Ecklers Fiberglass Quality

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Jul 5, 2007 | 12:04 PM

bj1k

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 5,814

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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.

Ecklers Fiberglass Quality

Has anyone had any experience with ecklers hand laid inner fender wells for a 68 corvette as to the quality and the fit. My car is not original so I'm not looking to pay $350. just for the smooth finish of press molded, I'm more concerned with fit. Any advice on a good company to contact ? Thanks

Jul 5, 2007 | 12:33 PM

SIXFOOTER

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 9,192

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From: Boca Raton Florida

I have their front bumper cover, seems to be pretty good stuff

Jul 5, 2007 | 12:41 PM

bj1k

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 5,814

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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.

Hand laid or press molded?

Hand laid or press molded? I was wondering if there is a difference in the fit.

Jul 5, 2007 | 12:57 PM

big_G

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 5,752

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From: Austin Texas

Press-molded will have a better fit. The thickness of hand-laid 'glass will vary. If you don't mind the extra grinding on the thick areas, hand-laid will work.

Jul 5, 2007 | 03:06 PM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Fill out your profile. Based on your location, pick an aftermarket provider closest to you. All of them carry fender skirts. You can usually trust the quality of Eckler's fiberglass.

Jul 5, 2007 | 10:43 PM

parkerracing

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 4,206

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From: Belmar NJ

I didn't think Eckler's actually made their fiberglass pieces anymore. Didn't they sell all the molds to Vannacor's and are just marketing the pieces?

Jul 6, 2007 | 12:45 AM

Rhino68

Racer

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 263

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From what a body shop told me, they trust the fit of Eckler's fiberglass to be much better than most. They told me that when they have bought fiberglass from other sources, it has never had the same quality fit as the Eckler's stuff.

Jul 6, 2007 | 01:26 PM

bj1k

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 5,814

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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkerracing

I didn't think Eckler's actually made their fiberglass pieces anymore. Didn't they sell all the molds to Vannacor's and are just marketing the pieces?

Corvette America is still selling some fiberglass under the Eckler's name.

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Jul 6, 2007 | 02:28 PM

TheSkunkWorks

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 2007

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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray

I've purchased several pieces of Eckler's 'glass over the years, and have been satisfied every time. If the quality is still what it used to be, you'll be satisfied too.

Jul 6, 2007 | 03:16 PM

#10

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkerracing

I didn't think Eckler's actually made their fiberglass pieces anymore. Didn't they sell all the molds to Vannacor's and are just marketing the pieces?

Nope. I called them. Ralph Eckler continues to make his own fiberglass, some of it from original GM molds he purchased from the General. Sales rep also said they are putting up a new building and will soon double the size of their existing fiberglass molding operation.

Jul 6, 2007 | 05:03 PM

#11

spedaleden

Safety Car

Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Mundelein Illinois

I have ther front fiberglass bumper on my car. I think there quality is very good.

Jul 6, 2007 | 08:26 PM

#12

SuprJames

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 2,231

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From: Fort Pierce Florida

I'm using their L-88 Long Hood on my '72, and the guys doing my bodywork were impressed with the fit. Still had to massage it to get it perfect, but closer then most of the aftermarket hoods I've seen.

Jul 6, 2007 | 11:54 PM

#13

parkerracing

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Belmar NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Mike

OK, help me out with some history here. Ralph sold the company in the 90's and it has had several owners since. Are you saying he bought it back? When?

Jul 7, 2007 | 10:05 AM

#14

vettfixr

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 1999

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From: Sewell NJ

I got an L88 hood for my 74 and it fit just about perfect right out of the box. The only blemish it had were a few small areas where it didn't separate from the hold properly but it came with the body filler already applied. All it required was a little surfacing in those areas and it was ready to shoot. Good money spent in my book since I've heard horror stories from other manufacturers. YMMV.

Jul 7, 2007 | 10:32 AM

#15

Bullshark

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2003

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From: St. Charles Mo

CI 5 & 8 Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Mike

Mike, when did you last talk to them? I guess it was about 3-4 years ago, I was down in the area for company business and stopped by to see them. I was really surprised how things went down hill from the last time I was there. That new building they had built was sitting vacant and at that time they weren't doing any fiberglass fab. Not there anyway, I asked about that and they said they sold thier molds and were using Corvette Image as thier primary supplier. I guess they are trying to make a comeback.

Bullshark

Jul 7, 2007 | 10:35 AM

#16

big_G

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 2005

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From: Austin Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkerracing

OK, help me out with some history here. Ralph sold the company in the 90's and it has had several owners since. Are you saying he bought it back? When?

I believe he has since retired. Yes, the company has been sold a few times since Ralph was in charge. Too bad. There are some really good Google links on the history of Ecklers and their involvement in the Corvette community.

Apr 11, 2015 | 02:38 PM

#17

SC-Vette

5th Gear

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

I just received Eckler's fiberglass rear 80-82 style spoiler bumper for my 77, and it is very poor quality. It has nicks on along the top edge of the spoiler as well as the mating edges to the rear of the car. Also has large voids where the split between the bumper and the spoiler is joined. I hate to bondo the edge nicks, as thy are likely to pop out later.

I have emailed Ecklers, but no response ...

Any suggestions on better quality fiberglass?

The fiberglass front bumper is on back order.

Apr 11, 2015 | 03:12 PM

#18

The13Bats

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 11,608

Likes: 778

From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl

It's alive...old thread but sorry to hear of the problems, I would try calling them on it, perhaps a rebate in price would be better than a refund...
Ecklers has always been top shelf on their stuff, even if counter service suffered when Ralph sold and left,
Most, not sure if all of their fiberglass is farmed out, great fellow doing it....
Ecklers links to them on their site...but here you go...

https://www.americansportscar.com/

BTW...don't "bondo" the edges fix it right....

Apr 12, 2015 | 07:54 AM

#19

Sluefoot

Racer

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 374

Likes: 42

From: Coldwater Mi

I'm NOT impressed with Eckler's.....I've tried getting a quote from them for all the grommets I need....I sent them the p/n's from the Corvette Assembly Manual, & they said I'd have to use THEIR numbers, cuz they couldn't cross-reference them......I didn't have the same problem with Corvette Central. I told Eckler's that their site for grommets is really VAGUE..it does NOT specify EXACTLY what the grommets are for.
I can't get a reply from WILLCOX, either...have asked TWICE, & got a similar response "Can't you find these parts on our site?".....NO I can't!!
If neither Eckler's nor Willcox can't be any more helpful, then I'm not going to them for anything in the future....
Haven't gotten a reply from Chicago Corvette, either....???????