 Sheetmetal Replacement Quality |
|
|
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
|
  |
| DaveB |
 Dec 4 2021, 02:48 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Member  Group: Members Posts: 163 Joined: 25-November 21 From: Portland, Oregon Member No.: 26,107 Region Association: Pacific Northwest 
 |
I am sorting out a '75 914 and will replace a lot of the sheetmetal. Are there differences in the replacement panels and sheetmetal quality from various manufacturers? I've worked on other makes where we have fit/QA issues with body metal from certain manufacturers. Is there a way to distinguish the sheetmetal manufacturers from suppliers other than price point? If there is a thread on this, just point me over to it - thanks!
DaveB |
   |
 
|
| mepstein |
Dec 4 2021, 03:46 PM
Post
#2
|
|
914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,290 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
|
There’s nos Porsche and then everything else.
|
|
|
|
| dlee6204 |
Dec 4 2021, 04:10 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Howdy Group: Members Posts: 2,162 Joined: 30-April 06 From: Burnsville, NC Member No.: 5,956 |
I've used quite a bit of replacement metal and yes, there is a difference between manufacturers.
Anything Restoration Design develops is usually good stuff. There's always going to be some tweaking needed however theirs is the best IMO. Most of the stuff AA produced/developed requires quite a bit more work. I avoid these items if possible. |
|
|
|
| roblav1 |
Dec 4 2021, 04:26 PM
Post
#4
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 528 Joined: 18-September 12 From: KY Member No.: 14,943 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
OEM is definitely best. RD is pretty good, but I swear their panels are thicker steel than original... but I've never measured.
|
|
|
|
| 914werke |
Dec 4 2021, 04:39 PM
Post
#5
|
|
"I got blisters on me fingers" Group: Members Posts: 10,102 Joined: 22-March 03 From: USofA Member No.: 453 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
|
QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 4 2021, 01:46 PM)  There’s nos Porsche and then everything else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 02:10 PM) Anything Restoration Design develops is usually good stuff. There's always going to be some tweaking needed however theirs is the best IMO. Most of the stuff AA produced/developed requires quite a bit more work. I avoid these items if possible. Not that easy ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) some stuff you buy from RD is AA's & vice versa. |
|
|
|
| dlee6204 |
Dec 4 2021, 04:50 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Howdy Group: Members Posts: 2,162 Joined: 30-April 06 From: Burnsville, NC Member No.: 5,956 |
QUOTE(914werke @ Dec 4 2021, 05:39 PM) QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 4 2021, 01:46 PM) There’s nos Porsche and then everything else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 02:10 PM) Anything Restoration Design develops is usually good stuff. There's always going to be some tweaking needed however theirs is the best IMO. Most of the stuff AA produced/developed requires quite a bit more work. I avoid these items if possible. Not that easy ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) some stuff you buy from RD is AA's & vice versa. You are correct. I chose my words carefully. Developed vs. Sells |
|
|
|
| Unobtanium-inc |
Dec 4 2021, 05:35 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,212 Joined: 29-November 06 From: New York Member No.: 7,276 Region Association: None
|
Even NOS Porsche metal has to be tweeked sometimes so give people like RD a break. Be prepared to do a little slicing and dicing for any replacement panel. Just have snips and a zip wheel handy.
But yes, sometimes replacement metal doesn't fit well, but it's hard to tell who made it because most of the sheet metal people sell the other guys stuff. |
|
|
|
| DaveB |
Dec 4 2021, 08:32 PM
Post
#8
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 163 Joined: 25-November 21 From: Portland, Oregon Member No.: 26,107 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
|
Thanks for the feedback and good info.
In general it sounds like most of the 914 replacement sheetmetal fits with some just requiring more work. I'm not hearing it doesn't fit, which I've experienced with some manufacturers on older US cars. DaveB |
|
|
|
| Montreal914 |
Dec 4 2021, 10:27 PM
Post
#9
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,568 Joined: 8-August 10 From: Claremont, CA Member No.: 12,023 Region Association: Southern California
|
I bought this repair piece from AA for the top rear portion of the front fender where it meets the cowling.
