I bought a 71' Console last week for my 4 speed install. It took a week to get here and they charged me $51 to send it UPS which sort of sucked but I got over it once I saw the nice new package on my door! I open it up and it didnt look very impressive, the chrome trip is just... stuck on, not very shiny looks like crap. Ive tried every possible position to get the door installed on the console and it heavily scrapes when opened less than half way, the door hits the console - I swore the hinge was backwards but I tried every way possible. The metal top plate bolt holes also dont line up, when the ones that do line up are forced it (half the bolts, couple on each side) the spacing is totally off in between the console and top plate... am I just doing this wrong, has anyone heard much about these console kits? I feel $300 is not worth it... also the inside boxes were OPG (Original Parts Group) I thought they were different companies? Perhaps I got a return or something, just very very unsatisfied here... hope someone can help.........

yeah, that brings back memories...mine also was all OPG stuff..if I had it to do over again, I would have picked up an original console and restored it..

Yeah I feel like I was mailed a box of junk, just all thrown together and overcharged. I am 75% sure I will try to return this kit tomorrow, I just hope we can work something out with the shipping... 50 bucks to get it here, and another 40 or 50 to get it back... that would suck! I guess I'll find out in the AM. Anyone else had something like this go down? So you still have this OPG kit? Id keep it if they gave me a credit - but for 300 bucks... i shouldnt have to beat on it and tap new holes, no one should... Arg.

HInshaws may have a good used original for less $$

well, let us know how you make out. i got tired of substandard parts, inflated shipping, and NY 'Tude over the phone. My business goes elsewhere, and I have been alot happier. The way I see it GU's main strength is that they happen to sponsor this site, and that is about it. There are other good places out there: NPD, Year One, Hinshaw's..give them your business.

Just a thought, but why dont you look into sending it back to OPG as they are the ones who accually had the junk made?
Arent they in CA. the same state as you, shipping would be alot less, and it would seem to me that GU would be sending it back there if it's that bad anyway.
Although I am sure you are the "only one" who ever had that trouble or complained about it. LOL
T.C.

I'm not sure I would blame the vendors for the quality of some of these parts. I would also find it hard to believe the there would be more than one fabricator for many of the repro parts. Other than customer service and a slight difference in shipping cost, it really doesn't matter who you purchase the parts from. They're all gonna be the same. I've had my share of problems with repro parts fitting, including the console kit for my 71 Chevelle. I somehow made it work. I think I had to shim the lid with some small spacers, which was fairly simple.
I think we all have to look at this another way, and that is, at least these parts are available for Chevelles in repro. Try restoring a car like a 442, AMX, or some other muscle car that you can't get any parts for, except from junk yard cars that have been sitting in the rain for 30 years.

It also comes down to being VERY careful when you buy a car. The less repro parts the better. I put very few repro parts in my 68 because I bought a car that was all there. Refinish, replate, repaint is always gonna be the better way to go.

I bought one from OPGI many years ago and it was very nice.
I wonder why the quality has gone down hill?

when you see that little gold "china" sticker-BEWARE!! It should just say "modifications likely to be required" or "guaranteed non-factory fit". Of all the non GM parts I have bought, some of the nicest were made by Trim Parts...too bad they dont make more items for these cars!

Well I spoke to a guy named Dave over at Ground Up, I havent asked them about returning it to OPG yet... They're just south 5 hours or so from me. Ground Up said they will only refund my shipping if they approve it as defective... im not sure I like the sound of that, but it looks like junk to me, and the holes clearly dont line up without have to modify them. And I couldnt even get the door to fit without major difficulty opening. Im just weary here, they can say anything they want once they recieve it then im out $50 to get it here and another 50 to get it back to them, $100 for nothing? Bad bad bad... I hope it works out! I'll just a straight shifter boot and keep an eye out for an original... im not in the rush I was before about getting a console.

if you send it back to them, make sure you send it via a method that you can track it and get signature history..I have sent items back to them and they have turned around and claimed they never received them back..they are not well organized, another reason why i couldnt take it any more! good luck.

