How can you tell OEM sheetmetal from China repro's?

[76zimmer]

I'm looking at a couple doors with power options and they look great, seem heavy (probably because of the power options in them) and look like a quality OEM piece. They have no apperance of any OEM stickers (i.e. "built in Oshawa, ONT" or tire, gvw info etc.)
Also looking at some front fenders that seem lightweight, they have multiple ribs in the bends around the wheel openings instead of being smoothly formed where the curve of the metal is formed.

Just wondered if anyone has a good way of telling OEM parts from repro stuff (that usually fits like crap)

 

[Chevy305]

Look for the GM part number?

 

[76zimmer]

good point, but alot of times the part numbers were just a sticker attached to a replacement part or when assembled at the factory a whole rack of doors/fenders/whatever might have came to the line with just a part number attached to the rack....

 

[b454rat]

The metal is super cheesy by the door handle. You can feel the difference between the two.

 

[Greg72]

I'm looking at a couple doors with power options and they look great, seem heavy (probably because of the power options in them) and look like a quality OEM piece. They have no apperance of any OEM stickers (i.e. "built in Oshawa, ONT" or tire, gvw info etc.)
Also looking at some front fenders that seem lightweight, they have multiple ribs in the bends around the wheel openings instead of being smoothly formed where the curve of the metal is formed.

Just wondered if anyone has a good way of telling OEM parts from repro stuff (that usually fits like crap)

In the context of 1st Gen Blazer fenders (front)... one of the giveaways is the style line that is creased all the way around the fender openings. On the OEM stamping that crease is really crisp and well-defined, but on the repro panels it looks more like a concave"radius" transition with no clear sharp edges. When you see both parts side-by-side, the difference is obvious.

That's not to say that with some hammer and dolly work you can't give the repro part a more convincing appearance. That's the nature of reproduction parts.... you can buy them cheaper, but there is always extra labor to make them work. IF the OEM part is available, you're usually better off buying it....... when the parts are no longer available from anyone as an OEM/NOS, then you have no choice but to invest the labor into making the repro parts work.

In my case, I have a hard time paying top-dollar for OEM stuff only because I end up cutting it all apart anyway. For me, repro parts are easier and I have less guilt about taking "good" parts away from the concours guys who really want them.



-G

 

[dyeager535]

I'm looking at a couple doors with power options and they look great, seem heavy (probably because of the power options in them) and look like a quality OEM piece. They have no apperance of any OEM stickers (i.e. "built in Oshawa, ONT" or tire, gvw info etc.)
Also looking at some front fenders that seem lightweight, they have multiple ribs in the bends around the wheel openings instead of being smoothly formed where the curve of the metal is formed.

Just wondered if anyone has a good way of telling OEM parts from repro stuff (that usually fits like crap)

Be interesting to weigh known-OEM bare components vs. the chinese stuff. I recall reading that the chinese tailgates are thinner sheet metal and will bend, so i'd think weight alone would be an easy way to tell difference, as well as was mentioned, specific bends.

 

[76zimmer]

As

Be interesting to weigh known-OEM bare components vs. the chinese stuff. I recall reading that the chinese tailgates are thinner sheet metal and will bend, so i'd think weight alone would be an easy way to tell difference, as well as was mentioned, specific bends.

As far as tailgates go I dont think the china stuff has the raised lettering that the GM parts do

 

[wazzabie]

look for the gm sticker

 

[76zimmer]

Well I picked up a bunch of parts
2 doors that are nice and solid and feel comparable to the doors on my 76CC that I believe are original
Also got an OEM tailgate, some repair pieces ( Taiwan) a nice windshield and a generic slider rear window for 250$

First pic of my 76CC door, and then the power loaded doors I picked up as well as the rest of the parts included in the deal.

 

[Chevy305]

Those replacement panels have LMC part numbers on them

 

[76k5blazerr]

Those doors look nice

 

[ryoken]

IME, Taiwan fenders are WAY more common to see than aftermarket doors...

 

[76zimmer]

These doors have an additional piece of metal between the skin and door frame at the back edge of the door.
I'm thinking thats NOT GM stuff.

 

[ryoken]

that don't look right.. I'm betting they where skinned at some point.. are they seamsealed?

 

[76zimmer]

I dont see any Paul?
Looks like it could be a leftover skin but its only that strip up to middle of the door, and seems too far in on the inner door body to be an original skin, the inner body metal looks very good.
I'll have to check them better when I get them apart and strip em for paint

 

[76zimmer]

then I spot these doors on a FB truck....an exceptionally clean truck....with that same piece of metal in the same spot??