626gn
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This about says it all. Another vote for Spoolfool here.
Which Bumper Fillers?
- Thread starter Hendoo
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This about says it all. Another vote for Spoolfool here.
My $0.02. If anyone has better information, please correct me...
There seems to be about four types of bumper fillers on the market (besides NOS)...
1. ABS Plastic - sold by several Buick vendors. These are harder plastic than the OEM ones, so they won't be nearly as flexible as OEM. I've seen both good and bad opinions on these on this board. I am guessing that all of the vendor's ABS fillers ultimately come from one supplier. These are among the cheapest options.
2. Fiberglass - sold by several Buick vendors, including GBody, the GSCA, Kirbans, and others. These are very rigid and will sometimes require a good deal of prep work to fit properly. I've seen both good and bad opinions of these on this board. I am guessing that all of the vendors' fiberglass fillers ultimately come from one supplier. I originally ordered these for my car when I had it painted, and neither the paint shop nor I liked them. It would have taken a lot of prep work to get them to fit. These are also among the cheapest options.
3. GBody's reproductions - sold by GBody and Kirbans (maybe others?). These are OEM reproductions, so the material, flexibility, and appearance is just like OEM. I have not seen a bad opinion yet on these fillers. I ended-up going with these when my car was painted (after not liking the fiberglass fillers), and both the paint shop and I really like them. They look OEM on my 43,000 mile car. The downside is that they are more expensive than the ABS or fiberglass ones.
4. SpoolFool's fillers - sold only by SpoolFool for now. I have no personal experience with these, but you can go to the links he posted a few posts ago for more information. I have yet to see a negative review about these on this board. SpoolFool's rear filler is one-piece, which is different than the overlapping two-piece OEM design (which GBody emulates). You can see for yourself the cost when you look at the links he provided.
More Information: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/goody-parts-vs-kirbans-front-fillers.390630/
or you can do a search for "bumper fillers".
My humble opinion: If OEM look and feel is most important, maybe for a low-mileage show car, than GBody's would be best. If you're not as concerned about OEM appearance but want "the best" fillers, you will do well with either the GBody or SpoolFool fillers. If low cost is of highest importance, maybe for a driver car, then either the fiberglass or ABS fillers will work, just be prepared to do more prep work to get them to fit and take paint.
Hope this helps...
There seems to be about four types of bumper fillers on the market (besides NOS)...
1. ABS Plastic - sold by several Buick vendors. These are harder plastic than the OEM ones, so they won't be nearly as flexible as OEM. I've seen both good and bad opinions on these on this board. I am guessing that all of the vendor's ABS fillers ultimately come from one supplier. These are among the cheapest options.
2. Fiberglass - sold by several Buick vendors, including GBody, the GSCA, Kirbans, and others. These are very rigid and will sometimes require a good deal of prep work to fit properly. I've seen both good and bad opinions of these on this board. I am guessing that all of the vendors' fiberglass fillers ultimately come from one supplier. I originally ordered these for my car when I had it painted, and neither the paint shop nor I liked them. It would have taken a lot of prep work to get them to fit. These are also among the cheapest options.
3. GBody's reproductions - sold by GBody and Kirbans (maybe others?). These are OEM reproductions, so the material, flexibility, and appearance is just like OEM. I have not seen a bad opinion yet on these fillers. I ended-up going with these when my car was painted (after not liking the fiberglass fillers), and both the paint shop and I really like them. They look OEM on my 43,000 mile car. The downside is that they are more expensive than the ABS or fiberglass ones.
4. SpoolFool's fillers - sold only by SpoolFool for now. I have no personal experience with these, but you can go to the links he posted a few posts ago for more information. I have yet to see a negative review about these on this board. SpoolFool's rear filler is one-piece, which is different than the overlapping two-piece OEM design (which GBody emulates). You can see for yourself the cost when you look at the links he provided.
More Information: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/goody-parts-vs-kirbans-front-fillers.390630/
or you can do a search for "bumper fillers".
My humble opinion: If OEM look and feel is most important, maybe for a low-mileage show car, than GBody's would be best. If you're not as concerned about OEM appearance but want "the best" fillers, you will do well with either the GBody or SpoolFool fillers. If low cost is of highest importance, maybe for a driver car, then either the fiberglass or ABS fillers will work, just be prepared to do more prep work to get them to fit and take paint.
Hope this helps...
I got spoolfools front fillers and installed to see how they looked before paint and it was excellent. I just had them painted and the body shop said they were the best fillers he had ever seen. The was hardly any prep work. I'm just saying all the shops I've taken them to we're very impressed. Ill post pictures if needed before paint install and after paint install but it would be tomorrow just let me know.
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I called Brian today and left him a message to check this thread. Would be good to get his input too. 
Mike Barnard
Mike Barnard
I have the Danko's, but I bought them over 10 years ago. Still on the car, still look good. These spoolfool's do look good though and if it was today I would buy those.
Tmizunocherry
Member
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- Oct 20, 2010
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- 87
Spoolfool's rear filler is great in my opinion! Easy to install with a couple of hours including removing old filler remains. Plus fast reply from Mike after a few questions. Took advantage of the filler that were for sale at the GS Nationals. Oh by the way the Gel coating is awesome, it actually matches my paint.
