L5 Fender Questions!
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
L5 Fender Questions!
Need help, I'm a total newbie to fiberglass bodywork.
For you guys that bought L5 fenders...did yours show up looking like this?
My body shop has concerns about the condition/quality of these fenders. He says what we received is suspect...and L5 claims he doesn't quite know what he's talking about.
I'm using a reputable shop in Fairfield - Auto Perfectionists. They supposedly have done quite a few wide body/booty vettes and have extensive fiberglass experience. http://www.autoperfectionists.com/corvette-repair/
Bodyshop says:
1) He says he can't understand how/why each fender seems to be comprised of "two pieces". He claims they don't come from a single mold, rather there are two pieces mated together. L5 says no, they are from a single mold.
2) He says there are spots that are extremely thin - "to the thickness of several sheets of paper"
3) Says there is is some cracking/blems on some spots and mounting holes that he's concerned about.
4) Pitting on finish
5) In general, he says they would need quite a bit of work to repair and fit (and in his professional opinion, may not hold up)
To L5's credit, they have agreed to take these back and are replacing with new fenders to ensure everyone is happy. I'm of course concerned about the replacement set...
Anyone have any input/feedback on their L5 fenders, and the pics of the ones we received?
Please and thank you.
For you guys that bought L5 fenders...did yours show up looking like this?
My body shop has concerns about the condition/quality of these fenders. He says what we received is suspect...and L5 claims he doesn't quite know what he's talking about.
I'm using a reputable shop in Fairfield - Auto Perfectionists. They supposedly have done quite a few wide body/booty vettes and have extensive fiberglass experience. http://www.autoperfectionists.com/corvette-repair/
Bodyshop says:
1) He says he can't understand how/why each fender seems to be comprised of "two pieces". He claims they don't come from a single mold, rather there are two pieces mated together. L5 says no, they are from a single mold.
2) He says there are spots that are extremely thin - "to the thickness of several sheets of paper"
3) Says there is is some cracking/blems on some spots and mounting holes that he's concerned about.
4) Pitting on finish
5) In general, he says they would need quite a bit of work to repair and fit (and in his professional opinion, may not hold up)
To L5's credit, they have agreed to take these back and are replacing with new fenders to ensure everyone is happy. I'm of course concerned about the replacement set...
Anyone have any input/feedback on their L5 fenders, and the pics of the ones we received?
Please and thank you.
Last edited by MotoJB; 06-05-2014 at 08:34 PM.
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Need help, I'm a total newbie to fiberglass bodywork.
For you guys that bought L5 fenders...did yours show up looking like this?
My body shop has a lot of concerns about the condition/quality of these fenders. He claims the product we received is very suspect...and they claim he doesn't quite know what he's talking about.
I'm using a reputable shop in Fairfield - Auto Perfectionists. They supposedly have done quite a few wide body/booty vettes and have extensive fiberglass experience.
Bodyshop says:
1) He says he can't understand how/why each fender seems to be comprised of "two pieces". He claims they don't come from a single mold, rather there are two pieces mated together. L5 says no, they are from a single mold.
2) He says there are spots that are extremely thin - "to the thickness of several sheets of paper"
3) Says there is is some cracking/blems on some spots and mounting holes that he's concerned about.
4) Pitting on finish
5) In general, he says they would need a ton of work to repair and fiut and may not hold up
To L5's credit, they have agreed to take these back and are replacing with new fenders to ensure everyone is happy. I'm of course concerned about the replacement set...
Anyone have any input/feedback on their L5 fenders, and the pics of the ones we received?
Please and thank you.
For you guys that bought L5 fenders...did yours show up looking like this?
My body shop has a lot of concerns about the condition/quality of these fenders. He claims the product we received is very suspect...and they claim he doesn't quite know what he's talking about.
I'm using a reputable shop in Fairfield - Auto Perfectionists. They supposedly have done quite a few wide body/booty vettes and have extensive fiberglass experience.
Bodyshop says:
1) He says he can't understand how/why each fender seems to be comprised of "two pieces". He claims they don't come from a single mold, rather there are two pieces mated together. L5 says no, they are from a single mold.
2) He says there are spots that are extremely thin - "to the thickness of several sheets of paper"
3) Says there is is some cracking/blems on some spots and mounting holes that he's concerned about.
4) Pitting on finish
5) In general, he says they would need a ton of work to repair and fiut and may not hold up
To L5's credit, they have agreed to take these back and are replacing with new fenders to ensure everyone is happy. I'm of course concerned about the replacement set...
Anyone have any input/feedback on their L5 fenders, and the pics of the ones we received?
Please and thank you.
