I'm in the process of getting all the parts for the 98+ conversion. I have everything but the fenders. My question for those that have either worked with aftermarket fenders and seen them, what makes them so bad compared to OEM's? They're all over ebay at very reasonable prices. I'd like to understand though are they thinner plastic, molds are off, etc...

 

Honestly, not much. If you get into an accident. Most of the parts that they will use to rebuild the cars are aftermarket.

A lot of the time, GM or it's suppliers, sell off the old molds, and the companies that buy them either make new molds or use the old molds, and make replacement "aftermarket" parts.

Typically the quality is fine. Sometimes they just require a little more tweaking than a factory part, but that's typical with any sheetmetal.

P.S. My brother is a bodyman with 20+ years, and one of my friends is a collision shop GM.

 

I just found out today that there apparently is no such thing as an OEM fender for my '95 anymore. So it looks like aftermarket is the only option.

I went with www.ecklerscamaro.com, I'm hoping it fits as good as OEM.

 

some aftermarket sellers use thinner metal making it lighter, but less protective in a crash. there are some thin metal fenders out there that weigh upwards of 10lbs less than stockers. it's weird pushing in on it and it just dents in and pops right out...but i'd go fiber or carbon if i were replacing the fenders...how likely is it to survive a 100+ mph crash...head on? that's the only time i'd be leery about getting in a wreck...even with the fiber/carbon fenders i'd feel fine under 100

 

the front fenders arent metal

 

My right front fender was aftermarket (even though I paid the chevy dealership to put an OEM one on...grrr) and it doesn't fit right. It sticks out funny even after adjustment. It's like it is slightly too small all over. Oh, and it has seams on it that the dealership didn't sand off before painting...

 

as far as fitment issues- heres my experience-

bought car totaled from junkyard- frame damage- hit a pole at 40+ mph with the front right of car- had to straighten everything and had ebay hood, bumper and fenders -

when all was said and done you can see the pictures in my sig- hood was about 1/8th inch off on one side and where the fenders met the lights on each side i had a small gap. noone really noticed any difference -

well... this winter i lost it and put her into a pole the exact same way - again, ebay bumper and fenders. this time im not having as much luck- fenders just slightly off, but not aligning right with the new bumper. with the fenders you get a lot of different ways of adjusting, bumpers not so much -