69 Wheel well mouldings discontinued

[fiveforty]

Tried to get a pair of front ones today through GM. No more. If you need any get them now. I bet these things will be $1000 a set in no time. I still need an NOS right rear if anybody knows where I can get one.

[1968RSZ28]

Hi Leo -

   You're right.  Heartbeat City has a complete set for a "Buy it Now" price of only $695.00!  Check it out at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1969-Camaro-Wheel-Well-Moldings-4-Original-GM_W0QQitemZ230089106929QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10076QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Good luck!  

Paul

[cfar]

Its called supply and demand 
That is why our original cars are worth so much
save all those oe parts you remove

[MMMM_ERT]

Aren't these parts reproduced by some company?  if not now, they will be soon.  I can't see them just not making them anymore forever.

[RamAirDave]

They are being reproduced, but they're junk.

[A Schab]

I saw an new repo set made by goodmark this weekend,they looked a lot better than the corvex junk.The rears even had the notches in them like OE,the vendor said he had test fit them and was very happy with them.Andy.

[Jerry@CHP]

Someone will have to talk to Rick George about doing these.  He's making the high quality lower rocker moldings which are actually nicer than the original GMs.  I will say something to him, but many have to chime in to get it done.

Now all we need are some nice friggin' weather stripping for these cars.

Jerry 

[sdkar]

I did try a set of repro wheel well mldgs and they were not even close. The fit was horrible.  Not even remotely close to the contour needed.  How is it that 38 year old technology produced better parts than we can get repro now?  I got a set for my last Camaro just before they were discontinued.  If anyone has used the newer repros themselves and can verify that they actually fit close to OE than please let me know.  I need one more set for another car.

Steve

[RamAirDave]

Someone will have to talk to Rick George about doing these.  He's making the high quality lower rocker moldings which are actually nicer than the original GMs.

Interesting that you say that, Jerry.  I have been pleased with most CHQ products, but the rocker moldings, I was not.

I guess I was used to the GM pieces, in which you could give them a simple "pop" with the palm of your hand to get them to clip over the mounting bracket.  Do that with the repos, and they dent very easily.  Tried being delicate with them, but wouldnt fit over the bracket.

Live and learn, I guess..

[Jerry@CHP]

There are actually two versions of the W/O moldings that Rick's sells.  I suspect you had the cheaper versions.  The ones we are using are right on the money.  We have installed them on many cars without issue, and they snap right on.

Jerry 

[jerry1313]

i'm a pack rat and have a bunch of 69' parts from my 69 rs/ss project car which i sold; still in original GM packaging
#3953635 (right front wheel moulding?) 3953636 (left front wheel moulding?)
08760697 (right rear wheel moulding?)!!!!
(2) 3904540 (side mouldings)
drop me an email i you want to buy them. thks

[fiveforty]

Finally got my right rear wheel well molding. Thanks Jerry and CRG. Leo.

[VI009DZ]

How is it that 38 year old technology produced better parts than we can get repro now?

Because 38 years ago, the parts were made by folks who cared, and were made to go on cars heading for the dealership.  Today, they are made by overseas sweatshops that bang out widgets at an amazing rate, but they have no clue what the parts go on, and even less care about whether they fit or not.

[JohnZ]

The original high-volume parts used a combination of stamping and roll-forming tooling, with complex and expensive progressive dies; reproduction manufacturers can't afford that level of investment for the lower volume they'll sell, and use much simpler processes and tooling. The results are predictable.

[rich69rs]

Posting from the 'Old" Forum:  Describes diffeence between front NOS and repro front wheel well molding mounting holes. 

Re: 69 front wheel well molding
Posted By: JohnZ
Date: 23-March-01, 15:38

"Correct GM moldings have six holes for inner fender bolts, two smaller holes at the bottom front for screws into the fender extensions, and extend all the way to the end of the fender opening at both ends. . . . . .JohnZ "