I ended up using a portion of a donor parts car. I was very disappointed in the large radius bend where the rubber trim will squeeze in. With the AA Radius, there would have been a very large gap. Waste of money in my opinion. Here you can see the part removed from my car and the repair piece. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I am not a bodywork person by trade and this might be acceptable for some, but it is not in my mechanical engineer standard. The value in this repair piece is that specific bend and they screwed it up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)   |
|
|
|
| SirAndy |
Dec 4 2021, 10:54 PM
Post
#10
|
|
Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,658 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(Montreal914 @ Dec 4 2021, 08:27 PM) Here you can see the part removed from my car and the repair piece. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I am not a bodywork person by trade and this might be acceptable for some, but it is not in my mechanical engineer standard. The value in this repair piece is that specific bend and they screwed it up. Oh wow, that isn't even close ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) |
|
|
|
| Mark Henry |
Dec 5 2021, 07:38 AM
Post
#11
|
|
that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 05:50 PM) QUOTE(914werke @ Dec 4 2021, 05:39 PM) QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 4 2021, 01:46 PM) There’s nos Porsche and then everything else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 02:10 PM) Anything Restoration Design develops is usually good stuff. There's always going to be some tweaking needed however theirs is the best IMO. Most of the stuff AA produced/developed requires quite a bit more work. I avoid these items if possible. Not that easy ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) some stuff you buy from RD is AA's & vice versa. You are correct. I chose my words carefully. Developed vs. Sells The RD bare steel (galvalume) parts are made in house, parts that are in primer are from other suppliers. QUOTE(roblav1 @ Dec 4 2021, 05:26 PM) OEM is definitely best. RD is pretty good, but I swear their panels are thicker steel than original... but I've never measured. IIRC 22 gauge, about the same as OE. From what I have bought and have seen RD is the hands down best aftermarket panels. Their shop is top notch and they put profits back into making us more products. They've made huge investment putting a new large addition on and ever year they have more machines, dies and inventory. We're lucky to have RD. |
|
|
|
| Unobtanium-inc |
Dec 5 2021, 09:11 AM
Post
#12
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,212 Joined: 29-November 06 From: New York Member No.: 7,276 Region Association: None
|
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Dec 5 2021, 05:38 AM) QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 05:50 PM) QUOTE(914werke @ Dec 4 2021, 05:39 PM) QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 4 2021, 01:46 PM) There’s nos Porsche and then everything else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) QUOTE(dlee6204 @ Dec 4 2021, 02:10 PM) Anything Restoration Design develops is usually good stuff. There's always going to be some tweaking needed however theirs is the best IMO. Most of the stuff AA produced/developed requires quite a bit more work. I avoid these items if possible. Not that easy ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) some stuff you buy from RD is AA's & vice versa. You are correct. I chose my words carefully. Developed vs. Sells The RD bare steel (galvalume) parts are made in house, parts that are in primer are from other suppliers. QUOTE(roblav1 @ Dec 4 2021, 05:26 PM) OEM is definitely best. RD is pretty good, but I swear their panels are thicker steel than original... but I've never measured. IIRC 22 gauge, about the same as OE. From what I have bought and have seen RD is the hands down best aftermarket panels. Their shop is top notch and they put profits back into making us more products. They've made huge investment putting a new large addition on and ever year they have more machines, dies and inventory. We're lucky to have RD. Not to mention they made a whole Speedster from scratch! Attached image(s) 
|
|
|
|
| 930cabman |
Dec 5 2021, 09:45 AM
Post
#13
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,099 Joined: 12-November 20 From: Buffalo Member No.: 24,877 Region Association: North East States
|
Restoration Design located in Ontario is superior, including their customer service. Joe Blow can call and speak with one of the owners and get positive results. I would bet OEM is probably the best, but availability and $$ leave something to be desired.
|
|
|
|
| 9146C |
Dec 5 2021, 09:47 AM
Post
#14
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 228 Joined: 14-September 19 From: US Member No.: 23,460 Region Association: None
|
I added this photo to my build thread about 1-1/2 years ago. Two different manufacturers of door jams.
