profile.
http://www.importgenius.com/importer...tal-direct-llc
http://www.triplus.com.tw/







Jeff

Are they selling sheet metal, or are they selling parts to AMD. Most metal company's import from china/Taiwan. The material can be bought and imported most of the time cheaper than being bought here.
Next time I talk to Mark, I can ask questions.

The best iron ore is from the USA, not Taiwan. I have a co-worker (PhD) that used to work at the Bureau Mines, and the best material quality is in the USA.
Here is where China gets the Iron ore according to this report.
https://www.bimco.org/en/Reports/Mar...naIronOre.aspx

Anyway, it looks like you never seen a stamping press. That is a stamping plant, so AMD is importing parts from Taiwan. Really, it is the labor costs is the main reason that companies are moving out. I have worked in Tool & Die back in the late 1980's, so I do know a "little" about stamping process. Degree in Engineering as well.

I showed you a bill of lading, that is required by law on country that exports and imports.

Jeff

P.S. Golden Legion Automotive corp, is the producer for GoodMark. If you need a bill of lading, then shows several companies that deal with Golden Legion.

You are correct, the best iron ore does come from America. I simply stated that you can purchase metal, in bulk, most of the time, cheaper from across the pond. And yes I have seen stamping presses before.

My rear full quarter panels came from AMD, and yes, the boxes say Triplus on them w/ AMD stickers. They are OK, but will need some work (Which I think most do). Not many choices for Firebird convertibles.

I talked to Matt at Sled Alley, and he has to modify AMD to make them fit correctly. A friend of mine is an original owner of 67 Firebird convertible and he had the quarters replaced with Camaro NOS quarters in 1994, because he couldn't get any 67 Firebird convertible quarters.


Jeff