#3
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I certainly would not pay to have those flairs fixed. They do not look very good, especially for the price you paid. ON the other hand, the body shop may not want to do the job, because they are not comfortable with this process, but you say they have done many wide body cars, So IM going with what the body shop is saying. Just as something to compare too. here are my flairs as I received them from Pete at corvettecreationz. and these are about 2/3 the price of the L5 quarters.
Thanks ET...yes, I know Pete's Carbon Creations fenders. I actually have a set of those as well but prefer the look of L5's. I was hoping the L5's would show up looking good but I may ultimately go with the Carbon Creations fenders if the replacement L5's aren't "perfect".
So far, the Carbon Creations fenders look a heck of a lot better from a quality and finish standpoint. Yours look great.
Also, the L5's were $850. Pete's were cheaper but not by a lot.
This shop supposedly knows what it's doing:
http://www.autoperfectionists.com/corvette-repair/
Last edited by MotoJB; 06-05-2014 at 08:35 PM.
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
So what's your specific feedback about the pics (and what you see)?
Thank you 8VETTE7.
#5
Melting Slicks
That is bad. Looks like during the separation from the mold it cracked/broke. They then did a really poor job of trying to fiberglass it back together. The backside is always rougher than the front, but should be consistent and look like what I circled in your pic.
Also the side to be painted should be smoother, close to ready for paint. Those are horrible. I am surprised the shop would even consider working on them.
Here are my TPE's when they arrived.
Also the side to be painted should be smoother, close to ready for paint. Those are horrible. I am surprised the shop would even consider working on them.
Here are my TPE's when they arrived.
Last edited by meflyfrc; 06-05-2014 at 08:51 PM.
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
That is bad. Looks like during the separation from the mold it cracked/broke. They then did a really poor job of trying to fiberglass it back together. The backside is always rougher than the front, but should be consistent and look like what I circled in your pic.
Also the side to be painted should be smoother, close to ready for paint. Those are horrible. I am surprised the shop would even consider working on them.
Here are my TPE's when they arrived.
Also the side to be painted should be smoother, close to ready for paint. Those are horrible. I am surprised the shop would even consider working on them.
Here are my TPE's when they arrived.
All of this and I didn't mention that a fender also broke through the box and got drug around while being delivered. The tip got ground off the end of the fender.
My shop said they didn't pack them well and didn't have them in any way labeled as "fragile".
#8
Heel & Toe
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L5 fenders
I recieved and installed my L 5 fenders about 2 months ago . I was really happy with them . The only odd thing is the one fender did not have a hole for the antenna , so now I have no antenna . But thats ok, I never listen to the radio anyway, only my I-pod .
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
So, did yours look at all like these things I received??
Thanks.
#11
Safety Car
Woah. I can't imagine sending something like that out to a customer. I'd expect more from a Honda civic bodykit off eBay
#12
Safety Car
That's the right question to ask. I received a set that was basically just as bad (yours looked worse in some areas) and is why they were returned. I'd be surprised if any were received looking any different.
Btw, it took around a year to get my money back, and that only happened because they really had to beyond it being the right thing to do.
Btw, it took around a year to get my money back, and that only happened because they really had to beyond it being the right thing to do.
Last edited by AVB; 06-06-2014 at 11:10 AM.
#13
Heel & Toe
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L5 fenders
The L5 fenders I received came in way better shape than the ones pictured. I think you just received a bad batch. Hopefully the vendor will be quick to replace them....
#16
Race Director
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I just had my 2nd set installed and the body shop made it very clear to me these are not worth the money they charge for them. They needed alot of work, he had to punch hole for antenna, he added alot of fiberglass and tons of blocking. He felt for the amount of time he had to put into them they now cost twice the price I paid for them and 3x more then GM fenders. But after all the work was done there perfect. Funny thing about these Fenders is 5 years ago the first pair I installed that shop said they were good needed work but good.
#17
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I just had my 2nd set installed and the body shop made it very clear to me these are not worth the money they charge for them. They needed alot of work, he had to punch hole for antenna, he added alot of fiberglass and tons of blocking. He felt for the amount of time he had to put into them they now cost twice the price I paid for them and 3x more then GM fenders. But after all the work was done there perfect. Funny thing about these Fenders is 5 years ago the first pair I installed that shop said they were good needed work but good.
#18
Race Director
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Oldtimer
I certainly would not pay to have those flairs fixed. They do not look very good, especially for the price you paid. ON the other hand, the body shop may not want to do the job, because they are not comfortable with this process, but you say they have done many wide body cars, So IM going with what the body shop is saying. Just as something to compare too. here are my flairs as I received them from Pete at corvettecreationz. and these are about 2/3 the price of the L5 quarters.
#20
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Bill aka ET
Last edited by Evil-Twin; 06-09-2014 at 03:07 PM.