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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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074 So Cal, USA
Fab64
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super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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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
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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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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095
Valencia, España
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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 )
With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
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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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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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Valencia, España
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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
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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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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,069 Michigan
A727Tflite
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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?
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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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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,452 Morristown Tn.
71birdJ68
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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.
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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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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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Valencia, España
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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
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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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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095
Valencia, España
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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
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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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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074 So Cal, USA
Fab64
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super stock
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OP
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So Cal, USA
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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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