aftermarket fender vs oem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

C-10volvo · 11-23-2003, 06:23 AM

well, through the turn of events over the past week. story here I am now in search of a new fender. ive seen them in LMC truck and on the 73-87chevytrucks web site for around 100 then add on the 125 for freight. are they even worth that? are they oem quality? should i just go to a gm dealer and order one? does anyone know the price for a GM fender? thanks alot, Ken

ElGracho · 11-23-2003, 12:23 PM

About $250 for a GM fender, yes they are worth it.

78SilveradoSWB · 11-23-2003, 01:24 PM

Ken:

OEM fender and doors are probably the best choice to get for fit and overall quality. Metal thickness is also better. Unfortunately it comes at a price and due to their size and weight, the freight is costly.

You might consider as an alternative, Goodmark brand. Their hood products meet GM's Restoration specifications, but their fenders, doors, etc. do not, but are of above average for quality and fit. I heard they were a pretty good fit for a off shore product.

I plan to buy Goodmark stuff from a local dealer in Aloha named Gold Eagle Classics. They buy regularly from Goodmark and would order them for me and have it shipped out with one of their regular shipments from them, saving me the shipping cost. They typically don't stock truck parts as they specialize in El Caminos, Chevelles, GTO, Nova, classics. but can order for you.

Their website is www.goldeagleclassics.com

If you plan to buy a OEM fender, Carr Chevrolet Auto Parts department is good place to buy. They are in Beaverton.

Jonboy · 11-23-2003, 01:43 PM

I put a Goodmark hood, fenders, inner fenders, and doors on my 73. the only problem with the fenders I had was that I had to slot one of the holes in the hood hinges slightly to get them to bolt up. I still need to do a little bit of alignment, but they all seem to fit pretty decently. If you can do like Mitch and save the shipping, that would be the way to go.

73C20 · 11-23-2003, 02:48 PM

I would agree with what everyone has said above. If you have to replace your fender find a good used one, or spend the money and go OEM. I bought aftermarket parts and am currently in the process of swapping them out.

As for the GoodMark parts being GM approved; the cowls hoods and other parts are indeed "Licensed GM Restoration Parts". That being said they pay GM for the rights to put that on their parts. GM didn't hunt them down and ask them to make GM restoration parts. In fact, the steel cowl hoods are all the same with the exception of the manufacturers stamp on the underside.

The GoodMark parts are a pretty good quality, but when you order they will even tell you that the doors, fenders, tailgates, etc. are crash parts and not GM. Most replacement panels are made overseas and most vendors buy from the same manufacturers; however, some manufacturers make better quality aftermarket parts than others. Just like most electronics are made overseas and some are better products than others. I'm not trying to dampen anybody's spirits, I just thought I'd shed some light from my time spent in the aftermarket parts business.

--Matt

C-10volvo · 11-23-2003, 05:01 PM

thanks guys. i think gm is the way to go then. now i get a new paint job!! yayy

ElGracho · 11-23-2003, 05:15 PM

I'm still curious about what Les Schwab is saying. If they caused the wheel to fall off, they owe you a new fender and the rest of the repairs! Don't let them get off without paying.

11-23-2003, 06:23 AM	#1
C-10volvo Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 1,028	aftermarket fender vs oem well, through the turn of events over the past week. story here I am now in search of a new fender. ive seen them in LMC truck and on the 73-87chevytrucks web site for around 100 then add on the 125 for freight. are they even worth that? are they oem quality? should i just go to a gm dealer and order one? does anyone know the price for a GM fender? thanks alot, Ken __________________ Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3

11-23-2003, 12:23 PM	#2
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	About $250 for a GM fender, yes they are worth it. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

11-23-2003, 01:24 PM	#3
78SilveradoSWB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 1,615	Ken: OEM fender and doors are probably the best choice to get for fit and overall quality. Metal thickness is also better. Unfortunately it comes at a price and due to their size and weight, the freight is costly. You might consider as an alternative, Goodmark brand. Their hood products meet GM's Restoration specifications, but their fenders, doors, etc. do not, but are of above average for quality and fit. I heard they were a pretty good fit for a off shore product. I plan to buy Goodmark stuff from a local dealer in Aloha named Gold Eagle Classics. They buy regularly from Goodmark and would order them for me and have it shipped out with one of their regular shipments from them, saving me the shipping cost. They typically don't stock truck parts as they specialize in El Caminos, Chevelles, GTO, Nova, classics. but can order for you. Their website is www.goldeagleclassics.com If you plan to buy a OEM fender, Carr Chevrolet Auto Parts department is good place to buy. They are in Beaverton. __________________ Mitch 1978 Chevrolet Silverado C 10 454 BB, TH400

11-23-2003, 01:43 PM	#4
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	I put a Goodmark hood, fenders, inner fenders, and doors on my 73. the only problem with the fenders I had was that I had to slot one of the holes in the hood hinges slightly to get them to bolt up. I still need to do a little bit of alignment, but they all seem to fit pretty decently. If you can do like Mitch and save the shipping, that would be the way to go. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

11-23-2003, 02:48 PM	#5
73C20 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 82	I would agree with what everyone has said above. If you have to replace your fender find a good used one, or spend the money and go OEM. I bought aftermarket parts and am currently in the process of swapping them out. As for the GoodMark parts being GM approved; the cowls hoods and other parts are indeed "Licensed GM Restoration Parts". That being said they pay GM for the rights to put that on their parts. GM didn't hunt them down and ask them to make GM restoration parts. In fact, the steel cowl hoods are all the same with the exception of the manufacturers stamp on the underside. The GoodMark parts are a pretty good quality, but when you order they will even tell you that the doors, fenders, tailgates, etc. are crash parts and not GM. Most replacement panels are made overseas and most vendors buy from the same manufacturers; however, some manufacturers make better quality aftermarket parts than others. Just like most electronics are made overseas and some are better products than others. I'm not trying to dampen anybody's spirits, I just thought I'd shed some light from my time spent in the aftermarket parts business. --Matt __________________ 73 C20 42,000 Original Miles

11-23-2003, 05:01 PM	#6
C-10volvo Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 1,028	thanks guys. i think gm is the way to go then. now i get a new paint job!! yayy __________________ Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3

11-23-2003, 05:15 PM	#7
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	I'm still curious about what Les Schwab is saying. If they caused the wheel to fall off, they owe you a new fender and the rest of the repairs! Don't let them get off without paying. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

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