Mike Mshar I think summed it up best. I think he must of followed my posts for the last 15 years 
There will always be a variety of fillers to fill the customers needs. The guy with a daily driven regal may not need My or Mike's fillers. This is why we still offer Danko & ABS fillers. If Mike released his fillers for sale by other vendors we would offer them as well. Danko back in the old days had some nice fillers. The molds went bad & they really weren't updated as well. Mike flled that void for top end Fiberglass fillers. When Gm discoed the originals we filled that void. Do you remember last year when they were selling for $1800 a set NOS GM??? I think the bottom line is if you want in expensive pieces to get you by they are out there. If your going to put a hi dollar paint job on your car think about labor. If your paying a person $75 an hour or more what did you save by buying cheap fillers? Your going to have that in labor to get where the better fillers already are. Comparing fiberglass to GM style is comparing apples to oranges. So is comparing lower style grade fillers to top end style fillers. Who has the best fiberglass fillers on the market? Mike does. I feel we have the best OEM style out there. Mike Mshar to answer question 3 we carry these as well as people we deal with in the business. Just look on ebay. All I ask is support the guys who support the boards & give back to the community. We will be displaying a set of Mike Bernards at the 2013 turbobuick.com event as well. Why would I ? Mike is a supporting vendor & to give the customer, you a choice.
There will always be a variety of fillers to fill the customers needs. The guy with a daily driven regal may not need My or Mike's fillers. This is why we still offer Danko & ABS fillers. If Mike released his fillers for sale by other vendors we would offer them as well. Danko back in the old days had some nice fillers. The molds went bad & they really weren't updated as well. Mike flled that void for top end Fiberglass fillers. When Gm discoed the originals we filled that void. Do you remember last year when they were selling for $1800 a set NOS GM??? I think the bottom line is if you want in expensive pieces to get you by they are out there. If your going to put a hi dollar paint job on your car think about labor. If your paying a person $75 an hour or more what did you save by buying cheap fillers? Your going to have that in labor to get where the better fillers already are. Comparing fiberglass to GM style is comparing apples to oranges. So is comparing lower style grade fillers to top end style fillers. Who has the best fiberglass fillers on the market? Mike does. I feel we have the best OEM style out there. Mike Mshar to answer question 3 we carry these as well as people we deal with in the business. Just look on ebay. All I ask is support the guys who support the boards & give back to the community. We will be displaying a set of Mike Bernards at the 2013 turbobuick.com event as well. Why would I ? Mike is a supporting vendor & to give the customer, you a choice.
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Sticky?
Gary Wells
White turbo Buick trailer park trash
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I personally guarantee that there is nothing currently on the market that will match Mike's (SPOOLFOOL2) quality of fit, finish, & appearance on either the front bumper fillers nor the rear 1 piece bumper filler. At any price. I was very fortunate that one of the cars used for fit-up & measurement was my white low mileage (32K, now, I think, about 30K miles when Mike used it for fit-up). So I ended up with the 1st production set available for sale on both the rear 1 piece & the front 2 piece fillers. Mike's heart and soul and hundreds of hours truly went into the planning, development, and manufacture of these fillers.
You will not regret buying these fillers at any price.
And you will regret buying Danko's at any price.
I can't tell you how bad the Danko fronts really are.
If you decide to go Danko, plan on using a very accomplished body & / or paint restoration person.
Unless the car is going to compete in the destruction derby circuit, I can't imagine anybody buying anything other than Mike's sets.
You will not regret buying these fillers at any price.
And you will regret buying Danko's at any price.
I can't tell you how bad the Danko fronts really are.
If you decide to go Danko, plan on using a very accomplished body & / or paint restoration person.
Unless the car is going to compete in the destruction derby circuit, I can't imagine anybody buying anything other than Mike's sets.
Wow, so I just pulled up Danko's site since everyone was talking about them and realized these are the ones I bought from gbody parts (same picture) only for 50$ more than they even sell them. Great. that just makes me feel fine and dandy... 
Emailed Gbody tonight since they are only open by appt Saturdays. I didn't know what I was buying based on the description and picture they show. It says it replaces GM part number blah blah blah... so i felt comfortable buying them.
I will do a little more research before i buy next time, at least now I've found this site (didn't use it before i ordered them) so I can do a little digging on opinions before I commit to any new parts. Feel a bit slighted by gbody here with the bumped price for well known bad product.
Emailed Gbody tonight since they are only open by appt Saturdays. I didn't know what I was buying based on the description and picture they show. It says it replaces GM part number blah blah blah... so i felt comfortable buying them. I will do a little more research before i buy next time, at least now I've found this site (didn't use it before i ordered them) so I can do a little digging on opinions before I commit to any new parts. Feel a bit slighted by gbody here with the bumped price for well known bad product.
