I really need to vent! Ive had it with inferior reproduction parts and companies that dont know squat about the cars they sell products for. I placed an order with Legendary. I ordered new door panel clips and those brown plastic thingys that pop in the holes in the door that accept the clips. I get the plastic door clip retainers first. I first notice that they're made out of hard plastic. The originals are of a softer material. I come to find out that its really difficult to pop the clip into the harder plastic. It doesnt "bite" as well. Dammit. I also ordered new clips. I got the clips today. Turns out that the clips are larger so you dont need the plastic clip retainers. Now I have to remove all the retainers i popped in the door. And its going to be a bitch because I had to use a rubber mallet to install them:af: Next I order new gauge lenes from TPP. I get them today and two of the three have scuffs in them. As I look closer, there are 5 little dots molded in the face of the lens. One right in the center, and 4 that make up the points of a square. I look a little closer and there are circular mold marks in the lens. And the topper is that it looks like your looking through a piece of old glass. The image is distorted slightly as your looking though it. Another made in China piece of garbage...junk. And dont get me started on the repro door weatherstrips I bought. The A&M Soffseal are absolute junk. I emailed the company about it and they send me a blow off email. Since the guy included his telephone number I called him. The guy could care less about my issue. All he told me was that he didnt know what I was talking about and that they sell thousands of these weatherstrips and never had any complaints....blah blah blah. I felt like reaching through the phone and sticking these weatherstrips up his a**. Nice customer service d**k. :moonu: The Metros were junk also but at least the guy on the phone humored me. He was surprised to hear that the OE's had metal wire and a metal spine molded in to them. I would say they were only marginally better in some areas than the Soffseals. I cant stand it when these companies jam this crap down our throats and tell us its great. Soffseal advertises them as exact reproductions..ha! If someone made an exact reproduction weatherstrips they would clean up. You would think that they would make them better because they fit the Chevelles Dont piss on my back and then tell me its raining.
Hi Jason, I don't know if TPP makes their own gauge lens but I had a similar problem with one of the gauge lens I got from OPG. It looks better than the old scratched and hazed original lens but not crystal clear like you would expect a new part to be.
Im sure they're all selling the same part as far as the lenes. I understand why people pay crazy money for certain NOS parts. I wish I could find NOS door weatherstrips
Jason, get some plastic polish and a dremmel with felt buffers. You can polich the old plastic lenses up really nice. I did some tail lights this way and they looked new.
The fire sale is next week. Im charging admission into the dumpster. Cash in whats left of your 401k's. Details to follow
I wish I had the money to make all the parts we need. I'd make them just like OEM and not send them to China to have it done. I understand the need to make a living but doggone, the hobby is too important to try to make a mint on these parts and turn out junk.
What I found hysterical was when I was talking to the guy from Metro. When i mentioned the OE weatherstripping had metal in it, he said "really?". Cmon, dont you guys research this stuff before you start cranking out parts??
Jason go take your black car down vets and back 11.00 runs and you won't give a **** about door clips:bla:
Yep I ordered the lenses from OPG and they were junk, sent them right back. IMO Metro is better than Soffseal but not as good as the original. I've seen the NOS original seals go for BIG money.
Oh, I've been Bitching About all these Manufacturers of Aggravation for most of 2008, and have had enough. I'm keeping my car as I did before I found this website. I was happier then, had more fun with the car, and had more money to do other important things. Back to chicken wire, rubber bands and duct tape!
I have to wonder if Steele Rubber stuff is any better than the Metro or soffseal. I've had better luck with Steele's trunk weatherstripping...and they seem to have nice products. I did a complete rubber replacement on a 62 Electra convertible, and everything fit pretty well.
I called Steele. The guy On the phone said that in this particular application, the weatherstripping would Be mAde by Metro. So As it Stands there seems to be only two manUfaCturers- Metro and Soffseal. I have yet to come up with anything else. I'll have to try and make what I have work at thiS point.
Steele sucks!! I have them on the doors of my Regal and the fit is horrible. They leak around the window and are too thick around the door. I have to slam the door to shut.
That's called Minnesota nice. Probably called you all kinds of names after he hung up the phone. :laugh: They're located about 4 miles from my house. I have been planning on buying a complete weatherstrip kit for the Riv from them. After hearing your comments, I feel I should bring my old stuff up there to compare first. I have been happy with everything else I have bought from them over the years though. If your going to go to the trouble and costs of making a part, why not do it right?
"I wish I could find a set of NOS" Jason, I have a set of NOS door gaskets, as a matter of fact I think I have an entire NOS weather strip set for my 70 442 conv, including the conv top WS, but you would not believe what the stuff is worth today. Duane
