Repo bumpers fillers...whose really fits?

[steveandtracy]

As the subject line reads.  I was looking for body fillers and ordered the complete front and rear set from North Yale via E-Bay.  All piece except the rear tail light fillers seem as though they will fit correctly.  Upon further research each company that offers a comparable product I could locate had the same basic design flaw.  The aforementioned fillers do not have the proper lip that slide underneath the tail lights and just don't seem correct.  While I'd love to find an original pair (if you have an excellent set without ANY cracks or flaws previous paint is ok, please shoot me an e-mail), otherwise has anyone discovered a seller  of reproduction fillers that works and fits as the originals were designed?

Thanks,

Steve 

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

As the subject line reads.  I was looking for body fillers and ordered the complete front and rear set from North Yale via E-Bay.  All piece except the rear tail light fillers seem as though they will fit correctly.  Upon further research each company that offers a comparable product I could locate had the same basic design flaw.  The aforementioned fillers do not have the proper lip that slide underneath the tail lights and just don't seem correct.  While I'd love to find an original pair (if you have an excellent set without ANY cracks or flaws previous paint is ok, please shoot me an e-mail), otherwise has anyone discovered a seller  of reproduction fillers that works and fits as the originals were designed?

Thanks,

Steve 

Steve:

What year and body style are you looking for?  More info is needed to give you
a good answer.  Mike

[steveandtracy]

Mike,

It's a 75 Eldo Convertible.  I apologize for not being more specific, thanks.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Mike,

It's a 75 Eldo Convertible.  I apologize for not being more specific, thanks.

Steve:

The reproproduction pieces out there today are all ABS -- at least all that I have
seen or know about.  The originals ("rubber" type) for the 70's cars were made from
polyurethane.  After 5+ years they start to crack into pieces - they were never
designed to last that long.  Nobody is making these any longer.

As far as fit / finish -- the ABS pieces being sold are all produced by just two firms
in the U.S. -- but resold by many.  They fit fairly well (some modification with a Dremel
tool helps) and hold up well -- easier to paint since no flex additive is needed.
Downside is that on some of the larger parts they can look "wavy".  Mine are still
perfect since installation.

When I replaced all the fillers on my '73 Eldo about 6 years ago, I used a mix of
original (NOS) and ABS replacements to ge the best "look".  These are the folks I
used as sources:

For ABS replacements:

USA Parts, Manassas, VA (703) 335-1935

For NOS and ABS replacements:

Ted Holcombe, Bensalem PA (215-245-4560)

Good luck and let me know how things turn out !!

Mike