Condition of reproduction trim parts for 68 Charger

[hemi-ed]

What is the condition of the reproduction parts being made today?  In particular the gas cap & ring for the 68 charger and the tail light moldings including the trunk lid molding.

[bull]

The gas cap trim ring is nice. Really difficult to tell that's it's anything but original. Same with the tail panel trim IMO. I wasn't quite as impressed with the grill trim though. Not horrible but they could have done a better job with the corner pieces. The gaps for the retainers are too tight and they're a little wavy. The straight trim pieces are ok though.

No opinion on the top molding because I used my original piece.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I haven't found any repro trim to be 100%; it's more like 80%. And that holds true to most all of the repro stuff.

[elacruze]

My vinyl top corner moldings (check shaped at rear corners) are the only aftermarket ones, and after only 2 years they're starting to show signs of pitting. I'm not too pleased.

[bull]

My vinyl top corner moldings (check shaped at rear corners) are the only aftermarket ones, and after only 2 years they're starting to show signs of pitting. I'm not too pleased.

Wasn't that stuff stainless originally?

[Mytur Binsdirti]

The outer ones were stainless, but the inner ones (which wrap around and meet the stainless trim) are chromed pot metal.

[bill440rt]

I haven't found any repro trim to be 100%; it's more like 80%. And that holds true to most all of the repro stuff.

I agree.
I thought the ribbed area was more defined on an original gas cap trim ring vs repro. The gas caps are pretty good, but the brushed area is definitely more crisp on an original part vs repro.
Depending on what I'm working on I sometimes prefer NOS or mint used parts vs repro. Other times repro parts fit the bill just fine.
I do agree the fitment of the grille "C" moldings isn't the greatest. And I went thru 6 sets of repro '69 tail panel moldings before I had a set that fit right.
Although I wish the accuracy of some of these parts could be better, they're better than nothing.

[hemi-ed]

Thanks for your input guys.  What is with that pot metal pitting?  I am in humid New Jersey and had my car in the garage for 38 years and I find pot metal parts that have pitted.   Don't think they were pitted when I first got the car back in 1975.  Lucky my NOS side marker lights, which I bought 22 years ago, have not pitted.  Any suggestions on keeping these parts from pitting?  Polish or wax?

[stripedelete]

The way I understand it, the pitting comes from within.  Pot metal is just that, crap metal.
Over time impurities work there way out and there's your pit.   The pot metal or just that batch may have had less impurities.  I have had nos  pot metal pit sitting in the house.

Pot metal was cheap and these cars were supposed to be long gone by now or at least last as long as the finish on the pot metal.   

My question is, why not repop with a higher quality metal?

[1974dodgecharger]

because it might cost more and folks complain already the prices are high?

I like the gas cap and base on mine...looks great.

[bill440rt]

So far the repro pot metal vinyl top trip, gas cap & ring, and tail light bezels are holding up just fine on my '69.     It's been about 3 years now at least?
Just keep them clean and waxed every so often.
And I'm in NJ as well, Ed. 

[Budnicks]

I haven't found any repro trim to be 100%; it's more like 80%. And that holds true to most all of the repro stuff.

[Cooter]

The way I understand it, the pitting comes from within.  Pot metal is just that, crap metal.
Over time impurities work there way out and there's your pit.   The pot metal or just that batch may have had less impurities.  I have had nos  pot metal pit sitting in the house.


My question is, why not repop with a higher quality metal?

because it might cost more and folks complain already the prices are high?

I like the gas cap and base on mine...looks great.

We have a winner. Pot metal is referred to that way because it is the left overs from everything in the smelter. All the slag from the other metals being poured get poured into a "pot"...Then, you have "monkey metal"...

[Budnicks]

The way I understand it, the pitting comes from within.  Pot metal is just that, crap metal.
Over time impurities work there way out and there's your pit.   The pot metal or just that batch may have had less impurities.  I have had nos  pot metal pit sitting in the house.


My question is, why not repop with a higher quality metal?

because it might cost more and folks complain already the prices are high?

I like the gas cap and base on mine...looks great.

We have a winner. Pot metal is referred to that way because it is the left overs from everything in the smelter. All the slag from the other metals being poured get poured into a "pot"...Then, you have "monkey metal"...

I saw that on Stacey David Gearz, he was at a re-chromer's shop in Tenn. & explained it very well