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Ryoken's Guide to Rust Treatment and Bodywork 101
- Thread starter Chief Brody
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- ryoken green
No progress on the top since we have been in a heat wave for almost 6 weeks...heat index 105 today, 110 rest of week.
Some of you know that I got my hands on an original GM "inner header seal" that goes on top of the windshield frame of a 1973-1975. It's usable but it is a little dry, and the big thing is that I want this piece available and preserved for the K-5 community.
I can tell you that I bought one of the aftermarket ones and when it came time for adhesive, it just doesn't fit. The ends are not made exactly right.
I can tell you that the original part fits like a glove.
I had sent photos out to several manufacturers and asked if they would be interested in using my seal to make a correct one that fits. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322110
I got a few responses. Most were no and maybe (with a 2 year backlog)
Today I got this response from Metro and I feel I owe it all the K-5 community to share it and have your input if you have personally had (good or bad) experience with the available aftermarket header seals, because I really want this part done right:
Here is the Metro response:
Thanks for the inquiry. I need to do some research relating to your questions before I can adequately answer, but I will say I am intrigued by your request.
Who currently makes the aftermarket seals that you refer to? What exactly is wrong with them? Have you complained to those companies that currently make seals for this application that their products are not up to par and tried to persuade them to fix them? It may make more sense and be faster to go this route versus another company (us) bringing out another seal to compete in the market. Again, I need to gather some information before I could make a solid determination one way or the other on such a project.
Please respond with your thoughts. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks for your interest in Metro Moulded Parts.
Sincerely,
Mike Hinshaw
New Products Manager
Metro Moulded Parts, Inc.
I can tell you that I bought one of the aftermarket ones and when it came time for adhesive, it just doesn't fit. The ends are not made exactly right.
I can tell you that the original part fits like a glove.
I had sent photos out to several manufacturers and asked if they would be interested in using my seal to make a correct one that fits. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322110
I got a few responses. Most were no and maybe (with a 2 year backlog)
Today I got this response from Metro and I feel I owe it all the K-5 community to share it and have your input if you have personally had (good or bad) experience with the available aftermarket header seals, because I really want this part done right:
Here is the Metro response:
Thanks for the inquiry. I need to do some research relating to your questions before I can adequately answer, but I will say I am intrigued by your request.
Who currently makes the aftermarket seals that you refer to? What exactly is wrong with them? Have you complained to those companies that currently make seals for this application that their products are not up to par and tried to persuade them to fix them? It may make more sense and be faster to go this route versus another company (us) bringing out another seal to compete in the market. Again, I need to gather some information before I could make a solid determination one way or the other on such a project.
Please respond with your thoughts. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks for your interest in Metro Moulded Parts.
Sincerely,
Mike Hinshaw
New Products Manager
Metro Moulded Parts, Inc.
anybody?
That sounded to me like he was curious but not sure if the cost of retooling would be worth the sales, and needed to know what kind of market there was for this.
But I think that's not a bad response at all. I'm not sure if there are any published figures on how many trucks are still on the road, but if you show interest he may show interest...
Josh
But I think that's not a bad response at all. I'm not sure if there are any published figures on how many trucks are still on the road, but if you show interest he may show interest...
Josh
Oh and one other thing. I enjoyed your build thread. Your truck kind of reminds me of my grand fathers truck. His was a pickup but looked very similar because of colors and wheels, brings back memories.
Josh
Josh
Just don't think the demand would be there to make it worth the time or expense.
None of these other Chinese and Taiwanese companies are going to "fix" the products they currently sell.
What if this led to a better manufacturer of all squarebody seals and weatherstripping? Perhaps Metro would be the go to place for the best fitting GM seals. I don't know.
How many 73-75 K5 owners are there on this forum? You know, there was enough demand for the grills that LMC started selling the 73-75 grill a few years ago...then the door panels...there seems to be quite a few 73-75 Blazers out there.
