To Reproduce or to Sell? (NOS 69-72 GMC Core Support) Thats the question!!

[Classic Heartbeat]

I just got off the phone with "low'n slow" (great guy to talk to) about an idea that he had and I wish him well with it. However it got me to thinking about a part that I just aquired. I just aquired an NOS 69-72 GMC Radiator Core Support, and was just going to sell it, but my conversation with "low'n Slow" got me to thinking about having them reproduced. I know that there is a huge need for them, but my Panel project needs a Duramax donor truck too!! What to do? I just thought that I would run it buy you guys here!! This as you know is an extreemly rare part, and these chances do not come up that often!! Let me know your thoughts. WES

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

I just got off the phone with "low'n slow" (great guy to talk to) about an idea that he had and I wish him well with it. However it got me to thinking about a part that I just aquired. I just aquired an NOS 69-72 GMC Radiator Core Support, and was just going to sell it, but my conversation with "low'n Slow" got me to thinking about having them reproduced. I know that there is a huge need for them, but my Panel project needs a Duramax donor truck too!! What to do? I just thought that I would run it buy you guys here!! This as you know is an extreemly rare part, and these chances do not come up that often!! Let me know your thoughts. WES

WES...I think you have answered your question. If there is a market for a part that is not avaliable then you have a built in customer base. Along with that I would private label these for other vendors to get more exposure. JMHO Good Luck.

[Husker]

If ya reproduce them would not the headlight buckets be the only thing ya need?
Ron

[Riveted1]

I'd say reproduce em. You know there is a market for a correct-fitting repop.

[Classic Heartbeat]

WES...I think you have answered your question. If there is a market for a part that is not avaliable then you have a built in customer base. Along with that I would private label these for other vendors to get more exposure. JMHO Good Luck.

Problem is, I wouldn't get an exclusive, because I can't aford to pay for that. Everybody that sell reproductions would be able to buy them. Examples: Blazer rocker boxes, rocker box end caps, blazer rear quarter front lower patch, suburban lower quarters, suburban taillight sections, Fleetside steel bottom rear tailpans, fleetside rear fender skirts, fleetside steel bottom cross sills, drip rails, and a few more parts that I am probably forgetting. All were parts that I have sent in to have reproduced, with no real return for me, other than the fact that I have them availible to sell now. However everyone else has them too, and they also are better able to market them, so they are the ones to proffit from it. This is why wherever possible I make the part myself.
Examples: Blazer Rocker Box Reinforcement panel, Blazer rear floor support, Blazer cargo area to floor step down patches, Cheyenne tailgate handle covers, 67-68 bucket seat bracket, radiator covers, electric fan shrouds, now working on the Blazer front lower quarter reinforcement panel. These are parts that I do, or at least have done localy as exclusive Classic Heartbeat parts.

If ya reproduce them would not the headlight buckets be the only thing ya need?
Ron

Yes that is realy all that is needed, however the manufacturer likes to have NOS pieces to use as a guide to make the reproductions.

The bottom line for me is I, like everyone else has to think about making a living. I guess that if I don't see a good proffit from it from reproducing it, then I guess I just as soon as sell it and use the money to help fund the 67 Panel Project. WES

[smokekiki]

Sell it to another vendor that would want to reproduce it.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Sell it to another vendor that would want to reproduce it.

No need for that. It will most likely be sent in to be reproduced. That is unless the manufacturer just doesn't want to reproduce them. I was mostly expressing my frustrations with the manufacturers. I know if you can't step up to pay for tooling and the entire first run, you will not get any kind of an exclusive on the part. However a better discount on the parts would be nice... My problem as a vender is that I am just as much an inthusiest. It's not always about the money, it is about the trucks for me! WES

[ksjh1316]

As much as I would have liked to have had a chance to order a repop GMC core support, I would have loved if someone had a patch panel available for the side under the battery. This would have saved me some stress of having a panel made as the rest of my core suport was beautiful except a small section where the bottom meets the support running up the back

[70' GMC]

I would buy one but cant find them no where and if you find one its rusted to heck and back or bent like mine from cough cough the pole last year

[bad6772]

Good Luck Wes what ever you choice is......

[Ozona]

Man, I'd sure like to have one of those. About to get started on bodywork on my GMC, and...like most the rad support is mostly gone under the battery. Build 'em, sell them in primer or black powdercoat. Wow would it be nice to just order one and the other parts I need.

[truckdude239]

anything that can be reproduced should be to me i just wish they'd repo the long bed sides

[19673ontree]

67 to 72 radiator support's are already reproduced ?
I put a brand new one in my 67 and it fit like a glove !!

[ksjh1316]

Originally Posted by 19673ontree

67 to 72 radiator support's are already reproduced ?
I put a brand new one in my 67 and it fit like a glove !!

The Chevys are out but us GMC folk are still SOL

[odog]

Tough choice. It would benefit a lot of OTHERS for YOU to reproduce it, but how much would it benefit YOU? It's always nice to do for others, but sometimes ya gotta look out for your best interest. Good luck in your choice.

Erik

[special-K]

I don`t understand why a good clean GMC core support doesn`t bring as much as a repro dime a dozen Chevy support...like 1/2.I see them go for $100.I feel good clean used OEM sheetmetal should cost at least as much as a repro.
Why can`t they use a good clean used $100 support?

[Classic Heartbeat]

I have emailed the manufacturer. We will see what they say. WES

[jaros44sr]

You only need one headlite bucket, as they are the same right to left side...didn't know if you knew that. I already gave a GMC bucket to a remanufactorer

Good luck and thanks for the previous parts you have made available to us

[Huck]

There are probably 100 Chev trucks for 1 GMC which makes good quality NOS GMC stuff rare. That is also tough to justify repop. Example--real nice GMC tailgates are hard to find but even harder to sell. I have a 67 driver quality --very straight and a real nice 72 full trimmed and for 4 days at a swap meet---with no price on the items--got very little interest! Oh I can list them on e-bay or the board but shipping them is more trouble then they are worth to me. I have some really nice GMC headlight buckets available but quite honestly, they too have gone to many swap meets with no interest. Would be more interested in a 67-68 headlight bucket solution for 69-72 rad supports.

[70' GMC]

I wouldnt mind going from 4 headlights to 2 but I wanna keep it a GMC.

[MudBug]

I,Ve been searching junk yard for a few years to get one. I would probaly buy one to save having to rebuild ones I got.

[michael bustamante]

I was at the u pull it this weekend and as I was pulling the fender from a 69 GMC, 2 guys were about ready to fight over who would get the rad support from this truck. I'm thinking there is somewhat of a demand for these,

[Classic Heartbeat]

Being in the business of selling parts, I definetly know there is a demand for the GMC core support. I get calls for them all the time. Even though the demand may be less, so is the tooling cost to offset it. So in my opinion it's a wash, however I have to convince the manufacturer of that. Sending off a set of stands to have produced is good, however the manufacturer needs a support with the stands mounted on it to know where to weld the new ones on. I still haven't received an answer from them though as of this morning. WES

[54blackhornet]

The headlight buckets for GMC's can be removed and reinstalled on a Chevy core support, after you remove the Chevy 2 light buckets. I have 3 good supports i do not need. Let me know if anyone needs them.No rust in Northeast Oregon