I would call OPGI and tell them you have one of there products that is defective.
I cant say for 100% sure but I bet they are the importer of the console you have.
Didn't it come in OPG boxes/wrapper's?
Then who is really responsible for the product?
The importer/manufacturer or the distributor?
Or both?
The importer is the one who controls the quality not the distributor.
Or take it to OPG if you are close to them and ask that they put it together, when they cant, then ask for a replacement. Just keep all the original boxes and papers.
They may not even question where ya bought it if you go in like you are one of there customers.
They will know it's one of there products and make it rite............................mabe?
T.C.

Ground up sold the part, so they are the one you deal with.

OPGI probably has the parts made for them and wholesales them to others. If they are willing to stand behind the product, good for them, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Yeah I called OPG today they didnt even know who Groundup was... there like uhhhhhhh... it sort of sounds familiar - but they said call them which I already did... I know im going to get reamed on shipping! $100! I wrote a VERY nice letter to put in with the console when they get it back, I was overly nice explaining it wasnt what I expected and had many flaws, please refund full ammount including shipping.. yadda yadda...

Like heck they don't know who Ground Up is. What a pile! They are competitors for God's sake, and obviously they sell to Ground Up! That really steams me. Just like saying Sears never heard of Pennys.

Thats what im saying... he was like ummmm and there was a dead silence. Whatever - I just hope at least they split the shipping with me! I need to find some good swap meets to go to, I never hear about any in Sacramento area...

I was going to say the same thing. They know dang well whom Ground Up is. Just like about 10 years ago when I was looking for a center drag link for my 66SS. Called Year One and asked exactly what brand they carried cause I wasnt about to pay almost double from them if it wasnt a good quality unit.

Guy claimed he was not allowed to give me that information. I told him I was not about to allow myself to spend money with you then either. No matter if its a conflict of intrest between suppliers or companies. I found no excuse for that, I had no intentions of going past them to get the part. But if they wont tell me about thier products then they wont be getting my business.

Phil,

Did you go here and fill out a product review? http://www.chevelles.com/reviews/

I bought a 71' Console last week for my 4 speed install. It took a week to get here and they charged me $51 to send it UPS which sort of sucked but I got over it once I saw the nice new package on my door! I open it up and it didnt look very impressive, the chrome trip is just... stuck on, not very shiny looks like crap. Ive tried every possible position to get the door installed on the console and it heavily scrapes when opened less than half way, the door hits the console - I swore the hinge was backwards but I tried every way possible. The metal top plate bolt holes also dont line up, when the ones that do line up are forced it (half the bolts, couple on each side) the spacing is totally off in between the console and top plate... am I just doing this wrong, has anyone heard much about these console kits? I feel $300 is not worth it... also the inside boxes were OPG (Original Parts Group) I thought they were different companies? Perhaps I got a return or something, just very very unsatisfied here... hope someone can help.........

I left a review - all the years on this site and Ive never been to that section. How cool! Were these kits supposed to come with a lock and key?

I would also find it hard to believe the there would be more than one fabricator for many of the repro parts. Other than customer service and a slight difference in shipping cost, it really doesn't matter who you purchase the parts from. They're all gonna be the same.

I'm afraid you're right. After all, it's not an extremely big market when it comes to items that can ony be used for a specific year and model. I don't think that many manufacturer would tool up for a part like this when there's already a product on the market, even if the existing product is junk.

You can always try to buy another repro console from someone else, but you might be in for an unpleasant surprise when you get it. The only way to be sure is to get good, used parts.

Yeah maybe this is as good as it gets for a reproduction. I dont know if I mentioned this but last summer I bought some wood, that cottom lining stuff, black vinyl and aluminum and went to town on a homemade console. 75% through it I loved it, but towards the end it wasnt what I wanted and I trashed it! Id take that thing out of the garbage before using this stuff :) Well its off in the mail, lets keep fingers crossed on getting my shipping back too.