How many people have used EMS panels? I purchased 1/4 panels and tailpan from them. Started working my chevy I have to say not so impressed with there (QUALITY PARTS) so far. started with the front half the door jamb is not right. The original corners are sharper and the EMS panel is about 1/16 short. The pinch weld thats meets the rocker is in the wrong spot. Just kinda sucks when you shell out cash for something that you fix before can even hang it.I'll post some pictures what do think?
That is pretty typical of replacement panels. None of them are perfect, although that one looks a little worse Nothing fits like a factory part. After installing hundreds of patch panels from all the manufacturers you just expect them not to fit and it is a happy suprise when they do. The EMS guy is on the HAMB maybe he will comment.
i used thier panels on my 50 shoebox front floor pans innerrockers and the 4 body mounts under the floor i like the body mounts the inner rockers leave something to be desired but they work the floors disappointed me the most because they dont match the fatory floor as far as stiffening ribs etc but overall im satisfied i will be ordering a 57 ford tailpan from them once they have it made up and if i buy another car they make stuff for ill probably go with them then
I could have taken that same photo as your first one. If I had it to do over again, I would have just sliced off the front part of the EMS panel and put a seam on the outer body. Yeah, there's more potential to warp the panel and all, but I'm getting better at resolving those issues.
Some of their stuff is very, very, good some of the other stuff needs a little "massaging" to fit, but in reality, their stuff is priced pretty well, and overall I am glad they are there in support of our hobby. When price vs. quality is balanced, they have to make parts that folks can afford to buy, I have to respect their product.
39 All Ford makes a good comment. I should clarify that I am not really displeased with the panel I got, but I do wish they could stamp some crisper lines. Overall, the panel went in fairly well, but I wish I wouldn't have been so quick to throw away the part I cut out of the car.
I got a tail pan for my 38, it was easier to make a new one from scratch than to massage the EMS panel to fit, though we did try. I never want to go through that again, I'm glad at the time I was doing some 'extra' hours in a good panel shop with a true metal master who owned it! Enough to put me off them for ever! Doc.
We just finished welding on a new tail pan on my buddies 35 3 window and the fit was very nice! I would buy one again in a heartbeat!
I put rocker boxes, floor pans, toe board, cowl bottoms, quarter repairs, trunk floor extension, and rear roll pan in my 41 Chevy. Bought them from Chev's of the 40's, but I think they are all made by EMS. They all required some massaging. I expected that. What wouldn't I buy again? The floor pans, the toe board, and the trunk extension. Those I could make as good as or better than the EMS parts. The rest, EMS. They may require work, but they are better than I can do.
I have just finished a 48 Ford Convert. I used rear lower qtr patches from EMS, they were not very close. EMS said they fit coupes sedans and convertible, well not exactly, the original convertible door piller is seperate from the quarter panel the other models are all one piece. I cut the patch panel up and used part of it and fabed others to make it fit properly. What pissed me off is the guy at EMS didn't have a clue about the difference or he just didn't tell me at the point of sell. All in all EMS stuff isn't too bad you just have to know up front it's like any other aftermarket sheet metal part, you gotta work on it to make it nice, I look at it like this, could I fab the part myself with the equipment I have for the price I pay the after market? Then I deceide. My next purchase from EMS or whoever makes them are complete rocker boxes for 46-48 Fords, anyone have experence with these?
I am in the process of replacing the lower rear quarters, rockers, and lower front fender corners in my '50 shoebox. No problems yet, everything seems to line up really good. Would suggest them to anyone.
Used a cowl, lower door bottom and a quarter patch for a 39 Chevy coupe, the edge by the door opening (on all pieces) was nowhere near as sharp as the car. I cut and welded on the face so that I did not have to work the double line in the door jambs. Decent quality and I would use them again.
Thanks for all the input guys. Yeah I expected to do some massaging in my opinon thought it was a much. I am not in the sheetmetal stamping biz but if I where I think I would definitely be a little more concerned about fitment. I also think I may have made the 1/4 panels one piece yes it would be more costly but I would spend the money so I wouldn't have to mess with fitting the wheel opening together just seems like alot more work.
