I'm looking to replace my inner fenderwells and need help making a decision.Looking through my magazines I found that they have the medal ones and molded plastic ones.Which one of these should I go with?I did'nt know they made two different ones.Let me know if theirs anything I should watch for when I order these things.I'd also like to know the best place to order these from as well if you fellas don't mind.
Thanks in advance,
JE

I prefer metal.

Any perticular reason or just because it's metal?I also prefer the metal,I just want to check with you guys before I purchase.The wells that are currently in it are plastic and all broken up.
Thanks,
JE

I bought steel inners from GM a few years ago. Check with them first for parts that fit. The repro plastic inners that I saw were pretty poor and the original plastic tended to split around the bolt holes.

Originally posted by Camaro4LifeSS:
Any perticular reason or just because it's metal?I also prefer the metal,I just want to check with you guys before I purchase.The wells that are currently in it are plastic and all broken up.
Thanks,
JE Was your car built in Canada. I think that the Canadian built cars got plastic inner fenders, and US got steel. I am going to be replacing the plastic with metal. I just responded to your post about the weather stripping. As I said there, I think it depends on how far correct you want to go. If you like metal, go metal, and if you like plastic, go plastic. Just my $.02
Chris

For some reason when I hear the word plastic I think cheap. That's one of the reasons these cars are so cool. Very little plastic.

Originally posted by 66 ss:
For some reason when I hear the word plastic I think cheap. That's one of the reasons these cars are so cool. Very little plastic. This is the same mindset that most of us have when we think "plastic". Now I don't know the quality of the plastic inner fender wells, but I do know that polymer technology has advanced GREATLY in the last 10 years or so.

There are plastics nowadays that are so hard that it is being used in the manufacturing industry as stamping dies.

Old plastic technology tended to break down under UV rays (remember 70's - 80's interior door panels and what not?). You don't have that with today's plastics. Polymers are now very durable and can withstand extreme conditions sometimes better than a metal.

Didn't mean to hi-jack this post or anything, but I've been studying manufacturing technology and found this very interesting. Like most of you, I used to think plastic meant "cheap". It's just not the case, for the most part, anymore.

Now, back to the subject at hand...

I purchased metal from Ausley's last year. They did fit real well and look good. I read so many posts about the plastic fenderwells not fitting however I have also heard some of the newer one's now are better. I was afraid to try them so I went with metal. I was very pleased.

I think I may go with the metal.I think that it would leave my options more open with painting them.
Anybody ever order throught Paddock or OPG?These are the catalogs that i've ordered trough before.Just thought i'd see if anybody else has had any experinces with them.
Thanks for your help fellas.

I was just thinking. In the 30 some odd years that the plastic ones were on the car, they never rusted ;) tongue.gif

Paddock and OPG are good companies. I have ordered from them for some things. I prefer to use Ground Up, our sites sponsor. Knowledgable guys and have always tried to go the extra mile if something screwed up to satisfy two thumbs up for them graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Chris

We've got 3 Arlington cars here in one shop with plastic.My '70 and 2 '71s.I think I prefer my plastic ones as compared to the metal ones in the truck-easier to clean and no rust.They do have a couple of cracks though.

Anyone know which is lighter?I'll change to metal if it's lighter.

300Deluxe, You're forgiven.
Maybe the plastic ones are easier to put in, man what a job on the metal ones with out scratching them. Maybe it's just me.