My 1967 Belvedere Convertible Plans and Restoration (aka - Mad Scientist Build)

[roadrunnerman]

It might be the color that is throwing my eyes off, but the "valley" in your flare looks bigger on the old one than the new. Also, the lip that goes underneath, I don't see it as much as I do on the painted piece. Unless the pictures are from a different angle. Lastly, in the bottom photo at the 1/2 inch mark, it looks like there is a "ridge" that I don't see on the painted panel. If i'm wrong on any of these, i'll blame my eyes or it was the color that threw me off.

Can you take and mix a little body filler and put it on some wax paper and form it on the flare, let it set up and then put it on the other piece to compare any difference.

 

[747mopar]

It might be the color that is throwing my eyes off, but the "valley" in your flare looks bigger on the old one than the new. Also, the lip that goes underneath, I don't see it as much as I do on the painted piece. Unless the pictures are from a different angle. Lastly, in the bottom photo at the 1/2 inch mark, it looks like there is a "ridge" that I don't see on the painted panel. If i'm wrong on any of these, i'll blame my eyes or it was the color that threw me off.

Can you take and mix a little body filler and put it on some wax paper and form it on the flare, let it set up and then put it on the other piece to compare any difference.

Great idea RR!!!!!!!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Pedal assembly figured out . . . finally . . .

Finally got to dig enough into the pedals that I received to find out that they're just not going to work. Went back to look at the original order and this is what it stated:

PECH-10003, Brake and Clutch Pedal Assembly, 1966-70 Mopar B-body, includes solid bronze bushings, king pin and firewall bracket.
Pedal pads sold separately.

After pulling the plastic ( nylon ? ) bushings out of the pedals, the 1/2 support rod would still not cleanly make it through without reaming out the hole. Then I got to wondering . . . where are the bronze bushings ? . . . and where is the king pin ? . . . and where is the firewall bracket ?

So they're on the way back for a full refund and I'm order the pedal assembly from Brewer's Performance.

Anybody got a better idea where to order this pedal assembly ?

Or is Brewer's Performance a good place to get the parts ?

Thanks ! ! ! !

 

[conv67bdere]

Wheel flare - Compare . . .

Finally got out to the shop and cut up a "template" of the flare - need to see how different they are . . .

The results:



The final results . . . NOT GOOD at all ! ! ! !

Looks like I'll be fabricating some wheel well flares for this "beast" ! !

I could ( since both sides will need to be replaced ) just use these - but I'm not really happy with the "look" of the new panels . . . gotta think . . .

 

[tallhair]

Finally got to dig enough into the pedals that I received to find out that they're just not going to work. Went back to look at the original order and this is what it stated:

PECH-10003, Brake and Clutch Pedal Assembly, 1966-70 Mopar B-body, includes solid bronze bushings, king pin and firewall bracket.
Pedal pads sold separately.

After pulling the plastic ( nylon ? ) bushings out of the pedals, the 1/2 support rod would still not cleanly make it through without reaming out the hole. Then I got to wondering . . . where are the bronze bushings ? . . . and where is the king pin ? . . . and where is the firewall bracket ?

So they're on the way back for a full refund and I'm order the pedal assembly from Brewer's Performance.

Anybody got a better idea where to order this pedal assembly ? Or is Brewer's a good place to get the parts ? Thanks ! ! ! !

Maybe just post up a wtb ad for an original set up ??

 

[kb67mopar]

Finally got out to the shop and cut up a "template" of the flare - need to see how different they are . . .

The results:
The final results . . . NOT GOOD at all ! ! ! !
Looks like I'll be fabricating some wheel well flares for this "beast" ! !
I could ( since both sides will need to be replaced ) just use these - but I'm not really happy with the "look" of the new panels . . . gotta think . . .

Take an overall picture of the panels and what is damaged so we can see what you really need. From that picture it doesn't look like you need that much new metal and that lip can be replaced with flat sheet in the damaged areas I can see. I would definitely return the panels you bought and enclose a printout of that picture for them to understand how bad they really are.

Sucks you got some "bad" parts there but its about all is available for our 66-67's.

 

[747mopar]

Wow that really sucks, I wouldn't be happy either. I take it your lips aren't good enough either? I definitely like the more pronounced original look, what's your options?

 

[conv67bdere]

Take an overall picture of the panels and what is damaged so we can see what you really need. From that picture it doesn't look like you need that much new metal and that lip can be replaced with flat sheet in the damaged areas I can see. I would definitely return the panels you bought and enclose a printout of that picture for them to understand how bad they really are.

