I was lookin' into getting some new body parts (i.e. front spoiler, Z-28 spoiler, and right fender) and I saw a couple of places that were selling fender for like $90 and hoods for like $125. But then if you go to some place like Hawks, you see those are aftermarket prices, then he has the same part, but for like 3 times the cost.

So what's the deal? Why are the aftermarket pieces so much cheaper, and the other ones so friggin' expensive?

 

The cheap ones were most likely made in Taiwan. They won't fit as well but I say vote your pocket book.

 

Actuly its cous places like Hawks order from the cheaper parts place and have to jack up the price to make some money back. its like thirdgen Reources has a new front bumper for 200 and places like www.up22. com have it for 150.

 

A guy I talked to said, that generally they're thinner and not made as well, and that sometimes, the correct holes aren't there; or if they are, they're in the wrong place.

He said he ordered one (hood) after he wrecked his Explorer, and after having it sanded and painted immediatly upon arrival, he started get rust spots in only 6 months.

 

thay way i see it is if you dont like what you get, Send it back. 9 out of 10 places well take them back at no charge.

 

Install one and you'll see why it costs less. The cheap off-shore body parts fit terribly and usually require modification just to fit at all. Then after all that work, within 20 minutes the fender will rust off the car.

 

Yeah, you're better off hitting the junkyards. Even if you can only find body panels with little dings, you're still better off fixing the little dings. Remember that Bondo works great when it's done properly- and by properly, I mean a thin coat- the thinner the better. Put a chunk of Bondo on that's an 1/8th inch thick, and you're asking for trouble.

That's how Bondo got it's bad name. Leading, used before Bondo, also had the same bad reputation. Difference is, for leading, you need to buy tools, like a torch, metal file, lead, etc. But for Bondo, you need a $5 can, a $2 pack of spreaders, and a $3 pack of sandpaper. So the average guy started using Bondo, and using it incorrectly- why bang a dent out when you can just fill it with Bondo, right? Wrong- and that's how plastic filler got the bad reptuation, more people could use it wrong. And even some of the leaders had the same idea- instead of banging the dent out so the panel was close-to-perfect again, they just filled large dents with lead... and sure enough, the lead job would eventually turn to crap. Eastwoodcompany.com still sells leading kits, from $65-$150, without a propane torch. Quite a bit more expensive than Bondo!

To fix ground spoilers, you could use fiberglass. Bevel the crack (open it up so it's V-shaped). Sand the back of the spoiler with low grit paper, lay down some fiberglass resin, stick on a fiberglass mat (for strength), and cover it with more resin. Then use fiberglass on the front.

To fix urethane bumpers, Bondo makes a two-part repair kit. It's basically like epoxy, mix equal parts of it together. Great part is, it dries quickly, and sands very easily. All you have to do is sand the paint off until the bumper's just bare urethane, and push the mixed goop into the hole with a piece of wooden dowel or clothespin or popsicle stick. Wait for it to dry, then sand away. I fixed a few holes in my bumpers with the stuff, and it worked great, couldn't even tell there was a hole. But if your bumper's cracked, you'll need to bevel the crack and apply a mat behind it, then use the urethane 2-part goop on the front.

I spent ~50 (okay, well, actually, 10, I had $40 of gift certificates, haha!) on bodywork tools at Pep Boys- three body hammers, a utility dolly, and a heel dolly. They had a $15 kit but the stuff looked cheap. You could make do with just a utility dolly and standard bodywork hammer for small dents.

More than ya wanted to know, eh?

Oh if you cant find Bondo around ya, here's their website: http://www.bondo-online.com I'm sure other brands work just as well, but I've always used Bondo products.

 

some just want to make a buck. look on ebay, people are selling the stealth ram for $300+ without fuel rails when you can get it at summit for 279