Hey guys! Getting to the point with my 69 Nova resto where I need to make a decision about body panels and who to purchase from. I was lucky with my 68 RSSS because I had GM 1/4s and Fenders. The Nova is going to need a trunk pan and drop offs, 1/4s, outer wheelhouses, deck lid, and inner/outer fenders. Has anyone had experience with quality and fit on the Nova sheetmetal? Is there only one manufacturer of sheetmetal and places like Goodmark and Dynacorn just distribute? I see ads for import and USA made.
I can tell you that almost all reproduction sheetmetal (except for some floorpans, 1/4 wheelhouses and small patches) will comes from 1-3 places overseas, and almost all of it is very similar. I know this since I work for a restoration parts company (we don't sell Nova parts but I've done plenty of sheetmetal comparisons).
My Nova has a hood, left fender and left doorskin from Goodmark. They import it, and the fit is good for a repro part. Dynacorn is also an importer of 99% of their sheetmetal, but they don't sell retail.
Found a place that has body panels cheaper than Goodmark. Was just wondering if the price is a reflection of quality? If all the manufacturers are putting out about the same quality, guess it doesn't matter where to purchase. Thanks!
Hey Tim, my guess is you would get pretty much the same parts from any of the big distributors (at least that's been my luck with the 11 pieces of sheet metal I've put on my 68 so far). J&W Nova parts is in Danville, VA, I think that is south central. If everything else is the same and you are not too far from there you might could save some shipping cost.
Good luck !
J&W is about 20 miles east of me, need to go down and introduce myself. Have a couple suppliers here local but they mostly carry Camaro and Chevelle parts, of course they tell me they can get anything I need. Found an Ebay seller that has a good price on sheetmetal even after adding shipping.
I know this will not sit well with some who promote and use the repro sheetmetal...but if you can....avoid it!! Find a donor car and get original assembly line sheetmetal....even if the pieces need some minor rust repair....you will be better off. As for replacing 1/4 panels..I see a lot of cars that get this done that really don't need it...don't know your situation..but I would rather have a quality repair made to the factory sheetmetal then deal with the headaches of fitting that Chinese stuff...there are salvage yards in the west where you can get rust free stuff...the extra time you spend now getting quality metal will pay off down the road....now you can yell at me..
wilma
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