Sucks you got some "bad" parts there but its about all is available for our 66-67's.

I thought I hit the jackpot when I found them - should have compared BEFORE I ordered the second panel. Since their website showed about $100 shipping fees, I think I'll use the panels to fill in the areas in front of and behind the wheel wells. Might even use some of the metal to help replace the metal that was cut out removing the hump in the inner wheel well, as well and the 3" wide spacer that I'll need to fill in for the mini tub.

Since I got the parts on Amazon Prime I've written up a product review and I'm awaiting their review of my review to see if they'll post it as a warning for other Mopar owners - at least, maybe, I can prevent others from getting into the same situation.

- - - Updated - - -

Wow that really sucks, I wouldn't be happy either. I take it your lips aren't good enough either? I definitely like the more pronounced original look, what's your options?

Well 747Mopar . . . I asked a couple posts back if anyone had any ideas about donor cars . . . might need to take a trip to the local parts pull location and walk around the lot to see if I can find a nice donor car, with great looking wheel flares, that I can try and figure out how to blend it into my existing panels.

Only the flare part of the panel is really bad - move a 1/2" further up the panel and it's really solid and still has undercoating in place.

 

[tallhair]

Man I really feel for you Khan and I hope you figure something out or better yet come across the original metal you need to finish that up.

 

[Propwash]

Boy, that's enough to tick a fella off! It's a shame how much time a guy can spend shaking his head while building these cars because of poorly made aftermarket parts.

Goodmark and Sherman make patches for your rear quarter:

http://www.goodmarkindustries.com/c-2019-rear-body-panels_Plymouth-Belvedere-1967.aspx


http://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/dropdowns.php?make=Plymouth&model=Belvedere&year=1967


Do you know who made that part? Is there a P/N written or stamped on the part anywhere. I don't think it's Goodmark, I heard they E-Coat almost everything. Here's the Sherman P/N's:






Either way, i'd be sending that back as well..Good luck!

 

[conv67bdere]

Boy, that's enough to tick a fella off! It's a shame how much time a guy can spend shaking his head while building these cars because of poorly made aftermarket parts.

Goodmark and Sherman make patches for your rear quarter:

http://www.goodmarkindustries.com/c-2019-rear-body-panels_Plymouth-Belvedere-1967.aspx


http://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/dropdowns.php?make=Plymouth&model=Belvedere&year=1967


Do you know who made that part? Is there a P/N written or stamped on the part anywhere. I don't think it's Goodmark, I heard they E-Coat almost everything. Here's the Sherman P/N's:

Either way, i'd be sending that back as well..Good luck!

Thanks Propwash - I'll be looking into them now and hopefully get me what I need.

Was trying to figure out how to make them work, but I'm not seeing it happening . . . Two votes to return them, need to look into that now . . . Thanks.

Thanks KB and Prop . . . time to get my money back and spend it on a better quality product ! ! !

- - - Updated - - -

Take an overall picture of the panels and what is damaged so we can see what you really need. From that picture it doesn't look like you need that much new metal and that lip can be replaced with flat sheet in the damaged areas I can see. I would definitely return the panels you bought and enclose a printout of that picture for them to understand how bad they really are.

Sucks you got some "bad" parts there but its about all is available for our 66-67's.

Thanks KB - you were right from the get go ! ! !

 

[747mopar]

Good luck with getting your money back "hope it works out". I don't think you'd ever be happy if you were to use them so kudos for not just giving in and throwing them on. Lets hope the companies like AMD step up and make some panels for the earlier B Bodies soon.

 

[kb67mopar]

Good luck with getting your money back "hope it works out". I don't think you'd ever be happy if you were to use them so kudos for not just giving in and throwing them on. Lets hope the companies like AMD step up and make some panels for the earlier B Bodies soon.

Amazon is pretty good about things so I suspect he will get his money back. Hell his pictures are enough to show them the problem.

Keep us posted what you come out with... I know I had decent luck with my sherman parts, they weren't quite as crisp as the originals on the bends but they nested on top of one another with no real gaps. I actually screwed the new panel to the car with self tappers and cut them both at the same time so I knew the fit would be spot on. (not saying you will have the same luck on the belvedere...)

And if you are ordering sherman parts go through rock auto...Best prices and cheaper shipping.

5% discount code: 1971188017380364

 

[conv67bdere]

Quarter Panel returns . . .

