71 Dodge Polara Brougham coupe

[71Polara383]

So AMS obsolete or FMMOPAR on ebay... I dont know what to say...I drove 750 miles one way for this quarter. I did buy it for cheaper then originally listed. But am I wrong to expect more from a 50 year old panel? I know moving em forever will cause ware and tear that SHOULD BE NOTED. I need it badly to fix my car and get it straight again. I did get into the van and start to drive off before I composed myself, went back and made them work with me on it because somehow I think it is better then my rotten smashed panel. They did not accurately describe the panel at all...oh and not to mention I saw a ton of used and NOS sheetmetal laying in WET GRASS. Not selling enough of your overpriced parts for cars few people actually care about enough to fix up? I can tell...some nice Polara fenders are rusting up.
Do they have some hard to find parts? Absolutely. No doubt. Terrible descriptions and not too much compensation for any miscommunication on THEIR end is bad business in my opinion. I will only go get raped by them again if i have no choice. Id almost rather have a car be incorrect then go through this again. Ill let the pics do the talking..

 

[LocuMob]

So AMS obsolete or FMMOPAR on ebay... I dont know what to say...I drove 750 miles one way for this quarter. I did buy it for cheaper then originally listed. But am I wrong to expect more from a 50 year old panel? I know moving em forever will cause ware and tear that SHOULD BE NOTED. I need it badly to fix my car and get it straight again. I did get into the van and start to drive off before I composed myself, went back and made them work with me on it because somehow I think it is better then my rotten smashed panel. They did not accurately describe the panel at all...oh and not to mention I saw a ton of used and NOS sheetmetal laying in WET GRASS. Not selling enough of your overpriced parts for cars few people actually care about enough to fix up? I can tell...some nice Polara fenders are rusting up.
Do they have some hard to find parts? Absolutely. No doubt. Terrible descriptions and not too much compensation for any miscommunication on THEIR end is bad business in my opinion. I will only go get raped by them again if i have no choice. Id almost rather have a car be incorrect then go through this again. Ill let the pics do the talking..

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That's just criminal right there.

 

[saforwardlook]

So AMS obsolete or FMMOPAR on ebay... I dont know what to say...I drove 750 miles one way for this quarter. I did buy it for cheaper then originally listed. But am I wrong to expect more from a 50 year old panel? I know moving em forever will cause ware and tear that SHOULD BE NOTED. I need it badly to fix my car and get it straight again. I did get into the van and start to drive off before I composed myself, went back and made them work with me on it because somehow I think it is better then my rotten smashed panel. They did not accurately describe the panel at all...oh and not to mention I saw a ton of used and NOS sheetmetal laying in WET GRASS. Not selling enough of your overpriced parts for cars few people actually care about enough to fix up? I can tell...some nice Polara fenders are rusting up.
Do they have some hard to find parts? Absolutely. No doubt. Terrible descriptions and not too much compensation for any miscommunication on THEIR end is bad business in my opinion. I will only go get raped by them again if i have no choice. Id almost rather have a car be incorrect then go through this again. Ill let the pics do the talking..

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My experience with any NOS sheetmetal is that it is usually far from being the quality or authenticity of the original panels that Chrysler used in their assembly plants - almost like they are rejects from the assembly line in most cases. A friend of mine had found some NOS valences for his 1970 300 and when he received them, they had clear cracks in some of the formed areas of the panels that appeared to be production rejects (and had a pentastar logo ink stamped on them). It took some time to repair them, but they were better than most of the originals from parts vehicles that he was able to find anymore. I have other friends who have had the same experiences with Mopar NOS replacement sheetmetal.

That AMS Obsolete would store them outside in that climate seems absurd to me though, adding insult to injury. Sorry you had to go through all that hassle. Most of the parts I have received from them have been pretty good, even if expensive (they are easily the highest priced parts vendor around, but they are also the only ones who seem to have the NOS parts left in many cases that we need).

For me personally, I would rather have sheet metal cut out of an Arizona car in a wrecking yard and have it shipped to me if I needed a panel badly. Usually my body guy can fix almost anything I have that is damaged, but in some rare instances I have used the Arizona wrecking yards to acquire sheet metal I need. That is where the replacement fender came from that went along with the 1971 Monaco you obtained from me. It was really pretty expensive, but I wanted the best for that Monaco. And even the replacement fender you received had some damage to it, but nothing that couldn't be fixed really well either.

The joys of restoration.............when you get done, then you can appreciate the results and the lessons learned that make you better for them.

 

[71Polara383]

My experience with any NOS sheetmetal is that it is usually far from being the quality or authenticity of the original panels that Chrysler used in their assembly plants - almost like they are rejects from the assembly line in most cases. A friend of mine had found some NOS valences for his 1970 300 and when he received them, they had clear cracks in some of the formed areas of the panels that appeared to be production rejects (and had a pentastar logo ink stamped on them). It took some time to repair them, but they were better than most of the originals from parts vehicles that he was able to find anymore. I have other friends who have had the same experiences with Mopar NOS replacement sheetmetal.

That AMS Obsolete would store them outside in that climate seems absurd to me though, adding insult to injury. Sorry you had to go through all that hassle. Most of the parts I have received from them have been pretty good, even if expensive (they are easily the highest priced parts vendor around, but they are also the only ones who seem to have the NOS parts left in many cases that we need).