THANKS TO ALL THE GUYS WHO HAVE BOUGHT FROM US! MANY OF YOU ARE HAPPY WILL OUR PRODUCTS, SOME OF HAVE SOME ISSUES. AND EACH OF THOSE ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT. TOOLING WEARS OUT, AND THEN THERE IS PRODUCT DESIGN AND CUSTOMER EXPECTATION AT TIME OF TOOLING CONSTRUCTION AND THOSE EXPECTATIONS CHANGE WHILE TOOLING DOES NOT UNTIL IT CAN BE REPLACED IF EVER, THIS IS A LIMITED MARKET. AND YES SOMETIMES WE JUST MAKE A MISTAKE. WE CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES AS SOON AS POSSABLE WHICH DEPENDING ON THE ISSUE MAY TAKE SOMETIME, SOMETIMES RELIABLE FEED BACK IS SLOW TO GET TO US. WE HAVE MADE A LARGE INVESTMENT IN MACHINERY(THERE IS A SEP THREAD) AND TOOLING FOR IMPROVED QUALITY BUT IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO SEE A COMPLETE REDO OF PRODUCTS. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE CUSTOMER DIVIDED INTO 2 CAMPS AND WE CAN ONLY ONE A 100% HAPPY, WHAT DO WE DO. ==================== THERE ARE SOME WHO COMPLAIN BUT NEVER FULLY DESCRIBE OR COMMUNICATE THE COMPLAINT LIKE DOC WATSON FROM NEW ZEALAND WE HAVE HEARD YOUR COMPLAINT BUT YOU NEVER RESPONDED TO OUR QUESTIONS OF CONCERN AGAIN DOC WATSON YOU SAID THAT IT WAS A 38 CAR YOU NEVER ANSWERED FORD OR CHEVY, WHERE IT WAS BUILT ( YES IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE) AND EXACTLY YOUR PROBLEM. OR IF YOU EVER CONTACTED US DURING INSTALLATION TO ASK IF WE CAN HELP. ------------------------- WE REALLY TRY TO DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN, WE ALWAYS INDENTIFY OUR PART WITH OUR NAME, MANY PATCH PANELS MAKERS DO NOT. WE ARE THERE TO ANSWER THE PHONE EVERYDAY, WE GET BACK TO YOU EVEN IF IT IS FORGIEN COUNTRY. I HAVE READ STORIES HERE ON THE HAMB OF POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE ALSO TURN DOWN MAKING A SALE IF THE PART WILL NOT FIT THE CAR CORRECTLY. WE MEAN THAT SOME GUYS HAVE CARS FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO PARTS OR MANY TIMES THESE ARE BUICKS CADILLACS PONTIACS IF I WONT WORK WELL IT DOES NOT GET SOLD, OUR REPUTATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN A QUICK SALE AND SOME GUYS GET REAL MAD AT US FOR THIS POLICY. AND SOMETIMES WE JUST CAN NOT FIND A PERFECT PARTS TO COPY FROM SO WE USE THE BEST WE CAN AND HOPE TO FIND A NOS LATER (USALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN) AS FOR THE HAMBER WHO STARTED THIS THREAD ( I FORGOT HIS NAME SORRY) WE HAVE A FIX FOR THE SPOT WELD FLANGE ON THE 1/4, NOT A PERFECT ONE , BUT PRETTY GOOD, IT IS FREE AND WITH FREE SHIPPING TO ANY CUSTOMER WHO HAS THAT 1/4 PANEL, ( YOU DO HAVE TO CALL US) A REMINDER SOME HAMBER DO SLAM THE CAR INTO THE WEEDS AND CUT OFF THE LOWER FLANGE SO THE IMPERFECTION IS OF NO CONCERN TO THEM. ALSO WE GAURENTEE THAT YOUR PARTS arrive DAMAGE FREE, WE SEND YOU NEW PARTS AND WE DEAL WITH THE FRIEGHT COMPANY. I BELIVE NO ONE ELSE OFFERS THAT. WE CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE WE USE THE CORRECT PACKAGING , YES IT COSTS MORE BUT BETTER IN THE LONG RUN. 9 OUR BOXES ARE MADE IN THE USA TO! AND I HAVE TO SAY SOMETIMES WE GET HIT WITH A UNKNOWN MID YEAR CHANGE. AND THEN SOMETIMES WE DO MESS UP, BUT IF THE PANEL IS WAY OFF IT DOES NOT GO TO MARKET. SOME COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICE HEY OUR LABEL SAY MADE IN THE USA, WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW LEFT MAKING STUFF IN THE USA AND OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE DECENT WAGES AND BENIFTS IS THIS NOT WHAT I READ ON THE THREADS ABOUT HF TOOLS AND CHINA? BUT TOMORROW WE WILL BE THERE TO TAKE THE GOOD AND THE BAD CALLS AND DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN. AND I WILL PROBALLY GET BEAT UP ON THE HAMB TOMORROW NIGHT.
