Rear Filler Panels

[bishir]

Well, took my filler panels out of storage to paint and prep for installation on the car and low and behold both pieces ripped in half. #$#$@ Dry rotted.


Anyways, what is the opinion on the fiberglass panels? Looks like I'll be saving quite a bit compared to the original rubber ones.


James

 

[Bweavy]

James I have had these on my car for over a year. Pretty nice fit.
Let me know if you need a set.

 

[aminga]

I've used a set for about 4 years now. I had to enlarge some of the mount holes to make them fit. I also drilled the place under the filler cap where the panels overlapped and put in one of those plastic push in fastners to pull them up together a little better. Result: Not bad.

 

[bishir]

Alan, got any pics?

 

[aminga]

No closeups but some pics are at

http://www.otelco.net/~aminga/86_T-Type.html

 

[Intercooled88s]

You can still buy good used front and rear fillers in the Northern states, we dont get as much sun and its much cooler, so they dont brake down like they do in warmer climates. I bought fiberglass fillers for my car and sent them back, they didnt fit properly. and from what Ive been told they crack. Just my opinion.

 

[Bweavy]

Originally posted by Intercooled88s
You can still buy good used front and rear fillers in the Northern states, we dont get as much sun and its much cooler, so they dont brake down like they do in warmer climates. I bought fiberglass fillers for my car and sent them back, they didnt fit properly. and from what Ive been told they crack. Just my opinion.

Every spring we sell about 30 to 40 sets up north do to snow & ice getting in between the bumper & the fillers & freezing then cracking the fillers.
I've been running fiberglass on my personal cars for at least 3 years. No sagging no cracks.Not all fillers are created equal.

Aminga's pics you can't even tell the rears are aftermarket.Factory is great but after 17 years something has to give.Fiberglass is a less expensive alternative & has a longer life then the factory.

 

[Intercooled88s]

I agree that all fillers are not the same. And I'm sure the quality must be getting better also. I just did'nt like the bad fit of the set I purchased. In regards to the factory fillers, I have a set off a GN that has over 200k that are still flexable. I've never heard of anyone driving there GN in the winter time, in my area anyways(6-12 inches of snow every few weeks). Everyone up here puts there cars away from November-April. Driving a GN in the snow does'nt work. Plus the flexability of the factory fillers helps with minor collisions, which would render the nonflexable fillers junk.

 

[aminga]

You do have a point about the inflexibility of the fiberglass panels. That's why I still run the factor fillers on the front, that and the fact that the factor front fillers are still cheaper than fiberglas. Reallistly though as anyone bumped anything hard enough to compress those shocks and not incurred any dammage to the factory fillers. There' about 1/2 the bumper shocks can collapse before the bumper gets to the flberglass fillers. Can it move that 1/2".

Bweavy, Thanks on the looks, it wasn't however without effort. It took some minor filing of the holes in a few places and redrilling of one hole to get them to snug up like factory.

Under the license plate we drilled a hole and put one of those plastic rivets through both pannels where they meet so they would snugup a bit closer. It's hidden under the bumper so no one can tell it's there.

Here are some close ups. These are 4+ year old panels from Postons but I don't know who their supplier was at the time.