It is not that it is a well known bad product. It is a cheap product that fills a need for some people. I wouldn't expect Brian to sell as cheap as the manufacturer. That would make no sense. That is why he offers different fillers. He has the almost original style, which he was the driving force to make. They are not cheap, but needed if you want to be original. After that you have the common fiberglass and ABS if you want cheap. Spoolfool's if you want the best in fiberglass. The problems you encountered with the Dankos are a common problem with 80% of aftermarket fiberglass unless you go high dollar like Mike's. With the fillers, you get what you pay for. The cheapest price is the cheapest filler, the highest price is the best filler. Once you are familiar with these cars and the parts available you will consider GBody's to be one of the best vendors out there for these cars. And a really nice guy! He will become your friend, I am sure.Wow, so I just pulled up Danko's site since everyone was talking about them and realized these are the ones I bought from gbody parts (same picture) only for 50$ more than they even sell them. Great. that just makes me feel fine and dandy...
I will do a little more research before i buy next time, at least now I've found this site (didn't use it before i ordered them) so I can do a little digging on opinions before I commit to any new parts. Feel a bit slighted by gbody here with the bumped price for well known bad product.
I bought the danko fillers and for the price they were ok but the backs werent very good and where they meet in the middle is bad. I would probably buy the one piece next time. The time you save fitting them is worth the few extra bucks but if you have more time than money they are a good buy!
Wow, so I just pulled up Danko's site since everyone was talking about them and realized these are the ones I bought from gbody parts (same picture) only for 50$ more than they even sell them. Great. that just makes me feel fine and dandy...
I will do a little more research before i buy next time, at least now I've found this site (didn't use it before i ordered them) so I can do a little digging on opinions before I commit to any new parts. Feel a bit slighted by gbody here with the bumped price for well known bad product.
Tad I did reply to your e-mail. I am not going to bash any company in a forum. We can cancel your order, return them what ever you want. What it does do is make it tough to sell a product when they lower a retail close to what you are paying for them.
Of course we put a GM replacment # there. If you have a 81 would you be up set if you ordered this?, Of course. Replacement # fitment is needed.
Not every one feels they are terrible.
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_r...d=230&osCsid=fff4b6cd520dd809669bbb9e3a9b4516
Dennis Kirban
Well-Known Member
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Just caught this thread......
The reproduction business today at best can be confusing unlike years ago when I started when in the GTO world we would discuss what we were making and everyone would "share" the parts meaning sell to each other for the most part.
Like others we sell two versions and other versions exist...the higher dollar ones is the ones that will be closest to original and we carry those from G Body. Like others I am not here to knock other versions.
We also sell and have for a number of years sold the cheaper versions....it depends on your funds. Point was made don't buy used originals they will crumble this is true as I have bought some to resale and learned that lesson first hand. BY some stroke of luck my car has all the originals still on it best I can tell as my paint is 100% original.
Point being you got options....if funds allow it buy the ones that duplicate the originals as the prep work is far less and the results are rewarding..frankly speaking it was a crude design for Buick to begin with having that gap between the bumpers and the body to start with to satisfy the crash tests.....and making that filler "fill" the gap with any kind of perfect fit and alignment. Now today we have added 25 or more years to the situation and hoping all the various repros fit those gaps perfectly.
Like I said for the most part most of us Buick vendors sell to each other our products so whoever you "favorite" would probably have the same part. Its not like the old days were ATR and Bell would imprint their name on the parts.
denniskirban@yahoo.com
The reproduction business today at best can be confusing unlike years ago when I started when in the GTO world we would discuss what we were making and everyone would "share" the parts meaning sell to each other for the most part.
Like others we sell two versions and other versions exist...the higher dollar ones is the ones that will be closest to original and we carry those from G Body. Like others I am not here to knock other versions.
We also sell and have for a number of years sold the cheaper versions....it depends on your funds. Point was made don't buy used originals they will crumble this is true as I have bought some to resale and learned that lesson first hand. BY some stroke of luck my car has all the originals still on it best I can tell as my paint is 100% original.
Point being you got options....if funds allow it buy the ones that duplicate the originals as the prep work is far less and the results are rewarding..frankly speaking it was a crude design for Buick to begin with having that gap between the bumpers and the body to start with to satisfy the crash tests.....and making that filler "fill" the gap with any kind of perfect fit and alignment. Now today we have added 25 or more years to the situation and hoping all the various repros fit those gaps perfectly.
Like I said for the most part most of us Buick vendors sell to each other our products so whoever you "favorite" would probably have the same part. Its not like the old days were ATR and Bell would imprint their name on the parts.
denniskirban@yahoo.com
MillerMan57
Member
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- Jun 29, 2012
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- 61
Bought my "cheap version" glas fillers from Weavy last summer. Had them installed by Mike at Richard Clark's place. He did the joint at the rear. Didn't know about spoolfool, didn't want to spend the extra $$ on the NOS repro. I don't know how much prep work Mike had to do, but I was very pleased with the end result. Cheap worked for me. Just another .02
SilverBulletGN
GN-M1
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- Oct 23, 2008
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- 484
Spoolfool has the best bumper Fillers. From the look of the one piece rear bumper filler to the quality and fit. Mike really took his time to make a great product for us. I received nothing but compliments at the Chicago World of wheels event. We recently ordered another set of bumper fillers and the results were the same. Fit right on the first try and the Look of the Front bumper fillers were great to.
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