Repro parts rant!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Central llinois
Repro parts rant!
I just finished up redoing most of my interior. I have been putting off installing the new pillar post and header molding, as I had a feeling it was not going to be a quick install. I started working with the pieces at about 10:00AM this morning and finally had to walk away at 1:00Pm. These are the most pathetic pieces of crap I have ever worked with. I am not new to having to make things work. I know that every repro part is not going to fit each car perfectly. That is why I set aside my whole saturday morning to work on this. After 3 hours of tweaking and bending to try to get the gaps on the pillar posts under an inch, I finally drilled the holes to mount them. I apparently made a stupid assumption that drilling in the center of the pre-formed indents would get me somewhere in the ballpark of where the screws needed to be. Not even flippen close. I think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 dollars for this pile of crap and now I am actually considering putting the old cracked up GM stuff back on. Sometimes I just don't get how these guys get away with selling such junk....ok I'm done now
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi RAR,
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 19
From: Canboro Ontario
Hi RAR,
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
exactly right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,732
Likes: 1,906
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I just finished up redoing most of my interior. I have been putting off installing the new pillar post and header molding, as I had a feeling it was not going to be a quick install. I started working with the pieces at about 10:00AM this morning and finally had to walk away at 1:00Pm. These are the most pathetic pieces of crap I have ever worked with. I am not new to having to make things work. I know that every repro part is not going to fit each car perfectly. That is why I set aside my whole saturday morning to work on this. After 3 hours of tweaking and bending to try to get the gaps on the pillar posts under an inch, I finally drilled the holes to mount them. I apparently made a stupid assumption that drilling in the center of the pre-formed indents would get me somewhere in the ballpark of where the screws needed to be. Not even flippen close. I think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 dollars for this pile of crap and now I am actually considering putting the old cracked up GM stuff back on. Sometimes I just don't get how these guys get away with selling such junk....ok I'm done now
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Central llinois
Hi RAR,
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
I believe that until EVERY poor reproduction part is returned instead of being made to work, put under the workbench, or screwed up to the point of being useless, manufacturers will continue to sell some pretty bad parts.
I bought a driver's side a-pillar trim piece. The cut-out for the vin tag was so far off that one of the rivets was completely hidden while the other was completly exposed. I bought a used one at Carlisle convincing myself it was better than mine. It wasn't. I ended up repairing the vinyl at the top and using the original. I THINK interior parts are the worse.
This makes you feel a LOT better .... right?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Central llinois
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I plan on contacting both the wholesaler and Corvette America about them
I saw a video the other day of them making seat covers and door panels...hold them accountable if its thier stuff
Almost makes me just want to spend money on go fast parts!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
I do agree with you on this. The problem is that I started collecting parts for the interior almost a year ago, so I've been sitting on these for a long time. That paired with the fact that they're "damaged" or "installed" now will probably make it a real battle to return, and the fact is I don't think I can find anything better available. So I feel kind of stuck with these or my really beat old pieces until I can try to find some good gm pieces.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
American 'vendors' merely sell the stuff...they don't make it or even provide specs for any of it. Those cr@p parts continue to be made because buyers continue to buy that garbage. I realize you can't know it's "garbage" when you purchase it. But, with the UN-quality of present day parts, everyone should check out parts when they receive them to see if they even have any chance of fitting/operating properly. And they should complain LOUDLY 
when they receive junk.
Because of this very issue, I will not buy new interior components. There are plenty of used ones that just need cleaning/recoloring to refurbish. And, guess what, they fit!!
when they receive junk.Because of this very issue, I will not buy new interior components. There are plenty of used ones that just need cleaning/recoloring to refurbish. And, guess what, they fit!!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Fresh Meadows New York
today was suppose to be a easy day..install the drivers side carpet...install the heater a/c contol then the console and then the easy parking brake console.... the carpet wasnt so bad if not for the sound deadening and reflextic the kick panel would have been easy... the console still needs some tweaking... the parking brake console was a pita... thought it was gonna fit right on and 4 screws and finished.. i finally had to take the back reinforcement off for it to fit the lower screws and i still had to sit on it and the screws caught but not straight going in... its in there tight so the back screw is not caught... it really was a piece of junk.. corvette america product...long day of frustration... when ripping this stuff out you can only think it will reinstall easy... im never gonna do this again.. im just gonna finish and never think back.... the best of the parts was the ac heater reface kit..was easy and it lloks fantastic...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
today was suppose to be a easy day..install the drivers side carpet...install the heater a/c contol then the console and then the easy parking brake console.... the carpet wasnt so bad if not for the sound deadening and reflextic the kick panel would have been easy... the console still needs some tweaking... the parking brake console was a pita... thought it was gonna fit right on and 4 screws and finished.. i finally had to take the back reinforcement off for it to fit the lower screws and i still had to sit on it and the screws caught but not straight going in... its in there tight so the back screw is not caught... it really was a piece of junk.. corvette america product...long day of frustration... when ripping this stuff out you can only think it will reinstall easy... im never gonna do this again.. im just gonna finish and never think back.... the best of the parts was the ac heater reface kit..was easy and it lloks fantastic...
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 4, 2010 at 07:40 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,669
Likes: 3,123
From: Shamong, NJ
The soft, flexible covers are being made by EC products. The idea behind the softer material was that they were less likely to crack, a common problem with OEM ones. Keen recently started making a very nice, harder plastic one, and it doesn't have the sink holes found in the top of the EC one, either.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 10
From: Cleves Ohio
The soft, flexible covers are being made by EC products. The idea behind the softer material was that they were less likely to crack, a common problem with OEM ones. Keen recently started making a very nice, harder plastic one, and it doesn't have the sink holes found in the top of the EC one, either.
Kevin
www.KeenParts.com
800-757-5336
Keen Parts Blog