For me personally, I would rather have sheet metal cut out of an Arizona car in a wrecking yard and have it shipped to me if I needed a panel badly. Usually my body guy can fix almost anything I have that is damaged, but in some rare instances I have used the Arizona wrecking yards to acquire sheet metal I need. That is where the replacement fender came from that went along with the 1971 Monaco you obtained from me. It was really pretty expensive, but I wanted the best for that Monaco. And even the replacement fender you received had some damage to it, but nothing that couldn't be fixed really well either.

The joys of restoration.............when you get done, then you can appreciate the results and the lessons learned that make you better for them.

I just wish they would have disclosed actual condition better then 3 minor bends that are the least of my worries. But I have it and I am gonna make it work. They didnt seem to open about showing me around besides letting me walk the yard. I was prepared to spend a bit more on other things they have i could use but the attitude was off. Like it upset or inconvenienced them I was there bright and early ready to look at mopars and get my part and get back to Illinois while i had daylight. The lady was pretty nice though.

 

[cantflip]

So AMS obsolete or FMMOPAR on ebay... I dont know what to say...I drove 750 miles one way for this quarter. I did buy it for cheaper then originally listed. But am I wrong to expect more from a 50 year old panel? I know moving em forever will cause ware and tear that SHOULD BE NOTED. I need it badly to fix my car and get it straight again. I did get into the van and start to drive off before I composed myself, went back and made them work with me on it because somehow I think it is better then my rotten smashed panel. They did not accurately describe the panel at all...oh and not to mention I saw a ton of used and NOS sheetmetal laying in WET GRASS. Not selling enough of your overpriced parts for cars few people actually care about enough to fix up? I can tell...some nice Polara fenders are rusting up.
Do they have some hard to find parts? Absolutely. No doubt. Terrible descriptions and not too much compensation for any miscommunication on THEIR end is bad business in my opinion. I will only go get raped by them again if i have no choice. Id almost rather have a car be incorrect then go through this again. Ill let the pics do the talking..

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[71Polara383]

Am I wrong? I get its old and huge and theres gonna be some defects, but shouldn't ALL of them be disclosed and hopefully photographed for serious buyers? They could have described it better and given me a better deal then they did considering the driver side looks great for the same price....

 

[71Polara383]

That's just criminal right there.

No this is...

 

[LocuMob]

Don't you ever sleep? Wait, you're probably already test fitting the quarter panel.

 

[65sporty]

I don't get it, large building in the background and all those fenders lying on the ground. Build more storage if you need to.

 

[71Polara383]

I don't get it, large building in the background and all those fenders lying on the ground. Build more storage if you need to.

Probably stuffed full of NOS parts they want a premium for, for cars not many people are spending big bucks on restoring. Like 71 Polaras.

 

[71Polara383]

I tried something new on this patch and will continue to use this method from here on out. I got the patch trimmed and fit in. Then I used self tappers and went around and used them to pull the floor tight to the rails because clamping wont work for this. Brought the floor nice and tight to the rails and I started welding it in. About 20 minutes into working I noticed my helmet was not auto darkening like it should. New battery is at home so I am taking a break and going to get the battery swapped out so I can still see tomorrow. Heres where I am at now.

 

[71Polara383]

Well it's in. My plan worked pretty good. No visible seams on the underside for this section. Another hour or so finishing up some final welding and it will be on to the last couple spots in the floor.

The monza is gone and that gave me the opportunity to throw the Brougham on wheel dollies to move around the shop easier.

 

[71Polara383]

This has me sold on ditching the BSM. I like how clean it makes the car look. Could do without the demon sticker.

 

[LocuMob]

This has me sold on ditching the BSM. I like how clean it makes the car look. Could do without the demon sticker.

 

[71Polara383]

This has me sold on ditching the BSM. I like how clean it makes the car look. Could do without the demon sticker.

The three of you guys prefer the demon sticker?

 

[polara71]

Removing the body side moldings is the lazy mans way of not reinstalling the Moldings ..

 

[LocuMob]

BSM yes.

BSM no.

Polara = BSM

Monaco = no BSM. I know my examples aren't the correct year, but you get my point.

 

[71Polara383]

Removing the body side moldings is the lazy mans way of not reinstalling the Moldings ..

I disagree. I have gone the distance to try and build this car with the idea of what I would have ordered new at the dealer. I dont like the BSM.

 

[71Polara383]

Got the floor ground down and coated in etching primer for the time being. I think it came out pretty good. Not perfect by any means, but I am pretty proud of the result. This is my first time doing this level of metal work, they will only get better and better from here.

 

[saforwardlook]

Got the floor ground down and coated in etching primer for the time being. I think it came out pretty good. Not perfect by any means, but I am pretty proud of the result. This is my first time doing this level of metal work, they will only get better and better from here.

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I like that you are inventing and experimenting with repairs in areas that don't matter that much, and going forward with a vengeance. I like the BSMs myself, but I am an old fogie who thinks of these cars as they were in the past. Somehow, a Polara without the standard BSMs just looks wrong to me. But it is your car, is my bottom line.

At least it has whitewalls on it, at least for now!