QUOTE(morph @ Sep 25 2009, 08:07 AM)
The factory unit is made in injecteted resin mold. They laid a cottonlike fiberglass in a mold and injected the resin.ALL of the factory units have the part # molded into them. The seats and the tops where made the same way. If you pull apart a 75-76 seat you will most likely see the air they left in the parts, They didnt seem to care after they realised no one would see the air unless you take the seat apart.
For being a aftermarket builder we find our selves building restorstion quality parts all the time.
Sorry jeff we do not have pictures of smooth backed unit we havent made one yet.
We can build one. We have been building our regular le unit for few years.
Thank you to all of you who have bought and endorsed us for over 6 years.
james
Hi James
Clarification, please: Your front LE valance is fiberglass like those sold by other resellers, no? Sounds like it's much better built/laid, with proper attention to details, etc...but the construction is more or less the same as the others, yes?
Basically, my experience with these (I've never seen one of yours as the others sent me running back to the steel pan) is that they are brittle and chip easily. The mounting points seem to be a source of weakness, as they wear with vibration/bumps/air pressure/etc, and eventually give. I don't know about your piece, but the others I've used have not had any reinforcement in the mounting spots. Also, I got tired of constantly having to do paint touch-ups from all the chips.
This is why I like the idea of a plastic piece. Flexibility. Color is in the material, so no need to paint initially or perform touch-ups over time. Dr 914's $100 price seems extremely reasonable to me given these benefits, considering that a fiberglass valance is $70-90+, and you still have to paint it (which is easily $100+ if outsourced).
I'm probably in the minority here, but exactly matching the factory LE valance is not important to me. I'm more interested in the materials and construction.
For those who haven't dealt with James, he's the best! Great products, excellent service, top-notch custom work. And he KNOWS these cars!
-duc