[Frank R]

Can anyone give me first hand experience on how reproduction sheet metal fits on a 69 GTO. Ames describes the front fenders very poor fitting that require hours of prep work. What exactly has to be done for them to fit correctly? I also plan on using full rear 1/4 panels, rear window panel and trunk lid. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[300deluxe]

The quarters, rear panel and deck lid are good, but I have heard that about the front fenders also. Wonder if anyone on this forum has those fenders, and how did they work out for them. There was 2 reviews of these fenders on Original Parts Group...and both reviews said fenders were nice, and fit well.

[goatless]

I've heard it said that the fenders have been reworked a couple of times since I had on hung on my '69 seventeen years ago. The guy who did the fitting way back then bitched about the fit and quality, but the finished product looked good (and still does).

[ponchjoe]

There was a thread somewhere on here about someone who cut the repro fender tops off and used the rest of the skin like the partial quarter panel skins on his originals because the fit was so poor. I cannot remember who or what section it was in though, sorry.

[marxjunk]

ive used them all...ive helped a dozen guys use them too...i get the call in my area when theres issues...most people know me that are either Pontiac guys or in the bodyshp business...i sell body shop equipment..and a life long bodyman..i just worked on a Judge and we re-skinned the whole car..had massive hail damage and there was just no fixing the orig metal

decklid is near perfect...fit as good or better than some originals ive used..make it fit the original car sheetmetal then use it as a guide to fit the 1/4s

the 1/4s are decent..i wouldnt call them good...they dont fit the rear window very well in the lower corner where the rear panel (tulip panel) and the 1/4s come together.., and the right side is weird at the wheel house..but a little work, not real bad..on every one ive been involved with...and some body line detail s just not there...but very usuable..

any competent metal man can get them on and they look really decent..some detail is kind of wiped out..but not real bad...one side the wheel well molding didnt fit well..but we made it work..if you dont use moldings..no problems

if you use them, get the glass and window trim mounted and fitted before you paint it..or its going to be ugly...not just the glass..the window trim too...if not you can stick your finger between the molding and sheet metal when ya try to build it

fenders..every single time some one has ordered a set around here...they work on them for 5 or 6 days and then cut them apart and use them as patches to fix their original fenders...i wouldnt even buy them...find the best used you can find..and put the heel patch in them and your done...

theres all kinds of issues..like..they dont fit the bumper..ones longer than the other..they dont fit the door edge and are weird at the hood line also...but the door edge and bumper fit is so bad...i wouldnt even waste 5 minutes on them anymore..just never gonna fit..

door skins are ok..the drivers is too long but usuable..

door shells are terrible..they just are..every single pair ive worked with theres gap issues..if you have to grind an edge and weld it back closed...or add material to the edge to get a gap...they are wrong...(i would never do this..but many do..they watch too much tv..it isnt the right way to fix a car)...and ive seen every thing..they are all over the board...especially if you use after-crap fenders and door shells together..its a night mare

roof skins are very nice

hoods are too...they loose a little detail back in the center between the scoops..but 99.9% of people would never catch it..

rear panel..or tulip panel is really good..

my advice is to fit everything before paint..put the car back together...i put them back together before i even start working them...mark all the issues and start fixing them....put moldings etc on....dont assume you can bolt it on and paint it..then build it...theres going to be a few surprises..ive seen guys paint the parts off the car..try to build it and its a mess...trial fit everything...the stuff is def better now than a decade ago..if youre a 69 guy its getting easier to build them everyday

[68pongto]

Originally Posted by marxjunk

fenders..every single time some one has ordered a set around here...they work on them for 5 or 6 days and then cut them apart and use them as patches to fix their original fenders...i wouldnt even buy them...find the best used you can find..and put the heel patch in them and your done...

theres all kinds of issues..like..they dont fit the bumper..ones longer than the other..they dont fit the door edge and are weird at the hood line also...but the door edge and bumper fit is so bad...i wouldnt even waste 5 minutes on them anymore..just never gonna fit..

door skins are ok..the drivers is too long but usuable..

door shells are terrible..they just are..every single pair ive worked with theres gap issues..if you have to grind an edge and weld it back closed...or add material to the edge to get a gap...they are wrong...(i would never do this..but many do..they watch too much tv..it isnt the right way to fix a car)...and ive seen every thing..they are all over the board...especially if you use after-crap fenders and door shells together..its a night mare


my advice is to fit everything before paint..put the car back together...i put them back together before i even start working them...mark all the issues and start fixing them....put moldings etc on....dont assume you can bolt it on and paint it..then build it...theres going to be a few surprises..ive seen guys paint the parts off the car..try to build it and its a mess...trial fit everything...the stuff is def better now than a decade ago..if youre a 69 guy its getting easier to build them everyday

X2 on everything that he said. We used a set of the 68 door shells on a customers car and noticed the door handles angle upwards too. The fenders are absolute junk. I wouldn't use them on anything you plan on keeping. We did use a pair on a car we were just flipping, but we had a TON of work in them. Spend the $$$ for really nice originals, or put patches on the doglegs.

It is so funny how customers come in and just want to open up the catalog and order a whole new CHINESE car! Keep, repair, salvage, buy NOS, whatever, but try to keep the Chinese stuff to a minimum. And yes, make sure the bodyshop or restoration shop test fits everything multiple times. I can't tell you the horror stories of the shops that 'fix' the nose with out ever test fitting it, then they try to put the front end together and it is a nightmare!

[Frank R]

Thanks for the honest answers. I wish there was better news on the front fenders. The problem with the fenders on my car is that someone welded lower patches on them off the car. They are no where close to being in the correct location and wont even bolt up. Maybe I'll try cutting them of and weld new lowers sections on. Thanks again for you responses.

[will slow gto]

Originally Posted by Frank R

The problem with the fenders on my car is that someone welded lower patches on them off the car. They are no where close to being in the correct location and wont even bolt up.

Is there something inherently wrong with welding the fender heel patches off of the car or could it be that they just didn't "measure twice, cut once"?

[Frank R]

I feel it's best to do them on the car. Mine were welded at least 1 inch too low. When you try to put the bottom bolts in the fenders they stick out past the door 3/4 of an inch. They also close up the door gap. Looks like I'll have to cut off the patches and trim them. Then fit them so the gaps are right and tack weld them in place. Then remove them and finish welding them.

[goatless]

At least they left them too big! Easier to cut them down, than to have to add material in.

[Frank R]

Hey goalless how's things? I Haven't seen you around in a few years.