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Expereince with Moss motors replacement body panels

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Christopher H

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I'm trying to save up to buy another project car after finishing my last car. With American cars there is a huge difference in the quality of replacement body panels from supplier to supplier.

I've already looked at a few B's that needed moderate body work. Are the moss motors parts good parts?

BTW, I'm still saving cash so please don't flood me with offers to buy a car.

Chris
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I have spoken to several professional restorers , as well as read many similar comments on line. Most people say buy used fenders. None of the repros, no matter who has made them, fit. Bumpers are also of poor quality. It seems better to repair old fenders and rechrome old bumpers. Gas tanks and radiators are also suspect, especially if made in China.
 
I've found most reproduction sheet metal to be of not very good quality. The only exception being a pair of quarter panels from Goodmar from my last project which fit perfectly. They were still using the original GM dies to stamp the part, however.

I think it would be a little different perhaps restoring a car like a Porshe 356 or an Austin-Healy where there was a lot of variance in the original cars.

However, I can't really excuse the fit of body panels I've seen on a lot of "restored" cars.


Thanks for your response.

Chris

[ 01-05-2003: Message edited by: Christopher H ]</p>
 
I used a lot of Moss panels a couple of years ago, and I thought they were great!! Most were made in England. I suspect Moss may have a plant somewhere in China now, so I have no idea what they would be like now, just ask, and make sure you get panels made in England, and if they send you offshore stuff, send it back!! They will figger it out pretty quick!
 
and if you want fiberglass, smoothline is very good. The nice thing is you can still find good used panels around. But when buying a B, buy the most rustfree car you can find. everything else is easy
 
I Have used steelcraft replacement panels which I believe are made in England. These panels fit perfectly with no alterations. I ordered them from obsolete automotive in Ontario Canada but I think Moss carries them as well.
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WLJ
 
You want to ask how much your going to pay for the Candian clearing house fees for exporting into the US. Some politicians got that passed for their relatives and you don't get it back if you return the parts. Also, if you don't like the parts you get from Moss, don't expect them to pay the return postage fees.

SB
 
doing business across the border is definetly a pain in the tusch.. I bought a fender from an individual and spent 2 weeks arguing with customs that it was antique car parts, over 25 years old that were exempt
 
Just be glad that you live in the US not Canada. Just as bad getting stuff here but there is a lot more that's only available in the US.

I looked at buying a Jensen Interceptor II in the US and bringing it back to Canada. To get it in I needed to pay 7% GST on the purchase price, plus A/C tax, plus some mysterious tax because it was not produced in North America origionally. They couldn't tell me how much it would be - maybe some percentage of current value (that would fine), maybe some percentage of origional price, or maybe some percentage of a book value. Needless to say I passed. Makes you wonder how many times a 30 year old car has been taxed in its lifetime.

On the topic of replacement panels - anyone know a good source for Spitfire quarter panels?
 
I agree parts availiability is better in the states,but i have bought some and getting them into Canada is not worth the time or money. It is probably true going the other way as well.There is however some good suppliers here that I have had luck with,but I have the most common LBC, a MGB.
WLJ
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I've had some experience with Steelcraft panels, bought through Proper MG, and with another unidentified brand, also from Proper MG. The Steelcraft panels (lower front fenders, splash panels, "trumpet" reinforcements, dogleg panels, sill assemblies and floors) generally fit well. I think the difficulties I had (panel gaps at the ends of the rockers) were from my own inexperience rather than from panel fit...should have hung the doors to check fit before welding the sills in.

The off-brand part, marked "Made in Taiwan" was a replacement bonnet. It not only didn't fit properly, requiring a lot of rework, it was made of steel so soft as to dent easily under thumb pressure.

I bought new bumpers form a company that advertised in Hemmings called "N.O.S. Distributors". The parts were reproductions and the fit was awful, not to mention the poor quality of the chrome plating, which began peeling off after a few weeks.

When I do my next "B" restoration, I will try for sound used panels first, then stick with Steelcraft for the rest.

Good luck with your project.
 
I have varried experience with after market body panels. Most of them are workable but do require some custom fitting. The worst is Martin Robbey from Great Britain for Jaguar panels. They supposedly have the original fixtures but they must be worn out!!!
Moss has acceptable fits and they are very agreeable to refund if there is a problem. Many times the welding skills can distort the panel and cause the problem
 
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