The one on the right (the grey one) is the Restoration Design replacement. Probably worth posting again in this thread. Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| davep |
Dec 5 2021, 10:06 AM
Post
#15
|
|
914 Historian Group: Benefactors Posts: 5,151 Joined: 13-October 03 From: Burford, ON, N0E 1A0 Member No.: 1,244 Region Association: Canada  |
Restoration Design has the advantage of a lot of NOS parts to scan and use for die design. Some parts will not be exact for your car due to the many design iterations over the years. RD can afford to have only one die for a part most times, so they have to choose which iteration of the original to duplicate.
|
|
|
|
| Unobtanium-inc |
Dec 5 2021, 10:56 AM
Post
#16
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,212 Joined: 29-November 06 From: New York Member No.: 7,276 Region Association: None
|
QUOTE(930cabman @ Dec 5 2021, 07:45 AM) Restoration Design located in Ontario is superior, including their customer service. Joe Blow can call and speak with one of the owners and get positive results. I would bet OEM is probably the best, but availability and $$ leave something to be desired. They go to great pains to make their stuff as close as possible, I know because I have a standing agreement to sell them any NOS metal I find. This was one such haul that went directly to Canada, didn't pass GO. Green metal isn't cheap, so the fact that they pay heavy to get it right should say a lot about their commitment to quality. Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| 930cabman |
Dec 5 2021, 12:50 PM
Post
#17
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,099 Joined: 12-November 20 From: Buffalo Member No.: 24,877 Region Association: North East States
|
These days, anyone with an even marginal "customer service policy" gets my hard earned $$ and RD hits a home run. I recently used a couple of their new door jambs, worked/fit/looked perfect.
|
|
|
|
| peteyd |
Dec 17 2021, 02:56 PM
Post
#18
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 707 Joined: 27-March 08 From: Elora, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 8,858 Region Association: Canada |
Hey Guys,
I just noticed this thread and just wanted to say thanks to everyone that purchases our product and then lets others know about their experience. That by far is the best advertising I can get. We do strive to make great fitting product, and I welcome feedback whenever you guys have any. We do sell other vendors products and vice versa. That is the only time that I am not able to control the quality of the parts. All our panels are made from galvaneel. Floorpans are usually made from 18 gauge, which is only .005"-.01" thicker than the original 19 gauge that the Germans used. Most of the newly developed products are stamped out of 19 gauge metal, so the thickness is nearly spot on. I have many NOS parts scanned and tools designed for the 914. I just need to complete the speedster project we are working on. That is what is taking all our efforts and time currently. Pete |
|
|
|
| Root_Werks |
Dec 17 2021, 03:49 PM
Post
#19
|
|
Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,326 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
|
Bought a couple of repair panels from RD and both fit and looked great. Very appreciative to have metal panels for a 914.
20 years from now, we'll be able to assemble a complete 914 from new panels much like a 356 today. |
|
|
|
| Mark Henry |
Dec 19 2021, 06:29 AM
Post
#20
|
|
that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
QUOTE(9146C @ Dec 5 2021, 10:47 AM) I added this photo to my build thread about 1-1/2 years ago. Two different manufacturers of door jams. The one on the right (the grey one) is the Restoration Design replacement. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-23460-1638719168_thumb.jpg) I had both these parts in my hands, absolute no comparison the RD part easily was the vastly better part. The blue panel was so thin you could piss through it and the stamping was just wrong beyond belief. |
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 26th May 2024 - 11:07 PM |
Invision Power Board
v9.1.4 © 2024 IPS, Inc.