CAn someone pls educate me on repo sheet metal parts? It seems that I often I read complaints about them not fitting correctly etc etc.. Im probably wrong, but are there not certain firms that are using the original GM molds to press the sheet metal?? If not then how does "GM Licensed" come about?? Or are they all using molds they created from original parts thus the problems. Appreciate any insight. thanks dave

All of the repro parts are made in Taiwan. The parts are repros, made with Chinese tooling. "GM Liscensed" means that the companies marketing the parts have paid GM a royalty to use the logo,and that's it. The parts are the same, made by Golden Legion just like the rest. I've had folks argue until blue in the face that GoodMark is made here in Georgia, but its just not the case. The parts are shipped in from Taiwan,reboxed, and marketed as GM liscensed parts. Thats not to say that they are bad. On the contrary, the current generation of repops are the best that there have ever been. Heartbeat City has started to manufacture some sheetmetal in the USA for about 3x the price of the repro parts. The fit and finish on these parts have drawn mixed reviews as well. Also, keep in mind that GM parts rarely ever fit like show car pieces anyway. It was not uncommon for GM parts to need tweaking and adjustment too. The GM gaps were not know to be extremely tight either. The gaps on the bottoms of my original Z are between 3/8-1/2 in places, and its GM metal that has not been swapped out. If you set your expectations knowing this, you are less likely to be disappointed with the fit of repops. All sheetmetal takes some work, bottom line.

Bob is absolutely right on the quality of GM panels. We make the lines much nicer than GM ever did when we restore a car. We judge them by today's standards not 1969 standards. I love looking at original, unrestored cars at shows to see how they were actually put together.

When GM built the dies for the sheetmetal they anticipated building 100's of thousands of each part. They had a precision die built from tool steel so it would last. This is expensive. Aftermarket companies do not make as many parts so to be cost effective they use cheaper steel, even plastics in some cases for dies. These wear more quickly. They also do not hold as close of tolerences on lines.
GM dies also eventually wore. I've heard many tales from older bodymen about fixing a car 5-6 years after it was produced and how the sheetmetal
did not fit as well as the sheetmetal when the car was newer.
Some have said the steel is not as good so it's harder to get it to bend right in the dies.
I put 1/4's, wheelhouses, rear panel, doorskins on a 69 last year with all aftermarket panels. I had identified a number of areas where the fit was not very good. I marked them all to show the customer to justify extra time spent to repair these. A salesman came thru that was also doing a 69 at home with all NOS sheetmetal. He said every one of the areas I marked was the same as the fit issues he had with NOS panels. His NOS panels where bought in the late 70's so possibly the dies were worn and then sold to an aftermarket co. where mine came from. Or I new die was made off of less than perfect NOS parts.
So.. even though the aftermarket stuff isn't perfect it may be as good as available NOS.

To make a long story short I have a 69 SS big block car original motor/trans

396/325 Frost green/dark green deluxe int/air/with dealer bill of sale with vin#
I bought the car 4 years ago for $5700 and am finally ready to start rebuilding it.

Another note my father had been a bodyman for 35 years and has a 68 camaro and a 57 nomad.

My car has no rust ecept lower driver fender but there have been some bad ideas through its life like torching out the wheel wells to gain access for headers!! And cutting 2 inches out of the rear well to use big slicks!!

Anyway someone tried to put on 1/4 skins and they look nasty!!
I need to put on full 1/4 panels like factory to make it look right, I know my father can make it look like it should because of cost and his thoughts to go with repo quarters.

Factory $2500++++
Repo around $800

Which ones are the best to go with in the repo market?
Goodmark??

Thanks and hope to chat more with everyone soon.

I sell repos for alot less than that, and they are made by Golden Legion, same as GoodMark. I used them on my 69. I'm no pro, just a hobbyist, and they fit pretty darned well if I say so myself. Go with the full quarters though. The skins would work ok as well, but its nice to know that you're dealing with nice new steel throughout IMO.

Creampuff in progress....

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/puff2.jpg

I dont know if it matters at all.. It seems like they are all made by the same place, they sell them to various other marketers, goodmark, d&r, classicindustries that then package them with their name on them.. and they put their various prices on them.. Sounds like thats how it works.. why they have sometimes such different prices is beyond me.. paying for the brandname i guess..

You are absolutely correct. Its all about the brand name, which at times is pretty amazing to me. For what its worth, folks are willing to pay extra for the GoodMark products. They are a good company to work with for sure, but the product is the same as the Golden Legion pieces. GoodMark has done a great marketing job, but the products are no better or worse than many of the others out there right now. Its tough to find a really shoddy repro panel right now. Most fit pretty well with some tweaking. Problems arise when some hobbyists like yours truly attempt to replace large panels. When it does not align perfectly, the statement is always" the panel is junk and does not fit". In the hands of a capable body man, the new panels provide a nice fit, albeit with some of the normal tweaking.