60 front end replacement
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
60 front end replacement
We are looking to replace the front end on a 60. I've looked at both the hand laminated and press molded front ends from ecklers and i've looked at the one produced by Back to the Future products.
Which do you guys have experience with?
Which fits best and has the overall better quality?
Are there any other brands to consider i haven't mentioned?
Thanks
Which do you guys have experience with?
Which fits best and has the overall better quality?
Are there any other brands to consider i haven't mentioned?
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
I agree with Mike. Press-molded front clips will always fit better, and cost more. I use press-molded parts even on resto-mods.
You can save some money on hand-laid parts, but the labor will be more, and any buyer in the future, with any knowledge, will discount the price of the car for using hand-laid parts. There are only two companies making parts that appear like original press-molded parts, Semerschiems, and Corvette Image. Neither of them actually makes press-molded parts, as the original press-molded parts were actually made by two, metal, steam-heated dies, pressing the resin and mat, while it cured. The current parts being sold are actually made from a 2 piece mold, that leaves a finished appearance on both sides of the part, and controls the thickness of the part. The backside of these parts look very similar to original parts, while hand-laid parts can be instantly identified by look at the backside.
In my opinion, the hand-laid parts are not a good value, even at the reduced price.
Regards, John McGraw
You can save some money on hand-laid parts, but the labor will be more, and any buyer in the future, with any knowledge, will discount the price of the car for using hand-laid parts. There are only two companies making parts that appear like original press-molded parts, Semerschiems, and Corvette Image. Neither of them actually makes press-molded parts, as the original press-molded parts were actually made by two, metal, steam-heated dies, pressing the resin and mat, while it cured. The current parts being sold are actually made from a 2 piece mold, that leaves a finished appearance on both sides of the part, and controls the thickness of the part. The backside of these parts look very similar to original parts, while hand-laid parts can be instantly identified by look at the backside.
In my opinion, the hand-laid parts are not a good value, even at the reduced price.
Regards, John McGraw
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info. I appreciate the input.
Maybe i should have explained a little better, but tell me if this would influence your decision at all.
We do not care about originality of the car. The client is customizing the car, so as far as originality, we are not even remotely concerned. We intend on doing any bodywork necessary to make the car perfect, and considering that, would you still only go press molded where it doesn't matter if the underside is smooth?
Are the press molded parts SMC or just press molded normal fiberglass? Not really interested in using SMC due to the impregnated release agents in the fiberglass.
Any thoughts?
Maybe i should have explained a little better, but tell me if this would influence your decision at all.
We do not care about originality of the car. The client is customizing the car, so as far as originality, we are not even remotely concerned. We intend on doing any bodywork necessary to make the car perfect, and considering that, would you still only go press molded where it doesn't matter if the underside is smooth?
Are the press molded parts SMC or just press molded normal fiberglass? Not really interested in using SMC due to the impregnated release agents in the fiberglass.
Any thoughts?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
Thanks for the info. I appreciate the input.
Maybe i should have explained a little better, but tell me if this would influence your decision at all.
We do not care about originality of the car. The client is customizing the car, so as far as originality, we are not even remotely concerned. We intend on doing any bodywork necessary to make the car perfect, and considering that, would you still only go press molded where it doesn't matter if the underside is smooth?
Are the press molded parts SMC or just press molded normal fiberglass? Not really interested in using SMC due to the impregnated release agents in the fiberglass.
Any thoughts?
Maybe i should have explained a little better, but tell me if this would influence your decision at all.
We do not care about originality of the car. The client is customizing the car, so as far as originality, we are not even remotely concerned. We intend on doing any bodywork necessary to make the car perfect, and considering that, would you still only go press molded where it doesn't matter if the underside is smooth?
Are the press molded parts SMC or just press molded normal fiberglass? Not really interested in using SMC due to the impregnated release agents in the fiberglass.
Any thoughts?
