Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Hey group,
I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's 76
Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had ordered
were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a piss-poor
fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my Jeep as well?
Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is there a better
swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
that have already been down this road.
Thanks,
Charles E.
charleserv 'at' charter.net

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

The parts I got from J.C. Whitney a few years back were actualy thicker
than the original and aluminized to boot. Downside is that there are
some subtle variations from year to year on the Jeep, the relacement
parts are a "one size fits all" I was replacing floorboards. The parts
needed to be tweaked a bit to fit up correctly to the floor tunnel and
firewall. I suspect the fenders would be less of a problem, they really
only touch the body in a limited way. (Hard to get a flat surface too
messed up!)

Ervin Charles wrote:
> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's 76
> Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had ordered
> were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a piss-poor
> fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my Jeep as well?
> Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net
>
>

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

The parts I got from J.C. Whitney a few years back were actualy thicker
than the original and aluminized to boot. Downside is that there are
some subtle variations from year to year on the Jeep, the relacement
parts are a "one size fits all" I was replacing floorboards. The parts
needed to be tweaked a bit to fit up correctly to the floor tunnel and
firewall. I suspect the fenders would be less of a problem, they really
only touch the body in a limited way. (Hard to get a flat surface too
messed up!)

Ervin Charles wrote:
> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's 76
> Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had ordered
> were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a piss-poor
> fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my Jeep as well?
> Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net
>
>

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

The parts I got from J.C. Whitney a few years back were actualy thicker
than the original and aluminized to boot. Downside is that there are
some subtle variations from year to year on the Jeep, the relacement
parts are a "one size fits all" I was replacing floorboards. The parts
needed to be tweaked a bit to fit up correctly to the floor tunnel and
firewall. I suspect the fenders would be less of a problem, they really
only touch the body in a limited way. (Hard to get a flat surface too
messed up!)

Ervin Charles wrote:
> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's 76
> Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had ordered
> were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a piss-poor
> fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my Jeep as well?
> Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net
>
>

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

The parts I got from J.C. Whitney a few years back were actualy thicker
than the original and aluminized to boot. Downside is that there are
some subtle variations from year to year on the Jeep, the relacement
parts are a "one size fits all" I was replacing floorboards. The parts
needed to be tweaked a bit to fit up correctly to the floor tunnel and
firewall. I suspect the fenders would be less of a problem, they really
only touch the body in a limited way. (Hard to get a flat surface too
messed up!)

Ervin Charles wrote:
> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's 76
> Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had ordered
> were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a piss-poor
> fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my Jeep as well?
> Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net
>
>

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Ervin Charles (charleserv@charter.net) wrote on Saturday 14 August 2004
11:02 pm:

> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's
> 76 Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had
> ordered were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a
> piss-poor fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my
> Jeep as well? Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is
> there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net

Charles,

Some of the parts are worse, some better. I had to replace my tailgate, and
the replacement was definitely lower quality. On the other hand, I
replaced one of my front fenders with a kevlar fender, and it seems to be
of very good quality. If you can find a kevlar windshield frame, I'd go
with that, too. As for floorboards, you're going to have to cut the old
out and put in your own material anyway, so that'll be up to you to find
some decent replacement material (aircraft aluminum should work great).
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer, 1891

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Ervin Charles (charleserv@charter.net) wrote on Saturday 14 August 2004
11:02 pm:

> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's
> 76 Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had
> ordered were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a
> piss-poor fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my
> Jeep as well? Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is
> there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net

Charles,

Some of the parts are worse, some better. I had to replace my tailgate, and
the replacement was definitely lower quality. On the other hand, I
replaced one of my front fenders with a kevlar fender, and it seems to be
of very good quality. If you can find a kevlar windshield frame, I'd go
with that, too. As for floorboards, you're going to have to cut the old
out and put in your own material anyway, so that'll be up to you to find
some decent replacement material (aircraft aluminum should work great).
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer, 1891

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Ervin Charles (charleserv@charter.net) wrote on Saturday 14 August 2004
11:02 pm:

> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's
> 76 Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had
> ordered were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a
> piss-poor fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my
> Jeep as well? Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is
> there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net

Charles,

Some of the parts are worse, some better. I had to replace my tailgate, and
the replacement was definitely lower quality. On the other hand, I
replaced one of my front fenders with a kevlar fender, and it seems to be
of very good quality. If you can find a kevlar windshield frame, I'd go
with that, too. As for floorboards, you're going to have to cut the old
out and put in your own material anyway, so that'll be up to you to find
some decent replacement material (aircraft aluminum should work great).
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer, 1891

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Ervin Charles (charleserv@charter.net) wrote on Saturday 14 August 2004
11:02 pm:

> Hey group,
> I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's
> 76 Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had
> ordered were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a
> piss-poor fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my
> Jeep as well? Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is
> there a better
> swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> that have already been down this road.
> Thanks,
> Charles E.
> charleserv 'at' charter.net

Charles,

Some of the parts are worse, some better. I had to replace my tailgate, and
the replacement was definitely lower quality. On the other hand, I
replaced one of my front fenders with a kevlar fender, and it seems to be
of very good quality. If you can find a kevlar windshield frame, I'd go
with that, too. As for floorboards, you're going to have to cut the old
out and put in your own material anyway, so that'll be up to you to find
some decent replacement material (aircraft aluminum should work great).
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer, 1891

Re: Aftermarket sheet metal question
 

Michael White wrote:
>
> Ervin Charles (charleserv@charter.net) wrote on Saturday 14 August 2004
> 11:02 pm:
>
> > Hey group,
> > I need to replace the front fenders, windshield frame, floorboard....etc
> > on my 86 CJ7. I am wondering about the quality of aftermarket parts from
> > distributors like "4 Wheel Drive" et. al.. I recently restored my wife's
> > 76 Super Beetle Convertible and the steel (?) replacement parts I had
> > ordered were much thinner gauge steel than the originals and most were a
> > piss-poor fit. Is this something I am going to have to deal with on my
> > Jeep as well? Would I be better off watching for usable steel on e-bay? Is
> > there a better
> > swap shop online somewhere? I would appreciate any input from you folks
> > that have already been down this road.
> > Thanks,
> > Charles E.
> > charleserv 'at' charter.net
>
> Charles,
>
> Some of the parts are worse, some better. I had to replace my tailgate, and
> the replacement was definitely lower quality. On the other hand, I
> replaced one of my front fenders with a kevlar fender, and it seems to be
> of very good quality. If you can find a kevlar windshield frame, I'd go
> with that, too. As for floorboards, you're going to have to cut the old
> out and put in your own material anyway, so that'll be up to you to find
> some decent replacement material (aircraft aluminum should work great).
> --
> Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
> fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer, 1891


'Glass or Kevlar for a windshield frame only works if you have a hard
top on all the time or no top. They do not work with soft tops. They
flex and the glass can fall out.

I got an aftermarket windshield frame and it is crap. Don't know the
maker. Too thin and the holes for the wipers aren't correct so the
linkage jams if you blink at it sideways. I had to cut the hole for the
drivers wiper out and use the one from my old frame.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's