I need some replacement body pieces. Should I get new factory, used, or aftermarket?

I need a front bumper cover, headlight montng bracket, and both front fenders...

If I got aftermarket, any recommendations? I've heard aftermarket body panels usually require modifications to fit properly and that's not something I want to attempt.


Edit: car is a '91 Camaro RS

 

I would go used, I have never heard of a used piece not fitting right unless it was previously damaged now as I type this I'm sure there will be tons of replys saying "I bought a used fender from a junk yard and it didn't fit right", however even if one person chimes in with junk yard parts not fitting there is probably 100 stories of aftermarket parts not fitting correctly for everyone of these stories.

On top of that depending on what you are looking for the parts are probably cheaper in a junk yard

Also I have read a few people who have bought aftermarket fenders that didn't fit right and they send it back and get another that fits great, so it really is hard saying. Just keep in mind the newest of the 3rd gens is almost 19 years old and that is a lot of driving and flexing throughout the years, so your mounting points may not be as true as they used to be either. Good luck and whatever you do please post your results so others can hear about them.

 

+1

Check your local Junkyards before deciding to buy anything, They will always be cheaper by a mile and you will save alot if so. I know our parts are a bit pricey but jesus, over here fender's costs $30 or $36 with taxes, bumpers are $42 or $48 with taxes. Downside is for me I have to drive about 45 mins to junkyards that might have some third gens but the thing is by the time I get there they are always already picked and the good stuff is gone but yea check your local junkyards first, hell even look at farther ones and call to see what they have. Some keep track of their inventory and some don't. You might even get lucky like my neighbor and find a stock cd player and bought it for $24. I am hoping to find a 145mph cluster or decent dashpad hopefully from my junkyard trips I make every weekend nothing so far in over 4 months. :P

As for Aftermarket, with my budget I had to resort to a aftermarket passenger side fender and it went pretty good and got a good deal too. Ebay seller ''Carpartswholesale'' had a free shipping deal and it only came out to $65. It had some minior problems but most were fixed once you got it on and was fixed in less than 15 minutes. That aside one good experience does not make up for countless bad ones. For example my front bumper was replaced by a previous owner with a aftermarket/replacement fender from some company named ''Autoalign'' if I recall and it has alot of problems that I had to fix.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely start my search at the junk yards.

For the pieces I'm looking for, are they're any are there any years/models that AREN'T compatible? Can I just get fenders, bumper cover, and headlight bracket off any 82-92 Camaro hardtop/convertible/Ttop?

 

Well if I remember right, Convertible fenders bottom side where the side gfx goes is cut more farther up to clear a support frame or something. For previous years from our 91-92, I would think the only difference would be gfx holes.

As for the bumper cover, of course earlier Camaros had diff style with the non gfx bumper. I would think the only difference would be in the chin spoiler itself for the later years.

I could be wrong though.

 

as was stated all 82-92 fenders are the same as for bumper covers 85-92 will be the same except for 85-87 sport couple, berlinetta LT, but every bumper cover from 88-92 will be the same, but I am unsure of 82-84 Z28 bumper covers. For the headlight mounting bracket I am unsure of this but I have seen 82 camaros look like 92 camaros with people saying all they did was change body panels so I would assume that the mounting bracket would be the same for all years no matter what body style but hopefully someone chimes in with some info about this.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it the insight! I'll do some checking around this weekend with the local junk yards and see what I come up with.

 

You gotta check around.

I just got lucky and picked up a good pull, Good pair of hood louvers with mounting hardware and only 1 stud broken on each for $8 each and someone even went to the trouble to leave them for me in the back seat! They also had a 91 RS that I might go back, they already priced the things I was interested in, they want $100 for the original wheels which looked in ok shape and wanted $35 for the passenger side GFX set.

You gotta love junkyards, if you get lucky you can make a quick buck buying em for cheap and reselling em here, funny thing is they even have half price days!