The parts are fiberglass and not SMC. There are really not any press-molded parts being made these days. They have not made any for 40 years. All of the parts are molded, the "press-molded" ones are just done in a two-sided mold. The fit of the "press-molded" parts is just enough better, in my opinion, to justify using them. you can make any part fit with enough labor, but Semerschiems, and Corvette Image parts will fit better than the hand-laid parts available. You are also probably comparing apples and oranges when you compare the two options. The hand-laid front clip will most likely only be the outer glass and will not include the inner fenders. You will still have to purchase inner fenders and grind and fit them to the hand-laid clip. The jig-assembled front clips from Semerschiems and Corvette image will be ready to install on the car, with minimum work.
I think that most buyers will discount the value of the car at a future sale, because of the hand-laid glass, I know I would.
Regards, John McGraw
Last edited by John McGraw; Oct 11, 2012 at 02:24 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 1,291
From: minneola fl
Reminds me of the sign in many shops:
CHEAP
FAST
GOOD
Pick any two!
CHEAP
FAST
GOOD
Pick any two!
Back to the OP.....I agree with John. Unless you're getting labor for free, you'll be money ahead by using the "smooth both sides" parts. You, or your bodyshop will save a ton of time. I also agree with John that you'll be discounting the value of the car if you use a hand laid part.
Mike Coletta
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
After watching Mike tackle massive body makeovers for his restomods I can't imagine it makes ANY sense to 'cheap out' on sub-par body parts. I'm no body guy but its false economy...every dime you save on the part you are going to give back (in spades) on labor and STILL might wind up with a mess.
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Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
ok thanks,
I am building the car for a customer and will be doing the body and paint. We do extensive customs so either way should't be a problem. But we're not using the factory inner fenders and are going to coat the underside of the body anyway so most of the typical things people worry about (original seams, colors, smooth underside, etc.) are not important. I'm not that concerned about gaps as much because i can fix those easily. i'm more worried about bigger issues that you can't see in a part til it's bolted up- sway in the part, hood opening size, dimensions being proper, grille openings etc, droops in fenders. Basically all the things that aren't exactly visible when the piece is sitting on the ground. Only when you bolt it up you see that the things that need fixing are very hard or impossible to fix without cutting or major glass work.
I am building the car for a customer and will be doing the body and paint. We do extensive customs so either way should't be a problem. But we're not using the factory inner fenders and are going to coat the underside of the body anyway so most of the typical things people worry about (original seams, colors, smooth underside, etc.) are not important. I'm not that concerned about gaps as much because i can fix those easily. i'm more worried about bigger issues that you can't see in a part til it's bolted up- sway in the part, hood opening size, dimensions being proper, grille openings etc, droops in fenders. Basically all the things that aren't exactly visible when the piece is sitting on the ground. Only when you bolt it up you see that the things that need fixing are very hard or impossible to fix without cutting or major glass work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 33
From: ct
I put a Corvette Image one piece hand laid nose on my 62. I never had a nose fit so perfect. It literally dropped in place.
I've installed many press molded nose's from CI and Semerschiems over the years and agree the press molded are nicer parts but some cars don't need them.
I use CI parts all the time and have never had any problems. Now not long ago a good friend that dose just restorations and has hung more midyears body parts than most, put a Semerschiems nose on a 67 and it was so poor he called me to come look at it. Maybe someone had a bad day or the fixtures are getting old but that nose was a POS.
Try a CI one piece.
I've installed many press molded nose's from CI and Semerschiems over the years and agree the press molded are nicer parts but some cars don't need them.
I use CI parts all the time and have never had any problems. Now not long ago a good friend that dose just restorations and has hung more midyears body parts than most, put a Semerschiems nose on a 67 and it was so poor he called me to come look at it. Maybe someone had a bad day or the fixtures are getting old but that nose was a POS.
Try a CI one piece.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
well, i used an Ecklers (back from when they were doing their own) hand laid frontend and i would admit that it had some problems, but the price was right and my labor was free... you be the judge.. 
btw, handlaid pieces are usually thicker and therefore have better strength
Bill
btw, handlaid pieces are usually thicker and therefore have better strength
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; May 24, 2013 at 08:40 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 95
From: Brisbane Queensland
Does some one have photos of the hand laid and pm panel undersides? How uniform are the hand laids parts? What makes them so easily identifiable ... is the resin content too high, is it just the color of the panels, is too rough???
Last edited by mickatbp; May 23, 2014 at 05:55 PM.