AMD panels... not as good as I've been made to believe

[morrow_jacob]

In preparation for trunk floor work I purchased the LH and RH trunk drop offs from AMD. The passenger side is close enough, but the drivers side is down right awful.

I have been talking to a gentleman at AMD via email and sent him a few pics, and I was surprised when he said he couldn't see what I was seeing. He did send me a picture of another one from their warehouse and it appears that the warehouse pieces are the same aweful stamping as the one I got. So that rules out accidental damage.

I'm at the point where I want to return the LH drop off and maybe try a goodmark piece...Suggestions?\


The two AMD pieces... (RH is good, LH not so much)








Picture sent to me from AMD, appears to be similar to my bad piece...

 

[zyzzyx]

I purchased these pieces about two years ago and mine were very nice. This obviously is a "New" batch. I recently purchased a hood for my 68 GTX from AMD, and it was a total P.O.S! I paid $750.00 for it and it was terrible.I could have put 20 hours in it and saved it, but why? I bought it from a local distributor, so they took it back and I didn't incur any shipping charges. Unfortunately they're the only game in town. I'm now looking for an originalhood that I can use instead of a new one. I feel your pain, Good luck with your quest!

 

[747mopar]

Wow, the Chinese did a nunber on those dies!!!!! Myself, I'd dolly it out but only because I'm to impatient to fuss with returning it and waiting on another. On the other hand people need to be sending them back or they'll never fix it.

 

[Basket case]

I got my floor extensions from AMD in 2012. couldn't have been nicer.

 

[flypaper]

You just won the amd lottery!
Your prize is you get to test and improve on
Your metal working skills..

ive been down this road before with them

Kidding aside amd will blow smoke up your your ***
So you wont make a return
You have to demand it and point out thier satisfaction
Guarantee to get it.
Ask the clown on the phone you want to talk to mike
He is the main guy to talk to
One thing is dont expect another one
To be much better.

 

[morrow_jacob]

AMD stopped returning my emails. JEGS has been absolutely awesome, sending FedEx to my house to get it and paying for return shipping, and replies within minutes of an email. They've made an even more loyal customer

 

[Cranky]

I don't think the Shineese care of the dies wear out or become damaged. All they care about the the money....companies there are worse than any American company I know.

 

[The not so tall man]

I can tell you that I have one outer wheel house for my 71 sat that looks like a pleated skirt, or coffee filter where its supposed to meet the inner, I also have an inner where the body line was stamped it sheared through a few inches so it will require welding. The quarters are pretty good though.

 

[Pistol Pete]

You just won the amd lottery!
Your prize is you get to test and improve on
Your metal working skills..

ive been down this road before with them

Kidding aside amd will blow smoke up your your ***
So you wont make a return
You have to demand it and point out thier satisfaction
Guarantee to get it.
Ask the clown on the phone you want to talk to mike
He is the main guy to talk to
One thing is dont expect another one
To be much better.

Frank you never disappoint. :whip2:

AMD stuff can be hit and miss. I replaced a quarter, drop off and outer wheelhouse all on the same car, same side and you would have thought they were from an Edsel a Studebaker and a REO Speedwagon.

I can understand not lining up to the factory sheetmetal perfectly, but geez, they made all three pieces, you'd think they'd at least line up to each other.

And before the AMD defenders jump in: yes, it's a good thing someone has stepped up and made these parts and yes, they are an improvement over what was previously available. My beef is their QC seems to be very spotty. Look at those pictures, they speak for themselves.

And not that it makes a difference, but I think their stuff is stamped in Taiwan.

 

[Fm3 Dart]

There is nothing wrong with the Left trunk floor extension. What you have there is a 1970 panel. The strange shape you see is relief necessary for the 1970 side marker. In 1970, the marker was much larger, mounted lower, and very large on the backside since it now was a lamp. The trunk floor extension was reshaped to clear the large lamp.
Not a quality problem!

 

[morrow_jacob]

There is nothing wrong with the Left trunk floor extension. What you have there is a 1970 panel. The strange shape you see is relief necessary for the 1970 side marker. In 1970, the marker was much larger, mounted lower, and very large on the backside since it now was a lamp. The trunk floor extension was reshaped to clear the large lamp.
Not a quality problem!

Well thats interesting... You may very well be and probably are correct, but I'm still skeptical, why does does one look smashed and the other does not? I checked the part numbers and they are for a 68 (or so the label says)... I've not seen a 70 drop off but I wouldnt imagine it looked that sloppy.

Either way, I appreciate your input, and will keep an eye out for a 70 and take a look!

 

[wannadrag]

Hammer it straight and burn it in.No one except a few guys here and some of the **** moparts crowd could care less.Throw a trunk mat over it if it bothers you that much.

 

[Donny]

Just hammer it out, slice and dice, basically fix it! Maybe working with the old shitty rusty stuff is preferrable?

 

[barbee6043]

ya outta be trying to use the "stuff" available for the rear of the 66-7 cars!!???? what a joke, but its the same stuff that has been out there for them how many decades!!??????

China has some very serious economic and social problems, I would not expect anything from there to improve.
seems like the Tiwanese would be better bet, but I guess their labor price has gone up??

or maybe the U S stamp stuff here correctly and just double the prices!????? no good solution.

 

[flypaper]

Maybe working with the old shitty rusty stuff is preferrable?

i prefer rust over junk i have to splice to install !
sorry, even the best done splices can come back to bite you in the *** down the road!

they can't make a wheelwell that is even remotely close to fitting
so you gotta do what you have to do..

 

[Donny]

I try to use the old stuff if possible, old stuff always fits better. But, sometimes we have to naje the new stuff work.

 

[GetX'd]

I've used AMD for several parts on the 68 GTX. The trunk pans were pretty true to what I needed. I did have some problems with a fender but the supplier made it right by giving me something that made it worthwhile to fix the AMD issue myself. It's unfortunate there's not enough competition in the repop metal biz to keep AMD on point. Made in China stuff sucks - but when you don't have options you make due with the hand you're dealt.

 

[moper]

AMD is the best we can get. But it's not perfect. I'm about 50% on stuff being right enough to work vs having to be tweaked in some fashion to get it mive enough for my tastes. I've never sent anything back. You're working metal. Work it some more. That's what grinders and bodywork were made to hide...

 

[mutt71]

I just got home from the Body Shop. They were not happy and neither am I. I ordered AMD Panels for the rear quarters, Floor pan, both step down panels and both rear outer wheel houses. cut the rear quarter panels and mocked up the replacements. I have spent thousands o dollars on this project and these AMD panels have really gotten me pissed off. I will not spend any more money buying AMD Body panels.

 

[flypaper]

i must be insane for harvesting donor parts
when amd makes it brand new.. lmao