FireRed91Z28

has anyone had any fitment problems with aftermarket front bumper covers? i am looking to replace my old destroyed one but do not want to pay the extra cash for GM original but again i dont want anything that wont be lined up pefectly with the hood/fenders. if anyone has bought an aftermarket front bumper and it fit perfectly, where did you buy it?

Charged350

iTrader: (1)

OK, bear with me, i work at a body shop and all i can tell you, nothing beats original parts, nothing, aftermarket is cheaper for a reason, they are ****, all i have had with aftermarket parts and fitment is nightmares, many times it wont even work, the mounting brakets dont exist, it looks like it was made by a blink 4 year old, spend the extra money and get original parts, you will be much happier and have all of your hair...

But thats just my look on it, get used parts, those fit better then aftermarket even if you have to do some body work...

RebelTillDeath3

Some could say the same about GM parts. We had a customer in our shop that couldn't get a GM fender to fit right on his Camaro.

FireRed91Z28

yea if i were to go aftermarket...these are the parts i need. all 91-92 style parts:
Z28 hood aftermarket or not?
Z28 Bumper aftermarket or not?
Z28 front airdam aftermarket or not?
driver side fender aftermarket or not?

basically what im getting at is, which of the list would i be better off getting original?

and i am most likely getting a reproduction hood so i dont pay $500-600 for an original as i dont see anything that can be different between the two.

fisherbody86

There are a lot that is different between the two. Aftermarket body panels don't line up right, dent easier, and rust easier among other differences.

Do a search on this because in another post about this very issue, there is a link to a study GM conducted about aftermarket body panels. They used like 30 or 40 different test on body panels manufactured by 5 different companies for a 99 Grand AM. The results are stunning.

Bottom line: aftermarket body panels suck. Buy original GM, get used if your cant afford new. Afterall used panels are still factory GM.

fisherbody86

In fact, here's that link. After reading it, (or skimming it because it's long) you will never want to buy aftermarket body panels again.

http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/resource...tingReport.pdf

Charged350

iTrader: (1)

**** aftermarket...tahts what i keep tallin you people...

Vaneat-91RS

Anything is possible, but my experience after 12 years as a GM parts counterman (8 of those with our own bodyshop) is that GM's quality is light years ahead of the aftermarket when it comes to body panels. If you ever get a chance, set two panels next to each other. GM's have better stampings, have all the correct brackets, are simply of a better quality than the competition. Yeah I'm biased, but the bias is also based on experience. Insurance companies often insist on aftermarket parts, and we always had problems with fitment, material quality, and lack of correct brackets, holes, and other necessary pieces for mounting. I've always sworn that if I ever have to replace my own parts on my car, or needed to have an insurance claim, it would be factory only.

AM Racer

My son's a painter and does body work from time to time. He's delt with aftermarket and it pretty much stands that you get what you pay for.
It's a rarity for an OEM piece to have fitment problems, but it can happen. From time to time a shim or 2 is needed as was with the factory.
As far as "Taiwan replacements", they are a much thinner gauge metal and most times require redrilling or a stack of shims to fit. Basically it's a roll of the dice.
Wavy metal comes free and if you want it to look right, will require time filling and sanding.