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Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? #2590633
12/12/18 12:03 AM
12/12/18 12:03 AM
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So Cal, USA
Fab64 Offline OP
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Hi all,

I'm putting my car back together after a major overhaul of dash, a/c, etc. and I noticed my existing A-pillar (windshield post) moldings are in pretty bad shape. Has anyone tried these sold by Classic Industries? These are made of ABS plastic - will they hold up to California heat?

Here are some by a place called 1A Auto. It's possible they're the same ones.

Or are there better ones available? Thanks for any suggestions.

Roger

Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: Fab64] #2590640
12/12/18 12:15 AM
12/12/18 12:15 AM
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Valencia, España
NachoRT74 Offline
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the only manufacturer as far I know for them is ACCUFORM which is a piece of $h*t. Any vendor you find must get selling those.

Unless something has changed in last 2 years.

if your interior is black, try for nice used ones if you don't want to be dissapointed

( don't as how I know it mad )


With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: Fab64] #2590642
12/12/18 12:19 AM
12/12/18 12:19 AM
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NachoRT74 Offline
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and looking at the pics of CI ones my bid is they are Accuform ( for the indent to the screw )


With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: NachoRT74] #2590649
12/12/18 12:35 AM
12/12/18 12:35 AM
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Fab64 Offline OP
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Thanks for the tip. I never really noticed how bad the dash ends were on mine until I took them off, so maybe they won't be that noticeable when they're back on. Thanks.

Roger

Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: Fab64] #2590710
12/12/18 02:57 AM
12/12/18 02:57 AM
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Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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Just ask the vender if they are vacuum formed, or injection molded. There are lower door panels and bucket seat backs made that way. I have a new set of lower door panels still in the box and found the best used ones I could find and reconditioned them, same with the A pillars. Don't let anybody with in 5 feet of the car, or they will see how much crap they are.

Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: 71birdJ68] #2590727
12/12/18 05:43 AM
12/12/18 05:43 AM
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71birdJ68 -

Originally Posted By 71birdJ68
Just ask the vender if they are vacuum formed, or injection molded. There are lower door panels and bucket seat backs made that way. I have a new set of lower door panels still in the box and found the best used ones I could find and reconditioned them, same with the A pillars. Don't let anybody with in 5 feet of the car, or they will see how much crap they are.


How did you recondition your lower panels? What was wrong with them?

Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: A727Tflite] #2590751
12/12/18 10:13 AM
12/12/18 10:13 AM
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71birdJ68 Offline
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Well, first they can't be rotted. If you can run your finger nail over it and the plastic comes off under you nail, it is rotten. For small nicks and so forth you cam make a kind of flexible mold of the pattern out of RTV, or some non harding agent. something like silly putty. Kind of hard to explain what I'm talking about, but something that will retain the pattern, then with some heat that will just soften up the bad spots, press the putty so it can reestablish the pattern. When you get it as good as you can, lightly spray with vinyl die, or rattle can paint just to get a little color and some gloss. I don't mean paint it, just mist it. That is the best I can explain it. BUT, they can't be rotted
Vacuum formed just look cheap and crapy, the grain is to big and cheap looking, the stitching pattern that goes around the edge, if I remember correctly is missing. They are just cheap looking. Chrysler spent a lot of money on injection molds to make nice looking parts.

Last edited by 71birdJ68; 12/12/18 10:21 AM.
Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: Fab64] #2590754
12/12/18 10:25 AM
12/12/18 10:25 AM
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Valencia, España
NachoRT74 Offline
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as far plastic panels for 71/74 B bodies this is the manufacturing breakout

3 manufacturer of panels:

Accu$h/t, I meant, Accuform

PALCO

And some other who makes PERFECTLY NICE AND CORRECT E body panels where since the seatbacks are the same then B body owners just can get those for us. Can't tell manufacturer but the first seller of these was an old web seller not anymore on bussines called RM restorations or something like that, then Classic industries took those to be sold.

AND ALL PRICES ARE SIMILAR

Accuform makes all panels including the one year only 74 rear lowers. Trust me, piece of [censored]. Incorrect grain, and simulated seams are not even there as mentioned. They mold in black or white only.

PALCO, just decent for a driver. Grain finish is blurry. If you are going to use a full 71/73 PALCO set ( but A pillars ) maybe could live with that for a driver, ALTHOUGHT seatbacks side screws seats are unexistent, just a hole open there so original screws won't reach the hinges provision for them. Molded in Black or white, white is oversprayed to match a bit more the correct of color white, but still not correct shade

The Seatback panels I'm talking from an unkown manufacturer, the one making the E body ones are plain perfect and molded in correct color. If just they make B body ones!!!!

I have had EVERYONE in hands spent around $2K on interior panels to be still unsatisfied.

At the end, I got used A pillars ( a bit chalky close to windshield area but still decent ) and plain perfect rear lowers 74 panels to forget the accuform ones, just the used parts I got are black and need to match my white interior. I hate to use painted panels inside because paint ALLWAYS get worn due the friction no matter how good is the paint to discover the reality of the panel color... and my car uses to be a driver ( I built to enjoy it! ). Will keep the Kick and door panels from PALCO just because I have to live with them and will be satisfied just with the seatbacks from the misterious manufacturer I'm talking about. Sold the PALCO seatbacks to a friend who really didn't care how they looked. Dunno what the hell I will make with the accuform ones. Maybe sell them to somebody who doesn't care about correct finish.

I have pics of everything... somewhere.


With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: NachoRT74] #2590845
12/12/18 02:40 PM
12/12/18 02:40 PM
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So Cal, USA
Fab64 Offline OP
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According to Classics Industries, these pieces are injection molded ABS. There's also a review from a buyer who says they're a perfect fit and look great. Since I'm only 20 miles from their Huntington Beach warehouse, I'm going to try to get up there today and inspect them myself. I'll report back on what I find.

Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: Fab64] #2590937
12/12/18 05:05 PM
12/12/18 05:05 PM
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Valencia, España
NachoRT74 Offline
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let me know and I'll be on market for them ( in white ). As I told, my testimonials are based on last 6 or 8 years collecting parts and as far I know nothing has changed in last 2 or 3 years


With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Reproduction A-pillar trim for '71 B-Body? [Re: NachoRT74] #2591594
12/14/18 12:41 AM
12/14/18 12:41 AM
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So Cal, USA
Fab64 Offline OP
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Ok,I drove up to CI yesterday to look at their reproduction moldings. You can see my review here. Unfortunately, I was not overly impressed. I'll probably look around for a decent set of used ones.

Last edited by Fab64; 12/14/18 12:42 AM.






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