New parts for 71-72 B bodies

general · Post by **general** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:46 pm

Nick, I also got a call last Friday, the parts arrived at the warehouse in NY. I just have to go and get them, hopefully this week.

Norm

general · Post by **general** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:27 pm

Is anybody else having problems with the inner quarter window corner strips. Mine is too long on the bottom edge therefore the one clip is way off and it will run inteference with other moldings. I don't have access to a camera righ now, maybe tonight. Norm

72Rdrnner · Post by **72Rdrnner** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:44 am

general wrote:Is anybody else having problems with the inner quarter window corner strips. Mine is too long on the bottom edge therefore the one clip is way off and it will run inteference with other moldings. I don't have access to a camera righ now, maybe tonight. Norm

Sounds like the same problem I had. I assume you are talking about the small curved pieces. Both the shape/length and the location of the mounting clips were off a little.

My fix was to lengthen the slot in the frame so the clip would match it. I considered moving the clip, but they are attached in such a way it would be nearly impossible to move them without damaging them or the strip.

As for the shape/length I CAREFULLY, VERY CAREFULLY "bent" (not really bent...more of a reshaping) the piece. I didn't have to change it very much...but be CAREFUL otherwise you will bend it to the point it looks like a bent piece of metal!

I don't remember for sure where I got them, but my best guess is they came from Year One as that's where I got most of my window trim pieces.

Hope this helps.

AZ-Nick · Post by **AZ-Nick** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:21 am

Yes that is the problem, Norm (General) and I have done some serious checking and we have found that the 71 year piece changed on or about October 1st 1970.
I have been working with Norm and the manufacture TopCat on this problem and we have finally figured it out and how to resolve it.
The manufacture is awaiting from Norm a fresh NOS part to duplicate and this should correct this problem.
This means that some cars had received the part like you received in the Kit from the factory and some cars received the part like your original piece.

My 71 uses the part in the KIT, my car was built sept 24, I am sure some plants may have had more stock than others so the date may be off a little.

general · Post by **general** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:13 pm

Thanks to Nick for convincing his contact at the manufacturer, they will make the correct part based on the NOS one I am sending him to use as a pattern.

AZ-Nick · Post by **AZ-Nick** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:52 pm

general wrote:Thanks to Nick for convincing his contact at the manufacturer, they will make the correct part based on the NOS one I am sending him to use as a pattern.

Everyone must understand that there are at least 2 different correct parts at this time and not just one correct part and we will continue to look for more versions if needed.

Post by **Eric** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:04 pm

I just want to know where Norm came up with NOS pieces!

Looks like I'm going to have to check mine and see if they're correct sized

general · Post by **general** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:10 pm

Eric, believe me it was just luck. A friend of mine who has been into B bodies forever just happened to have the one side in his stash of parts. So I traced the part number back to my parts book and that's how it was discovered that there was a change about Sept 30.

See attached pic

rr6pak · Post by **rr6pak** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:04 am

AZ-Nick- My car was built on Oct 14, 1970. Will they work? I havent tried them yet (prbably not for a while). If not, what is the fix?

AZ-Nick · Post by **AZ-Nick** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:58 am

rr6pak wrote:AZ-Nick- My car was built on Oct 14, 1970. Will they work? I havent tried them yet (prbably not for a while). If not, what is the fix?

If the original is still in your car and attached, put the part from the kit up next to it and see if they are both the same length or is the original 1" shorter? It is easy to check, 1 " is quite a difference and easily identified.
If the original is shorter, then you have a later version and need the new part once it is made.
The fix will be:
The Manufacture will make the shorter version once he receives Norms original and NOS parts and uses them as a template. He will then send out the short version to the buyers that need them.

As I said earlier, we are unsure when this change happened because of existing stock on hand when the cars were being built and if all the factories changed at the same time.
I would think that if the new part number was issued on or about Oct 1st 1970, that the stock on hand may have run for a few months before all the factories were using the shorter part.

Road Runner Nest

New parts for 71-72 B bodies

Part arrived

NOS piece

parts

Re: parts