[thunder05]

Ok Folks...I know this has been asked before...But I gotta find out the full story..I'm laying too much money out to be wasted.

Mustangs unlimited offers of course, 2 of most things Original tool and repro.
The cost difference is huge..not even close...Is it really worth it???

Ex:
My 67 fenders Repro 160.00
http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy01.asp?T1=67005+01&Category=Body&subCategory=&CatKey=EMUSTANG

My 67 fender original tool 375.00
http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy01.asp?T1=F1737+01&Category=Body&subCategory=&CatKey=EMUSTANG


I'd like to know why ...Is it worth more than double...are the repros that bad?? I don't want to buy junk..but I don't want to waste money buying a part thats really no better or even the same..I have no problem with generic perscriptions..lol
Is there a real problem with perfect fit for the repros? I mean it's still a full fender not a shell...Please help...This is going to be a huge factor in time and expense.
I know many of you have faced the same issues and I'd like to know your experiences..What did you buy?..Did you have problems?..Would you change you decision if you had the chance again??

The price difference means the difference between getting a repo full fender and a full repro quarter or getting only one original tool fender at a time.

Thanks for your patience and help in advance.

 

[dodgestang]

There is repros on our 65 coupe. Fit is terrible.
When the FB was wrecked I bought a parts car so I wouldn't have to repro...I ended up needing to source a new driver side fender anyway..bought an original tooling...fit was perfect.

IMO...worth it? It sure was on my 65.

There is nothing worst then when the peaks don't line up from fender to the door to the rear quarter making a nice clean line.

 

[skelwyth]

I bought 2 repro fenders for my 67. I primed them and went to install the light housing and they were so far off I couldn't use them. So I ended up beating the original ones into shape and managed to reuse them. The company I bought the fenders from wouldn't take them back as I had primed them. So I have 2 front fenders in my garage in southern california if you want them. I cannot believe anyone would sell them, they are welded in the wrong places. Unbelievable.

 

[thunder05]

IMO...worth it? It sure was on my 65.

There is nothing worst then when the peaks don't line up from fender to the door to the rear quarter making a nice clean line.

Thanks for your experience.
Lines are a concern for me now...One of my rear quarters was already replaced and the metals fine...But the line with the door is off bad and I'm wanting to replace it too.
I gotta take some pics now that it's here at home and clean and Before I rip it apart..But anyway...You can see the line at the door being off with this replaced quarter...I wondered if it were because of repro.

 

[thunder05]

I bought 2 repro fenders for my 67. I primed them and went to install the light housing and they were so far off I couldn't use them. So I ended up beating the original ones into shape and managed to reuse them. The company I bought the fenders from wouldn't take them back as I had primed them. So I have 2 front fenders in my garage in southern california if you want them. I cannot believe anyone would sell them, they are welded in the wrong places. Unbelievable.

Agghh....Horrible...That's my concern...I'll end up buying my parts..have them sit around awhile until time to install..only to have them not fit when I'm ready.
Sad story...Thanks for sharing it though.

We have 2 don't buy Repro....Any one else wanna chime in either way?

 

[dodgestang]

Guess which side has an original fender and which one has a Ford Tooling fender

I'll make it easy on you though:
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/07.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/06.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/08.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/primer1.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/primer4.jpg

 

[thunder05]

Guess which side has an original fender and which one has a Ford Tooling fender

http://www.dodgestang.com/cf5/cf-4.jpg

http://www.dodgestang.com/cf5/cf-6.jpg


I'll make it easy on you though:
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/07.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/06.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/08.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/primer1.jpg
http://www.dodgestang.com/crash/repairs/primer4.jpg

Nice pics...Ahhh...I Love fastbacks Nice job...If I were talking about one fender on a great car it would be no question...I decided to go with a fender and both quarters because of that line..The other quarter is pictured below and that same side fender has bondo up by the bumper.

 

[Guest]

I do wanna note that the line could be off on your driver's side simply because your door needs readjusted. They tend to sag after so many years. After a proper realignment, it may not be as bad as you think.

Also, for the love of God, PLEASE go with Ford original tooling. I bought 2 front fenders, a front valance, and a rear valance that were repro's. Well, after MUCH modification done to the fenders, I made them work(but it was a lot of work, not worth it, I shoulda bought the original tooling). And I knew for sure it was the fenders, because I bought original Ford tooling headlight buckets, and man, those ORIGINAL buckets wouldn't work with these crappy repro fenders. So like I said, I did lots of customizing to get it to work. No one can notice when it's fully assembled, but it will always haunt me.

