Hot Rods Repro Parts. Some Things Never Change

Ten Commandments for Street Rodders

One: Thou shalt not paint nor plate any part without first testing fit to thy chariot.

Two Thou shall check all bolts for tightness and all welds for completeness before operating thy chariot on the kings highway.

Three Thou shall always check thy chariots oil before starting thy chariots engine after changing thy oil.

Four Thou shalt not cast away any original part before thy chariot is completely finished.

Five Thou shalt not pass by any fuel station when thy chariots gauge may be not reliable.

Six Thou shalt not consume sacred wine, yea any wine, and then drive thy chariot.

Seven Thou shall first study any scriptures provided with any kit before installing.

Eight Thou shall cloth thy self in proper safety arraignment for thy task at hand lest ye be smitten about thy face and hands, yea even thy very person.

Nine Thou shalt not confuse thy can of potables with thy can of extra fuel.

Ten Thou shall confine thy exhibitions of acceleration to the stadium where officers of the kings lands can cheer and not interfere.

 

I have never understood why they make parts that are *almost* right.

 

Number 1 was actually number 11.

 

I've always considered reproduction parts to be a a raw product on which to begin fitting. If the manufacturers had to build perfect parts, the price would be higher than the market would bear.

 

Keystone Platinum parts fit square body chevy pick up better than OEM hood’s and fenders

 

Thank God we dont live like this. Id hate to think of the injuries, both short term and long term, that these people suffer from up to and including amputation and death. And dont get me started on child slave labour! We live in countries (Im in Australia) that are blessed to have minimum working standards that protect us and attempt to stop us from being injured and killed. People still are injured and killed, certainly, but not in the frequency they used to. Im no angel, have I done dumb shit - absolutely, will I in the future - absolutely, we all will, but we are given a choice to hopefully recognise it before we get hurt, learn from it and prevent reoccurrence. Again, thank God we dont live like this. Note to Moderators, if this brushes the realms of politics, please delete...RodSports.

 

In that case you just build up the 'underlayment' with duct tape!

 

Well that's terrifying.

 

This is the way it is and has been with parts. You either suck it up , make it fit or give up, or have someone else do it. Shit! I get parts where I work for practically new cars that do not fit. That's all I have to say on this.

 

I sent Mack Hils pictures and measurments of the tailgate they said they'd get back to me? Hood works fine and looks good after lots of work now just needs a little more work to get it to fit better. Next week the new UP front fenders and a pair of original 32 boards I got from a restorer that replaced them with NOS boards. Getting there with my upgrades.

 

Show us some pictures!

 

That's not going to happen!

 

HA: Dinosaur here, not picture friendly.

 

My Dad used to work with a carpenter that loved to say “A little high, let her by, a little low, let her go.” Drove my Dad nuts.

 

Darn

 

For me I try to get Original parts ,
I have gather parts from all over the US
junk yards , abandoned and forgotten about, haven a early 32 & another that probably have Multi parts from 10 or so 32s parts fit like supposed to, I do have one early dash that a few holes are off,
In all the 30,31 As I dealt with , brackets,panels from multiple cars also fit, I have bought reproduction parts then as I find OEM I replace and sell the reproductions, Even the bastard 40 Ply the parts over years from other cars have fit , having several early chevy II,
a 67 camaro & 9 69 camaro's ,around multiple 55 truck & car & 57s .
I guess lucky ,, Maybe all the ones I had/worked on were sequential numbers off the assembly line same plant , Dont think So

 

Did the same grinding to a genuine ford hood.

 

A place I worked for many years had a sign on the wall.

"DEAD ON IS CLOSE ENOUGH"

 

I’ll take some photos for you if he drives it to Pete and Jakes.

 

I wish I lived in that world some of you live in. The one I live in, repo parts are the starting point that requires less work then starting from scratch to make them fit.

I have a buddy that is a master machinist at a large factory with strict quality control. In his exact words: "At the end of the day there are three measurement for every part we make. The measurement they want, the measurement they will accept, and the measurement you give them."

 

I think the only real solution is what Gary said in the first post: trial fit everything.

And then modify whatever doesn’t fit.

 

I feel your pain. I sent measurements, bought and finished this rollpan for the rear of my A coupe. Very frustrating that it doesn't quite fit. Umph. How does that happen, there are no great gaps in the body? The builder promised to make another, but several years (!) passed and then he unfortunately died. Using it as is. It's okay, but not quite right.

 

The hood wasn't such a big deal but the dam tail gate being 3/16th to the right because of incorrectly installed hinges is a PIA.

 

I never trust even high quality repro parts. Many of the best repro companies still have their parts stamped out overseas in China, and if they don't have a rep go over and QC every part prior to shipping, they get whatever is sent to them, and pass it along to the customers.
I got some fenders that were really nice looking, but when I held them up to test fit them I couldn't even see the hole in the body they were supposed to bolt into! The damn holes were off by over an inch! Since I was under a time constraint I had to cut the tabs off and relocate them an inch to make them work. Irritating.

 

One day last fall as I was wandering around Nebraska, I saw this. It looks great to me! I like things that show a little use or perhaps authenticity. Super smooth and shiny old cars just seem out of place to me. Just my two cents. Carry on!

 

There is video relief, for you all to watch and enjoy.
Go to YouTube and look up Engels Coach Shop, and watch the master do the amazing rebuild of the Smith Manufacturing manure spreader, the man is amazing at how he can rebuild anything. Slightly off topic indeed, but truly a joy to watch, as a ancient pile of parts, gets all put back together.
You wont be disappointed!
Enjoy from Dennis.

 

Old enough to remember the only source for parts other than local was Hemmings which came in the mail once a month. Then you sent a letter and waited.
Or if you were bucks up you went to Hershey or Carlisle. Bitch all you want but reproduction parts are now 1-800-sendittome. People now complain if they don’t have something in 2 days and expect perfection at Walmart prices. People are stupid. End of rant…flame away if it makes you feel good.

 

I’m involved in a similar situation now, I’m redoing the car in my avatar the front bumper in the photo is a 51-52 Kaiser and is 73 “ long/wide inside.( 49-54 chevys are all in the 71” splash pan length range ) I had every intention of cutting it down and having it replated but when I got the price to replate @ $1600.00 I decided to buy a repop front bumper. I did my research and decided on a 53 Chevy front bumper, order it up got it in a week open it up and WOW! This thing is 73.5” long. Now what? Call the vendor and they will take it back on my dime. I would be out 300.00 with nothing to show for it. Measured my 52 Panel no wider then the car. Do I cut into a band new chrome plated bumper and hope I don’t blow the plating off so I can shorten it?

 

I call it getting in too big of a hurry on your own ride and shortcutting steps that you took the time to make sure things were right on customer rigs.
Stock parts aren't any better at times. I probably tried ten or fifteen hoods before I found one that fit as close as I thought it would get and had it louvered. That was 43 years ago.

 

It is frustrating, especially when you spend top dollar. I bought lower 1/4 panel patches for my 29 from Brookville years ago. The piece has zero shape to it whatsoever except for the bead stamped in at the bottom. This made the part utterly useless. it's next to impossible to add curvature to a part that already has a huge bead stamped in it that . I don't get how some of these manufactures pump out parts knowing they are going to work like absolute crap.