I don't think anyone makes a replacement panel that fits right for any car. I did a 72 suburban wheelwell and a body line was completely missing from the part. bought a rear tailpan for a 65 mustang that needed 3/4 inch added to it to fit. same mustang came with a fender to replace the one where they lost a front wheel... I cut it up and welded a big piece from the aftermarket fender on the original. did a tail light section for a 64 Impala and had to slice and dice that thing like a mo'fo.. wasn't even close. none of these were EMS. don't even get me started on the 52 Chevy trunk floor a guy brought me to install in his car. he should have spent his money on a flat sheet of metal. guess it's the industry standard.
Well Mr EMS thanks for commenting I do understand that nothing is going fit perfect. I do agree that your products are good and made in the USA thats why I purchased them. Yes they were packaged very well. Please don't misunderstand why I am here it is not to bash anyone it is to learn. Thought if I put it out there I get some ideas,sugestions. I did make two phone calls to you about the pinch weld issue nobody said there was a fix. They did say (there is enough metal there to work with). So with that I will give you a call.
Can you explain what you do differently when shipping directly to customers instead of vendors? Every time I have opened a box from EMS it is nothing more than the panel thrown loosely inside the box with absolutely no packaging at all.
I had no idea that this company made all of their parts in the USA, I have bought parts for a lot of later model cars, they list the panels as good better best, of course they ride on the big boat to get here, the last parts from across the polluted pond that I got were packed in a folded card board with twine around it, nice, when I opened the "box" a giant cockroach scurried out, yay, now I get to call the exterminator! Next time I need some metal I am going to have to see what you guys have.
I purchased one of the first tail pans from E.M.S. for my 54 chevy. worked out well for my build. I will use them again. They are the first and only as far as I know making this part. Kenny
this no difference, the reason there is no packaging, 1- it cost money 2 it does wiegh something increasing ups scale wieght costs, this cost can be reduced by using the correct box which may intailly be more expensive but cheaper in the long run. for vendor with quanity they get wooden crates the panel can float loose in the box as the tailpan and most large panels are shipped in a teletwin box from 275 double wall corragated, the coroner of the box are very strong as it is designed to with stand the ups gorilla standing on it, yes you can stand on the empty box and it will not flatten i am 180lbs and can stand on it. we loose 1 or 2 boxes per year with ups so our system seems to work
Ok here is the story, The over all tail pan was almost 2 inches to narrow, the body lines were that different that we first thought it was a panel from a different car. The boot (Trunk) corner curves did not match the boot lid, this made all the body lines incorrect as they follow the boot curves. I did lie a little we did use the part of the panel below the body lines to the tail. I understand that there are differences and a replacement panel can not be a perfect fit but this was beyond what we think is acceptable. I worked long enough in a panel shop to understand the 'vagrancy's' in original construction. The body is a US example, where in the US exactly I have no idea.
2 inches is way off so we need to determine your application yes i remeber this part but what kind of car?????????? ford chevy?? year?? body style???
customer service was severly spoken with today. i would like to hear about anyone elses issues with the people i have on the telephone. i do not answer as much as i used to, so i miss alot now you can me pm too. we are just plain simple gonna treat everbody right or i will get new customer service reps/
I've used a lot of repair panels over the years, made by various companies. And I've seen some bad ones ( the absolute worst were '48 Ford Truck front fender repair panels that, as an extra insult, wore a made in the USA sticker ) But even the good ones need a bit of tweaking and/or trimming. Going by my personal experience, the EMS panels I used were better than most.
This is an interesting thread. So many factors.... OLD cars, Old cars that have been wrecked. Old cars that have been wrecked and "repaired" in a prior life... Low installer skill level, not enough skill (or confidence) to properly fit, tweak, and modify panel as needed. Sometimes expectations per $ spent are not in line, (as for the panel that missed by 2".... maybe there was a shipping error? 2" off, there was some kind of mistake made somewhere, can't imagine tooling being off that much). I bought a patch from EMS for my 39 when I was just getting started with it 2 years ago, I had to make it fit the radius of the wheel well and the door opening, but lets be real, this car was a DRIVER in farm country for 30 years where it got no mercy and it had been wrecked bad at least once, so the question is was the patch off a little, or is it the car that was "off"? Likely both, in any case it was easy to make the patch fit the car even though I was learning as I was going. (I would do it better and quicker now that I have gotten better!) It takes a lot for a company to stand up and take heat in a public place, a company that does not care about it's products would turn and run. I offer a thumbs up to EMS for being here, listening, explaining things, and even making some changes based upon what is said here.
hey hudson I am also just starting on a 35 3 window. got to replace floors-rockers -1/4s and rear tail pan. how did it go for you? I read that they suggest making the trunk perfect before removing the tail pan? if you can send me some photos of the progress / steps you took. thanks Jeff
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