And lets not forget the rear valance. The thing is a half-inch short on both ends!!! It doesn't meet up with my 1/4 panels like they should to create that perfect body seam. So I had to bang the dent out of my original rear valance and strip it's paint and use it instead.

The ONLY repro product I've bought that's worked without a problem is the front valance, which I'm guessing is a fluke.

Please learn from my mistakes, PLEASE!!!

 

[thunder05]

I do wanna note that the line could be off on your driver's side simply because your door needs readjusted. They tend to sag after so many years. After a proper realignment, it may not be as bad as you think.

Also, for the love of God, PLEASE go with Ford original tooling. I bought 2 front fenders, a front valance, and a rear valance that were repro's. Well, after MUCH modification done to the fenders, I made them work(but it was a lot of work, not worth it, I shoulda bought the original tooling). And I knew for sure it was the fenders, because I bought original Ford tooling headlight buckets, and man, those ORIGINAL buckets wouldn't work with these crappy repro fenders. So like I said, I did lots of customizing to get it to work. No one can notice when it's fully assembled, but it will always haunt me.

And lets not forget the rear valance. The thing is a half-inch short on both ends!!! It doesn't meet up with my 1/4 panels like they should to create that perfect body seam. So I had to bang the dent out of my original rear valance and strip it's paint and use it instead.

The ONLY repro product I've bought that's worked without a problem is the front valance, which I'm guessing is a fluke.

Please learn from my mistakes, PLEASE!!!

Since I had made that post about the quarter..I've cleaned and and started stripping the car and did a much closer inspection, you are correct about the door...Although it closes properly...You can see a difference in the gap at the top front of the door..meaning that the door sags and contibutes to the line difference with the quarter on that side.
Thanks for the input ..it was dead on.

I'm deffinetly going to get original tool parts mostly...My problem now is deciding how far to go replaceing and not filling...I really didn't want to fill much..and just wanted to replace it...I'm starting to wonder now though.

I just read the thread on your rear valance today while researching old postes...It's a shame.

 

[Guest]

I'd say replace as much as possible(within reason, I mean obviously don't replace something that is perfectly fine). You want as little filling as possible. I would go as far as to say even if it takes you longer to build the car because you have to make the extra money for the originally tooled panels, it is worth the wait. I've almost had my Mustang for 4 years and it's still not finished(though I could have shaved 2 of those years off had bodymen actually been competent people). Believe me man, you'll be much happier looking at a perfect car after 4 years of work, than a somewhat ok car after 2. You don't wanna sit there and look at it going, "Wow, that panel is a little off. Those seems don't meet up. Those aren't flush." You want to finish the car, step back, and just go, "Wow, that was worth every minute of waiting."

Don't end up like me. I've wasted 2 years being jerked around by different bodymen. So I decided to let a friend do it, who is quite good with filler and sanding, but doesn't know the first thing about metalwork. So my car is not even done, and I already know I'm gonna have to take it to another bodyshop to have them fix his metalworking mistakes. The man owns a grinder, but apparently has no idea how to use it, because he didn't grind any of his welds. You look in my engine bay and you can see all the patches he put in. It's like, "YOU IDIOT! If we can see them, what makes you think everyone else won't?" Urgh, you can't trust bodymen, seriously dude, I don't care how nice they are. I'll step down from my soapbox now.

 

[thunder05]

I'd say replace as much as possible(within reason, I mean obviously don't replace something that is perfectly fine). You want as little filling as possible. I would go as far as to say even if it takes you longer to build the car because you have to make the extra money for the originally tooled panels, it is worth the wait. I've almost had my Mustang for 4 years and it's still not finished(though I could have shaved 2 of those years off had bodymen actually been competent people). Believe me man, you'll be much happier looking at a perfect car after 4 years of work, than a somewhat ok car after 2. You don't wanna sit there and look at it going, "Wow, that panel is a little off. Those seems don't meet up. Those aren't flush." You want to finish the car, step back, and just go, "Wow, that was worth every minute of waiting."

Don't end up like me. I've wasted 2 years being jerked around by different bodymen. So I decided to let a friend do it, who is quite good with filler and sanding, but doesn't know the first thing about metalwork. So my car is not even done, and I already know I'm gonna have to take it to another bodyshop to have them fix his metalworking mistakes. The man owns a grinder, but apparently has no idea how to use it, because he didn't grind any of his welds. You look in my engine bay and you can see all the patches he put in. It's like, "YOU IDIOT! If we can see them, what makes you think everyone else won't?" Urgh, you can't trust bodymen, seriously dude, I don't care how nice they are. I'll step down from my soapbox now.

LOL...I hear ya man.