[Formulabruce]

These tail filler panel repos will need some work to fit. The middle two holes do not line up, and the mounting studs are loose carriage bolts in a plastic capture. Its a bit too long, and well, it needs some bending too. This does "bend" here are some pics.

[The Boss]

Typical parts place POS.

[bird72]

I would rather mend an old one, which usually on a decent one isn't hard..... that thing doesn't look worth 5 bucks!

[7072PMD]

shave the top lip to conform to the steel tail panel??

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Typical parts place POS.

That just pisses me off. Some off the stuff he makes is good but a lot of the stuff just doesn't fit or look right. I will say that the stuff that has been coming out lately has been a lot better. I hope they continue to improve there parts because most of the people now that repo stuff are doing a good job.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 7072PMD

shave the top lip to conform to the steel tail panel??

Yes, the top lip would have to be sanded, radius, To get thin in the middle for the rear body contour, by hand most likely , siting next to car for quick test fits. Then the length trimmed and finished. Add the bottom bumper stand off ( glue on a piece of plastic?) and somehow make these loose captive carriage bolts line up with the middle holes. The holes in panel are wider than the bolts will go in "straight" .

[7072PMD]

I will need one soon so i guess i also have to buy the ABS plastic one like this!

[steve v]

That does fit like s**t!
Just curious if you have test fit the deck lid and spoiler also to see how it lines up with the plastic panel?

[Formulabruce]

TcI will use an original to compare to and keep sanding and testing in order to get the fit. Then There Is The Wobbly Carriage Bolts THAT DONT Line Up IN The Middle Two mounts. I think the DS is off. You can make the bolts go sideways some but .... the bolts are in a "ABS" tent and move all around. The nuts it comes with must come off to attempt install. I'm going to make a video and show you all soon. My Internet cable literally melted off my house tonight. Burned my fingers when I touched it. Video soon.

[SD455DJ]

Yeah, I bought one too and it is a POS! It looks like the plastic they use to make my kids Big Wheels from. I'm sure we'll be repairing the original cracked one.

Dennis

[72projectbird]

I have one on my car. My original was broken multiple times over the years, someone even rebuilt it with sheet metal and rivets.

The repo doesn't fit great, but I wasn't shocked by that. It does its job if you don't have a nice original. The letter mounting holes in the repo part didn't line up that great on mine. I drilled them out bigger and that allowed me to tweak the lettering so it was straight.

You also have to cut out the area for the license plate light. If you don't have an original to go off of it can be difficult, but I'm sure anyone on this forum can figure it out. I used a dremel to slice it up.

One thing that I liked was that it was pretty straight. I used very little filler to make it perfect. I don't know if that's how they all are but mine seemed ok.

[Scarebird]

It depends how finicky you are. Is it as good as a cherry OEM piece?

No, but as 72 pointed out if you do not have an OEM piece it will work. My body guy is very picky and would not touch it, so I found an OEM piece, and another, and another... and used another bodyman who does good work and is not so damn fussy.

People forget that tooling up for this stuff is expensive, hindering new products. Perhaps 3D printing would make a good way to manufacture this kind of thing.

[dadsformula]

Scarebird, I agree that tooling is very expensive, But that's no excuse for using
poor quality materials pored into the molds. They could just as easily at the same
tooling cost have made the part both with a thicker plastic and a better quality
plastic. What always gets me is how the drive for the highest profit level often
forgets that a crap part will sell much worse than a good one. If this panel had
a reputation as high quality and a good recommended replacement for OEM, they
would sell a lot more, even at a higher price. Look at the Quarter Skins. Everyone
avoids them because of the poor quality. It cost the same to produce a crap part
as it does a good one. Even if they had to run several prototypes, the end product
would sell at a much higher rate than a poor one. On the flip side, The Pontiac
chrome valve covers, and some other reproductions sell great, because they are of
good quality. If they make them Better we will buy them!

[The Boss]

Have we confirmed they actually produce this part? Does it say Parts Place on the back?

[Scarebird]

dadsformula - concur, but glad something is out

boss- yes, "parts Place" molded into back

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Have we confirmed they actually produce this part? Does it say Parts Place on the back?

Yes Sir, its Melted into the plastic,"PARTS PLACE" however we got it from Ames.. It looks like my buddy wants to return it ~vs~ me having a "session" with it at the back side of one of my cars.

[dadsformula]

I know what you mean Scarebird. I barked about those Quarter Skins, but they
were the only game in town, and I was happy they were around.

[72projectbird]

Yup mine says Parts Place melted on the backside.

[The Boss]

What's the going rate these days on a nice original?

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by The Boss

What's the going rate these days on a nice original?

250+ Very well insured shipping usually with strapping in the box.