Got back on Amazon Prime and sent in the request to get the (2) panels returned, and got a response back the next day asking if a $100 credit would be enough to compensate for all the extra work needed to use these panels. So my thought was, I got (2) panels, do you mean $100 or $100/panel ? ?

They replied this morning that they sell plenty of these panels and they're offering $50/panel or $100 total refund . . .

Guess I'll be boxing them up and requesting them to come pick them up . . . will look into the Sherman panels instead.


KB - I did check on Rock Auto for the Sherman Panels . . . no luck on the Belvedere, they don't carry them . . . BUMMER . . .

SO CLOSE . . . BUT YET SO FAR AWAY . . .

 

[747mopar]

Amazon is pretty good about things so I suspect he will get his money back. Hell his pictures are enough to show them the problem.

Keep us posted what you come out with... I know I had decent luck with my sherman parts, they weren't quite as crisp as the originals on the bends but they nested on top of one another with no real gaps. I actually screwed the new panel to the car with self tappers and cut them both at the same time so I knew the fit would be spot on. (not saying you will have the same luck on the belvedere...)

And if you are ordering sherman parts go through rock auto...Best prices and cheaper shipping.

5% discount code: 1971188017380364

That's about the best way to do it KB.

 

[usaroadrunner]

Got back on Amazon Prime and sent in the request to get the (2) panels returned, and got a response back the next day asking if a $100 credit would be enough to compensate for all the extra work needed to use these panels. So my thought was, I got (2) panels, do you mean $100 or $100/panel ? ?

They replied this morning that they sell plenty of these panels and they're offering $50/panel or $100 total refund . . .

Guess I'll be boxing them up and requesting them to come pick them up . . . will look into the Sherman panels instead.


KB - I did check on Rock Auto for the Sherman Panels . . . no luck on the Belvedere, they don't carry them . . . BUMMER . . .

SO CLOSE . . . BUT YET SO FAR AWAY . . .

i know its a pain but ship them back and get the better parts. you will be happier in the long run. since you put in all this hard work into it, no cutting corners now. you already know this but we all experience some minor road blocks here an there but we all overcome them. keep plugging 67.

 

[747mopar]

Got back on Amazon Prime and sent in the request to get the (2) panels returned, and got a response back the next day asking if a $100 credit would be enough to compensate for all the extra work needed to use these panels. So my thought was, I got (2) panels, do you mean $100 or $100/panel ? ?

They replied this morning that they sell plenty of these panels and they're offering $50/panel or $100 total refund . . .

Guess I'll be boxing them up and requesting them to come pick them up . . . will look into the Sherman panels instead.


KB - I did check on Rock Auto for the Sherman Panels . . . no luck on the Belvedere, they don't carry them . . . BUMMER . . .

SO CLOSE . . . BUT YET SO FAR AWAY . . .

Don't blame you, $100.00 don't pay for very much fab time to make them right.

 

[tallhair]

Don't blame you, $100.00 don't pay for very much fab time to make them right.

Not to mention the pain in the *** to do it regardless

 

[conv67bdere]

Thanks everyone . . .

Agreed . . . I think it's the right decision to return the panels, even if he's sold a "bunch" and never had any complaints. They're NOT right.


On the positive side, I've got a new set of pedals ordered, after returning the one's I got that just weren't going to work out . . .

Here's where I found them online - they are en-route:

http://www.brewersperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CPK-B66

Hopefully they'll be here the first of the week ! ! !

- - - Updated - - -

i know its a pain but ship them back and get the better parts. you will be happier in the long run. since you put in all this hard work into it, no cutting corners now. you already know this but we all experience some minor road blocks here an there but we all overcome them. keep plugging 67.

So true USA-RR . . . I would not have been happy if I'd used those panels . . . so . . . back they go !

 

[conv67bdere]

Very interesting development . . .

So the company Nor/Am, which sent me the Belvedere quarter panels stated in an E-mail that I could box them both up, and they'll order the shipper to come and pick them up for delivery - that's cool.

Today I get an E-mail stating that the first panel was purchased on 7/22/2013 and they will not allow it to be returned due to how long ago it was "purchased". He we go again with these companies and their "top-notch" customer service programs . . .

So Now I'll have to keep one of the panels - even though I'll never use it - there's a nice slap in the face.

I'll get it boxed up and send it back to them . . . don't have much other choice . . . ( sigh )

- - - Updated - - -

This is a pretty neat video with it too . . . plus the dynamite tune to boot ! !

[video=youtube;qpfhcljJ9bQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfhcljJ9bQ[/video]