Re: [AMC-List] reproduction parts (was no subject)

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

setter1 wrote:
"a can of black rustoleum won't work on this...:)"
Aw c'mon, once you make a few layers of it, the rustoleum will make up for
that 1 1/2 inches missing? And then you can use the rest of can on whole
car!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4648210441

Seriously, on the plastic interior wheelwell moldings for 68-70 AMX, I have
heard some do not fit properly. I believe they also don't have the metal
riveted brace below the 1/4 glass also. This is good and bad, as that metal
brace with rivets is what canused them to break in that area due to sun
heating up rivets. They are also prone to cracking on the thin spot right
above wheelwell itself, and then in the hole below back window where the pin
goes in, again, because of sunlight.

On the comment about accepting less than accurate craftmanship, you will
find this in many aspects old old cars, not only limited to AMC. It does
rear it's head however over and over. Sometimes it is because the supplier,
other times someone didn't do homework, other times it is combinations of
many things, like item made outside of country, wrong materials, ect. I had
some 68-69 and 70 trim rings for AMX in the early 90s that looked great, but
mounting pins on back were as big as a Greek proctologist's finger. So you
would have to "resize" (drill) the mounting holes if you wanted to use
these. I would not want to use them on any car I was fixing up however. I
sold them for less than what they cost me, but some wanted them anyhows for
cars they were fixing up on low budget and didn't care about judging, only
wanted something to fill the area. Weatherstrips and stripe kits come to
mind.

Right now on the Badassgremlin forum I was griping that no one stocks a four
speed carpet kit for Hornet. Yes, and I have called many vendors on my own
list, only AT carpet available. But talking to some who have tried to put
those in their SC/360's you have problems, as the hump for the Hurst shifter
gets in way and you will have to somehow make up for it somewhere else with
carpet. Ram Air trims for 70, if not mistaken, while a great looking
reproduction, the mounting pins are slightly off. Good and bad. Good is
someone reproduced these, dropping X amount of dollars into a one year item
only. Bad is you CAN'T get them rechromed like originals. They melt into
looks like Playdoh! Originals you can redip into chrome, not a problem,
these repros turn to sheet.
And the mounting pins are off, so you will have to 'resize' the original
holes in your hood. However, this won't show from above, nor below, once
installed.

Somewhere on my website there is a file (might not be published yet) about
variances with AMC. For instance, the red rear reflector lens on 68-69.
There are 4 shades I know of.....all NOS OEM whatever one wished to call it,
made by AMC in Canada. Some are lighter, some darker, all are original AMC
equipment. I have photos here of a huge lot I bought from a dealership in
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada in 1989(?) and they are all lighter, and many were
dated March 1970, and some August 1970 (for 68-69 models). Undrilled.
Another is SX/4 decals. I have three here made within a two year span from
AMC, all 3741517 AMC Part Number SX/4 Legend. All three different, one is
open faced, another closed face, another slight variable from closed face.
But all three AMC NOS made in 1982-84.

What caused some of this? Different suppliers for aMC. They usually went
with the best bid, so whoever lowballed them would get the job for whatever
it was. Nothing wrong with that except you will have differences and
variations on same item from time to time. I like to point out on my
website's PRODUCTION/TECH file the AMC Paint Suppliers are a really good
example:
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/parts/new_paint/index.htm
And if one would put those paints under a reader like they have at Home
Depot, you will have three different variances of same color, just slightly
off, miniscule, but off.

It don't make up for what you got with the interior wheel moldings, and I
would like to see who someone made them fit! If you have that much play,
there is going to be stress, and stress is usually what broke these at the
skinny point directly above wheelwell when new. You could possibly ask for a
refund also if not happy, but keep in mind that if you do find a used almost
40 year old set they can command $200-$400 a set, depending on rarity of
color.

I'll probably have more to say about reproductions later, interesting
thread, especially with the explosion of reproduction items on the AMC
market in the past decade. Some good, some not so good, but neat to see,
simply because it shows people want to fix up these cars, not only AMX &
Javevelin, SC/Rambler, SC/360 and Machine, but others like wagons,
convertibles, Gremlins, Rambler, you name it, nice to see, makes for a
better, and stronger hobby!

Let me know setter1 if you are interested in some fine, used rustoleum 
however, still have about several cups left, been pouring it on fire ant 
mounds in back yard, maybe in Y3K scientists fidn them and try to bring them 
back like Jurassic Park :~P
Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston AMX
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com

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