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frustrating reproductions

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fmichaels

fmichaels

Jedi Knight
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spent last night mounting the fenders to the new repro front cowl. the new cowl looks great until you bolt it down and try to match up the fenders. i'm really starting to hate repro stuff. after times like this, you really begin to appreciate a decent condition original.
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anyway. i have about a 3/4" gap on the drivers side between the cowl and fender. this is the front section that is bolted together using three bolts. the chrome valance strip fits pretty good but if i close that gap, the valance doesn't fit and the grill doesn't fit. i have found that the more time you take to work the pieces, the better the fit becomes but this last gap is a winner. this is the reason i am putting my sprite together before painting. if i had to do what i was doing last night after a new paint job, i would have done lasting damage. well, another day and another session!
 
Preachin' to th' choir, Fred. We've all BTDT... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
i know ... it's just so time consuming and let me tell you about how many times i put the fenders on and off before i got to this point! can't be perfect, but i can try! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif ... oh and the hood is next ... should be a blast!
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it is starting to look pretty nice though... i will have to update my website with some new pics .. the engine and transmission are getting anxious.
 
Not to mention the weather is now starting to shape up for ya!

Hammer-n-Tongs, bruvver!! Hammer-n-Tongs. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
I feel for you...

setup1.jpg
 
I think every group has this problem with restoration parts,

"close enough" seems to be "good enough" for most restoration parts,

Its a pity because most of it could be fixed before the order is made by the supplier to the factory in china,

They normally get a sample piece to check before the final pieces are made.
for whatever reason they accept poorly made samples thinking they will get better !, and then they accept poorly made final parts,

Its the Importers / guys paying for the tooling etc that need to return bad parts to the Chinese factory....

I guess we can go on and on about this ,

i think we all feel your pain....

Beaulieu
 
racingenglishcars said:
I feel for you...

setup1.jpg
Click to expand...

Just looking at that picture makes me shudder. I once had someone tell me the Brits will restore a car from four bolts. Looks like the Scandanavians will too. Good Luck!
 
It's amazing how many original pictures (or pictures of originals I should say) that I've seen where the fitting is less than perfect. It must have been a "great if it works out-oh well if it doesn't" situation.
 
Did you not see the small sticker.

"Some fitment required"
 
10musketeer said:
It's amazing how many original pictures (or pictures of originals I should say) that I've seen where the fitting is less than perfect. It must have been a "great if it works out-oh well if it doesn't" situation.
Click to expand...

This is a production compromise, where the cost of increased quality doesn't necessairly offset the increase in revenue. The Japanese have found other methods of cost cutting and the general quality of production has increased so much so that they can offer a car with much better quality for less (comparable) price.

But still no class!!!

Donn
 
I'm going on two years my wife wouldn't let me keep garage space that long. Shudder isn't the word for that picture, sure hope you have more out of view.

Mark
 
Actually that's a good picture because it shows just about everything. The bonnet is in the back, just behind the ETZ250 motorcycle. The boot is just visable on the left. The floors and panels are just in front of the car. Engine under the green tarp. Dashboard just behind the welder between the MC and the bonnet. Floor reinforcements under the car.

And my wife doesn't deal with the inside of the garage. That's MY space, and that's why I bought the house. (I also have the 210 Duett in the garage and an Alfa, Land Rover, Amazon and Polo in the driveway. That's not her space either.) She gets the garden.
 
Never saw any brand new spridgets on the lot, but I saw plenty of brand new minis (real minis) and the seams were not perfect on many of them when new. I specifically remember pointing out to a salesman a brand new mini at the austin/rover dealer that the door fit flush at the top but was sticking out about 1/8" at the bottom. What did he do? He called this big burly fellow out from the back and this guy looked at it and opened the door and grabed it top and bottom and got all red faced and twisted it!
 
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