When I first purchased my 68, I imediatly plopped my cash down for replacement parts including a tail pan from Classic Industries. I purchased the repro version. Since then I have learned that NOS is worth the extra cost and I'm debating my next move.

The repro part looks like it can be made to work. The only two issues I have with it are A) its flimsy and B) the lockset punch looks like the die slipped or something. I figure with the lock tower in place, it will firm up a bit, but it will never be as strong as the original unless I beef it up somehow. And that lockset opening...sheez! graemlins/sad.gif

Should I cut bait and get a NOS panel or do you think the repro will be solid enough once I get it all welded in. I think I know the answer, but want to make sure I'm not just being paranoid or particular. There is no chance of returning the panel (I wouldn't think) since I bought it over a year and a half ago.

i saw something about the repro lock holes in rick's catalog. said you had to buy a later model lockset or something because the notches are rotated for the later locksets. just looked it up it refers to 67 holes vs 68-69. 67's have to use the later lock cylinders on repro panels.

yesssssssssssssssssss
go
nosssssssssssssssssss

i imagine you'll pay a wee bit more than the 67.00 i paid for my nos tailpanel over 2 decades ago. but let me describe what airtight welds, seams and joints look like. i'm pressing my thumb and finger together really tight.... graemlins/thumbsup.gif


i guess you could always get your car to where you could do a fit up with the repro panel and if you don't like it go nos. if you still have the reciept, and the panel is not damaged you could probably return it. or ebay it.

Go NOS.Besides the lock area,the weatherstrip channel is way messed up.Had to cut, bend and reweld mine.Major PITA!

Thanks guys. Nuff said. I'll order the panels tomorrow.

Well so much for tomorrow. By looking at the date of my last post you can see I'm just now getting around to ordering body metal. Today, I started drilling spot welds and preparing to repair the rear window area. So my mind is officially back on the project and off my 2002 Z-28 I just bought.

As the topic of this thread goes, I was debating whether or not to discard my new OEM Reproduction tail panel for a NOS piece. I've since learned that NOS is a somewhat misused term - means different things to different people.

What I expect a NOS piece to be is thicker material (closer to original specs) and fit better. Question is, where do I get these panels. I though Goodmark Industries was the supplier of choice, but they look like repro parts as well. Are Goodmark Panels what I want for thickness and fit? If not, then who should I call next?

one place is heartbeatcity.net ($695) steep but available.

firstgen.com, this is Rick's First Generation. mostly repro but some used and nos parts. just have to call and find out what they got. lot's of good feedback on this site about rick's.

camaro country...don't know the site name
check ebay too.

NOS is the original thickness steel, stamped on the original dies, by GM. usually NOS is over runs and extra parts made for repairing wrecked cars. when the dies wear out and are unrepairable they are destroyed or sold.

when all the original dies are gone and the company quits making the panels the price starts shooting up. i paid $140 each for 69 Rally Sport fenders in the early 90's. i paid $180 each for new coupe quarters from gm. 12 years later they go for almost a grand each. the prices on NOS will only keep going up.

How can you tell a Nos piece from a repop?
a 67-68 taillight panel to be specific.
i have got a 67-68 taillight panel with the lower valance cut off it and i can't figure out if it is a genuine gm piece or a repop? can anybody help me out?
it does have some letters and numbers stamped into the inner trunk side of the taillight brackets (something like "K13R AND K14L")
Can anybody help me out?
thanks.

That sounds like a Classic Industries part number. I wonder if K stands for Korea.

If the top part of yours is good, you can cut the new repro in half and section it in. Thats what I just got done doing. I cut it where the bumper will cover the seam in case the seam was noticable, but with a little filler you can't even see it. Someone on here suggested I do this since the top part of the pannel is where most of the problems are. Just an idea. I could not afford NOS.

Thanks, Tim

Tim - that is a great idea! The top of my tail panel is OK but the bottom below the bumper is wavy and the old filler from a previous fix is cracked.

Thanks!

Just be sure the lap joint is properly sealed and primed. My tail pan looks like a sectioned repair from some point in it's history. The lap joint is where it rusted. Looks like the bumper bolts were where a majority of the moisture found its way in.