So I finally got a chance to put my emblems on and after checking the template, I find that the template is WRONG!!! I put the 'Chevrolet' emblem over the template and it's off by about a 1/4" for the header panel. The same emblem goes on the trunk lid and the template for the trunk lid is fine. I call Firewheel and they say, "send it back but we sell hundred's of these... blah blah blah". Has anyone else used these? Luckily, I didn't drill any holes. I'm going to be pissed if they don't give me my money back. Done venting.

[ 10-19-2004, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: camarorsconv ]

Patti and Floyd will take care of you, they are good people! Didn't they offer to refund your money???

I can't understand, are you talking about the emblem's studs not aligned with the marks on the template? If thats your case, mine was a bit off, on some emblems. I ended locating the emblem over the template, to mark the new stud markings. That is why I always recomend not to trust the template marks, just the ones you verify &/or correct.

I have their template for the 69 fender emblems, and the "350" is lower then the marker light by about 1/4 to 3/8 inch.

Now I'm confused too...and I already drilled the holes in my GM fenders.

Can anyone tell me if I should be really really pissed for using the template?

kz1000ltd :I talked to Floyd and he had a hard time believing me since he's never heard any complaints before. I suggested that he check a template in stock but he wouldn't. He made me send the template back to him (which I sent today).

ORENCH: Correct. The emblem studs did not line up with the marks on the template. Had I drilled the holes according to the template, I would have had to drill new holes for the emblem to fit.

Yup, in my case, the overall emblem location was correct, but some of the studs didn't match the template. Like I mentoned, I simply corrected the template on that aspect. I hope this isn't true, but I doubt you will find a template with 100% correct stud locations. I suppose that is caused by different brands of repros or molds. graemlins/clonk.gif Not a big deal for me, cause I verified all the emblems prior to drilling.

I had the same problem with the 350 emblems on front of the marker lite on my 69 camaro,emblems are 1/4 " low ,purchaced mine from Rick's.

Floyd has a very nice Z28 and has an intrest in making sure things are "right". You called him and all he can do is start to provide customer service and try tp solve your problem. You can't make everyone happy, but I know he will try. Just give it some time. After all it's mail order and it's not like being able to just walk in and talk to them at the counter.

I have met Floyd and he is a very nice guy with a true intrest in Camaros, give him a chance to work your issue before chopping his head off.

Joe

Here's the letter that I sent along with the templates. I don't think that I 'chopped his head off' smile.gif Hopefully he will come through and everyone's happy. My dad needs more parts for his camaro and I passed along the Firewheel catalog to him.

Floyd,

I am sending this item back per our phone discussion on Monday, October 18, 2004. The emblem hole location is incorrect for the ‘Chevrolet’ emblem on the header panel. The holes are a ¼” or more farther apart than they should be. If you place a ‘Chevrolet’ emblem over these holes on the template, you can verify that the hole locations are wrong. To further verify this, place the emblem over the template for the trunk lid. These holes are correct.

I’m sure that you sell a lot of these but they are still incorrect. Luckily, I checked the locations out before I drilled the holes. Had I not, I’d be pretty darn pissed off. I hope that you see that the template is incorrect and will refund my money. I’ve enclosed a copy of my receipt. I would hope that you also refund my shipping cost.
I’ve done over $3,000 of business with D&R in the last year and I thought that I’d try Firewheel. Hopefully you will come through and I can continue my business through you.

As a mechanical engineer, it's inexcusable to have the distance between the studs correct on the deck lid and incorrect on the header panel for the same emblem!!! These were on the same drawing!!! This was checked with an aftermarket emblem and stock emblem. A template is worthless if the information is incorrect...

Here's how mine came out after using the template. I really couldn't understand how this could happen and I still can't believe that I allowed it to happen. I didn't know any better at the time. The emblem holes were spot-welded closed and the emblems were sight-aligned. The other emblem templates seemed to be correct. By the way, this occurred at least three or four years ago if I'm not mistaken.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/pablo69/DSC01133.jpg

I just found this doing a search. I posted this in 2001.

http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/3/1509.html?

I compared the "Camaro" fender emblems between the repop and GM before I drilled for mine. The studs were different by a quarter inch or so. I made a template out of a cereal box, and used it to make sure the holes were in the right spot, and that the emblem was level. Even with all the care I took, I still had to hog out the holes a little to make it fit.

This just hammers home the fact again that when working with ANY aftermarket piece.... whether an entire panel or a piece of trim, check, check, and triple check everything before final fitment.

Never trust something just because it 'looks' good or comes from a reputable source.

Live and learn, I guess.

The guys at Firewheel are retailers not manufacturers. I always drive to their store and do business in-person 'cause I have found them to be good, pleasant folks. I have spent lots of $$$ with them, and have returned some stuff as well, without any difficulty. Page two of the catalogue has a 30 day unconditional guarantee, so I would give them a chance to make it right. Other than that, I dont blame you for being real mad at the quality of the template- although the one I used from them (made by Classic Templates) has a real strong disclaimer which made me measure twice before drilling once, and it did require some tweaking. You are certainly intitled to vent, and I would say to get your money back. BTW, Patti and Floyd have never let me down, and are good people to know if you are a Camaro enthusiast.

Rob

I have to totally agree with olympic69. I live in the D/FW area too. I've done business with a number of different camaro shops over a 20 year period, & I'd have to say "Firewheel is the best." Patti & Floyd are people, people. smile.gif

I'll post what Floyd says after he gets back to me.... I've also contacted Classic Industries about the template. They are at a show this week and back in the office next week.

A few weeks ago my '67 SS templates and emblems arrived from Ricks. I took them out of my shelf to check if there are also irregulaities. I just finished measuring/comparing the templates with the emblems. Here are my results:

Distance between holes:
Header panel - Chevrolet = correct
Header panel - Camaro = 2.2mm too wide (1/16" ?)
Trunk - Chevrolet = 2.2mm too wide (1/16" ?)
Trunk - Camaro = 2.2mm too wide (1/16" ?)
Fender - SS RH1 = correct
Fender - SS RH2 = 1mm too wide (1/32" ?)
Fender - SS LH1 = correct
Fender - SS LH2 = 1mm too wide (1/32" ?)
Fenders - Camaro = correct
Fenders - 350 = correct
Fenders - Flag = correct

If I would drill the holes according to my templates, the emblems will fit...but just barely.

I noticed that on the fender-templates, the 'Camaro' emblem-holes are not horizontal, they are also off by 2.2mm (1/16" ?). The first hole is thus 2.2mm lower than the 2nd hole.
Also the 'Chevrolet' emblem holes are also not horizontal (vertical distance between 'Flag/350'-emblemholes and 1st'Chevrolet' emblemhole is also 2.2mm lower than the distance between 'Flag/350'-emblemholes and 2nd 'Chevrolet' emblemhole)

I took a pic. of the RH-SS emblem template, as you can see the holes of the 1st S are not similar than the 2nd S, though the line similar than the 1st S are drawn on the 2nd S :confused: ....I thought all the S's have the same hole pattern

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/SS-for-web.jpg

Firewheel refunded my money and shipping so I am happy. smile.gif I called Classic Industries but they are not the one's who make the template. I might try to find out who the manufacturer is so I can tell them that their template is junk.