No sense in retooling and firing up production just for me...but how would you find out how many are being sold by LMC, Classic, SoftSeal...etc...
What if this led to a better manufacturer of all squarebody seals and weatherstripping? Perhaps Metro would be the go to place for the best fitting GM seals. I don't know.
How many 73-75 K5 owners are there on this forum? You know, there was enough demand for the grills that LMC started selling the 73-75 grill a few years ago...then the door panels...there seems to be quite a few 73-75 Blazers out there.
No sense in retooling and firing up production just for me...but how would you find out how many are being sold by LMC, Classic, SoftSeal...etc...
The grills and door panels fit pickups and K5's. That seal only the K5
But I'm all for it.
But I'm all for it.
I understand where they are coming from, but I would perhaps ask what the cost would end up being if they made the corrected seal. If their work isn't "stolen" by another company out there, and the price is low enough that others will buy it since it fits, they may not sell a ton of them, but enough.
We have a ton of crap aftermarket parts for the trucks because we (collectively, as a society) value money over quality. Few people are willing to pay GM prices for seals (as a for-instance) that it doesn't make sense for them to offer the part forever. Yet we KNOW the parts last longer and fit better than anything we can get. At half the price, what good is a part that you have to replace twice or three times as often, and still doesn't fit right? But alas, we complain about paying "for a name", or search out the absolute cheapest price.
The hard part for Metro in this case, would be getting the word out to those specific people who are looking for this seal. Then explaining why their part is worth more than the others. I get it, you'll get it, but many people just look at price. Maybe Metro would be interested in getting comparison pictures of "their" seal and OEM/Metro's. Pretty hard to argue with that.
I often wonder what the market holds for us in the near future...there are fewer and fewer of these trucks, so is it going to be worth it for the aftermarket to continue to make parts for them, let alone roll out new/better ones?
We have a ton of crap aftermarket parts for the trucks because we (collectively, as a society) value money over quality. Few people are willing to pay GM prices for seals (as a for-instance) that it doesn't make sense for them to offer the part forever. Yet we KNOW the parts last longer and fit better than anything we can get. At half the price, what good is a part that you have to replace twice or three times as often, and still doesn't fit right? But alas, we complain about paying "for a name", or search out the absolute cheapest price.
The hard part for Metro in this case, would be getting the word out to those specific people who are looking for this seal. Then explaining why their part is worth more than the others. I get it, you'll get it, but many people just look at price. Maybe Metro would be interested in getting comparison pictures of "their" seal and OEM/Metro's. Pretty hard to argue with that.
I often wonder what the market holds for us in the near future...there are fewer and fewer of these trucks, so is it going to be worth it for the aftermarket to continue to make parts for them, let alone roll out new/better ones?
I haven't bought any seals yet because I have heard of all the horror stories.
I probably buy some seal with the next year or so.
I probably buy some seal with the next year or so.
Wow. I just did some quick research. Total blazer production combined for 73,74, and 75 is barely over 150000.
Camaros of the same vintage, sold more than 200000 per year. over 4 times as much per year. No wonder they sell everything under the Sun for a Camaro.
Camaros of the same vintage, sold more than 200000 per year. over 4 times as much per year. No wonder they sell everything under the Sun for a Camaro.
Yeah, you'd just have to pay more for the rare part to make it worth it.
That said, I paid 49.99 for the first seal I bought that didn't fit. It's in the garbage can now. I'd gladly pay $100 for a new seal that is just like my GM one.
Yes, I have been thinking about that for a while now.
I could use some close-up photos of some different aftermarket one if anybody has them. I wish I had kept mine that I cut.
So...the hard top contemplation begins....to hard top or not to hard top
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Believe it or not I am seriously considering the SoftTopper....
If somebody can convince me that I can install the header bar in the windshield and the snaps on the tailgate in a manner that rust will not set in, I am really, really leaning toward the tan soft top 
There are some things that are pushing me in that direction
