Hi guys. I did quite a bit of forum searching on the plastic inner fenderwells, but I didn't find out if anyone has used the allegedly "new" plastic inner fenderwells for '68-'72 from OPGI. These allegedly are an improved design, and are on sale until Dec. 31st for $149. I see that in general, the plastic wells are disliked; but can anyone lend any input on these new ones? I'm just putting together a "nice driver" '70 Elky that I intend to sell, and the originals are cracked up... so I thought dropping $149 on a repop set to clean up the engine compartment would be worth it - unless they're junk! I can probably find a set of used steel ones for under $100 somewhere, but by the time I get done stripping/prepping/painting them I might as well have spent the $149. Any input? Thanks in advance.

So why doesn't anyone like the plastic ones? I'm in the same boat as you....I need new innner fenderwells but don't want to pay an arm and a leg for them. Just want them to look good, and hold up decent.

Originally posted by Got_CID?:
So why doesn't anyone like the plastic ones? Plastic Inner Fenders
by John Muha

“These new inner plastic fenders don’t fit.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“Almost have to stretch them to go in. Can’t get the rear bolts into the body”
“Must be installing them wrong”
“Take the bolts out of the old one and put the bolts into the new one. What’s wrong with that?”
“Car must have been wreacked. That’s what’s causing the problem.”
“Car wasn’t wreaked. That’s not the problem.”
“How do you know?”
“Cause I didn’t wreak it.”
“Maybe the last guy wreaked it?”
“I am the last guy. I bought it new from Chevy.”
“Nobody else has complained.”
“I can’t believe they fit on all the other cars except mine.”
“Nobody else returned them. Want your money back or want to try another one. We’ll mail back your money next week.”
“Let me try another one.”
*Still don’t fit.*

Originally posted by Got_CID?:
So why doesn't anyone like the plastic ones? I bought a pair of the plastic ones for my 72 thinking I was saving money. After fighting with them for about 3 days, I finally realized that they weren't going to fit. I wasn't able to return them as I had done some cutting on the drivers side one, and they are only sold in pairs(plus it had been a year since I bought them). I bought a pair of steel ones from Goodmark, and they went on with no problems at all. I have heard that the new ones from OPG are supposed to fit better, but I still wouldn't buy them without an absolute guarantee that if they didn't fit, I could return them at any time for a complete refund.

My originals were plastic. When the time came, I bought metal ones. They slid right in, fit was perfect. The only mod I had to make was to drill the holes to mount the heater valve (AC Car). Just scuffed, painted semigloss black and bolted in.

I can't say anything about a new plastic inner design. But I put plastic inners in my 72. I got them from NPD. I had to trim the front edge of one a little and elongate a couple of holes. I must have the only pair in the nation that fit. I was reassemebling the front clip so everything was loose at the time, but I really didn't have that much trouble with them. I think the biggest problem I had was the battery box hole didn't line up correctly so I had to re-drill it.

I am going to use metal on the 70, but just so I can paint them body color in the engine compartment.

I use the ney opgi weel whells and they are nothing like the originals...I only put like half of the screws they are supposed to have because some of them are miss alligned not to mention you have to try and stretch the plastic.....OVER ALL THEY SUCK graemlins/angry.gif

Has anyone used NOS fenderwells? I had a set and they didn't fit either......at least not how I thought they would. I was redrilling holes too..........

Tony Z...Were the NOS ones you used plastic or steel?

Hi,
My 69 300 Deluxe came originally with plastic wheel wells. During the restoration process I purchased some NOS plastic ones (which I later found out were for Monte Carlo's) and would require trimming, also the finish was matte not semi-gloss as were the originals. The supplier Tamraz's in Plainfied, IL was good enough to take them back in exchange for the steel ones (even after several years I had them in storage, although unused) I put the steel ones from Goodmark in, they fit well. Since then, I did hear the new plastic ones are supposed to fit and look better.
If weight and originality are a concern, try the plastic but, as was noted earlier if fit-up is unacceptablle be sure you can return them for credit or exchange for the metal ones. Hope this adds a little insight on the "plastic" problem.
graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Steve

Originally posted by TDW:
Tony Z...Were the NOS ones you used plastic or steel? I have the plastic ones I bought YEARS ago from GM..................

Hi,
Just a clarification. It was (is) my understanding that the reason the early plastic ones did not fit well is that they (GM and suppliers) were out of OEM inner fenders for Chevelles, and they still had a supply of Monte Carlo inner fenders and they were a close fit, so they started supplying them. This was approx. 15yrs. ago. I don't know how long this continued, before and after this time frame. Can anyone out there confirm or refute this?...
Steve graemlins/waving.gif

Thanks for all of the valuable input. I'm still unsure what I'm gonna do. I think I'll keep looking for a cheap set of decent steel wells until the end of the month, and if I don't find any I'll grab those OPGI plastic ones before the sale ends. Thanks again to all.

I didn't think the steel ones cost that much more. I did a quick search on eBay - here's two links, one for the RH Fenderwell (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2447830098&category=34204) and one for the LH Fenderwell (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6783&item=2447267467). Buy It Now price is $89.95 for each - that's only $30 for the pair more than the sale price on the plastic ones, and after reading the comments on the fit of the plastic ones, I'd say it's well worth it.

Thanks, 68Elkie, I'm gonna have to really consider that - seems like a good idea.

I just ordered a set........they are backordered a few weeks. The description on thier webpage seem to address all the past fitment issues. I will let you know how they fit once I get them.