Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

[Dick W.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

That's what I was curious about. I've noticed, after buying many parts from all the different parts houses, that they all seem to be buying their parts from basically the same vendors.

Irby, once upon a time I sold Corvette parts as a vocation. Until the advent of off shore parts, you basically had one manufacturer for each part, interiors excluded. If my feeble pea pickin' memory serves me correct, I purchased parts from over 400 different manufacturers. Some made only a screw or a clip. Yes, most parts that you buy come from the same manufacturer, the difference is the service that you get from your supplier.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Al Knoch gets my vote. A few years ago I purchased some carpet for my 67. It was manufactured by ACC. I installed it and the fit was so-so......
It also had binding around the bulkhead piece which was NOT correct for 67. I lost a few points on this item during judging.

I decided to purchase another carpet set from Al Knoch. It fit better and did not have the binding on the bulkhead "wings". The wings were sewn onto the main piece which I thought was incorrect. The sewing also showed. I called this to Al's attention. He said he would dig out an original sample and we met at Kissimee. We determined that the "wings" should be separate pieces but should not be sewn but rather they were attached using burlap and glue. Al immediately called his manufacturing facility and instructed them to change the manufacturing procedure. He also instructed them to send me another corrected carpet piece to me ASAP. I received that within a few days!!

Al Knoch is #1 in my book.

[Gary J.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Last year I needed a headliner for my '66 coupe. I had been carrying an Al Knoch door prize card for $100.00 for years and I was wondering if he would still honor it. When Al looked at the card and saw the name on it, it was his sister-in-law who had issued the card. He told me that she has not worked for him in over 15 years. He told me "Hell Yes" I am going to honor the card. Al could not believe that I have been carrying that card for that long of time. I got my headliner for $100.00 off plus he did not have one on the truck so I got free shipping on the new one. While I was was waiting for them to check the truck, Al offered me whiskey, or a coke, or water. Al gets my vote. What a stand up guy.

[Bill C.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Last year I needed a headliner for my '66 coupe. I had been carrying an Al Knoch door prize card for $100.00 for years and I was wondering if he would still honor it. When Al looked at the card and saw the name on it, it was his sister-in-law who had issued the card. He told me that she has not worked for him in over 15 years. He told me "Hell Yes" I am going to honor the card. Al could not believe that I have been carrying that card for that long of time. I got my headliner for $100.00 off plus he did not have one on the truck so I got free shipping on the new one. While I was was waiting for them to check the truck, Al offered me whiskey, or a coke, or water. Al gets my vote. What a stand up guy.

Al is always a gentleman, and a lot of fun to talk with. The Cokes are always a treat, look closely, they are from Mexico and in very old, recycled bottles with the old pop cap pressed on. Yup, they still do it that way. Notice when he gives it to ya he wants the bottle back! Always tastes a bit different than here in the states.....................

[Cecil L.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

For what it's worth department.
Pete Ciadella, (Chevs and Vettes) who was one of the early manufacturers of 55-57 Chevy interiors and sold the business now known as CARS, inc. is apparently going back into the interior business. Don't know if he will venture into the Corvette market though. This was posted on the Phoenix Craigslist.
"I am in need of 2 door folding front seats, as we are starting to manufacture Chevrolet Interiors again. Thank You. Pete Ciadella......"

[Douglas L.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Most any of the vendors will send samples of carpet, seat covers, etc. It's a cheap way to compare and may give you an "out" if what you order is radically different from the sample.

[Irby G.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I guess in the end what I'm really looking for is getting value. If one is just as good as the other, I'll take the lower price every time. I just priced out Corvette America. Here's what I came up with...
Al Knoch is the first price, corvette amer. the second
seat covers 465.00 324.00
Seat center cushion 24.00 27.00
Carpet 350.00 320.00
door panels 414.00 324.00
sun visor 85.00 72.00
If the quality is that much better, I'd go with AK's, but if it's not any different (or even if it's just very slight difference) I think I'd go with CA.

[Bill C.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I guess in the end what I'm really looking for is getting value. If one is just as good as the other, I'll take the lower price every time. I just priced out Corvette America. Here's what I came up with...
Al Knoch is the first price, corvette amer. the second
seat covers 465.00 324.00
Seat center cushion 24.00 27.00
Carpet 350.00 320.00
door panels 414.00 324.00
sun visor 85.00 72.00
If the quality is that much better, I'd go with AK's, but if it's not any different (or even if it's just very slight difference) I think I'd go with CA.

For the small difference in price, I would go with AK. I have always had issues with fit when installing CA panels.
If you have the opportunity to pick up in person AK's product from them they are always VERY accomodating with price if you are willing to hand them CASH. Will always beat anyones price. CA for obvious reasons, cannot offer that option. Whatever you do, DO NOT mix vendors products in the same car, grain, texture and mostly color will NOT match. Stick with one for everything, with exception of carpets. ACC and AK is pretty close in color but I will also say as others have that AK's carpet fit better.

[Grant M.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Irby,

One of the most important aspects of 'quality' is fit, and in that regard, there have been issues with both manufacturers' interior peices. I have AK carpet, seat covers (leather), centre armrest cover and sunvisors on my '65. The carpet, centre armest cover and sunvisors were fine, but my seat cover installer (an upholstery shop in Buffalo, NY recommended by Corvette and Performance Center in Amherst, NY) complained that the covers were too small and didn't fit properly in terms of the bottom cushion (over new foam) and the sides of the seat backs.

Likewise, I've got CA door panels (acquired through Ecklers), and they just plain don't fit; the cut-outs and moulded-in depressions and raised areas for the door lock/vent window/window crank are inaccurately positioned and the foam is way too dense, forcing me to "eat" away at it from the rear in order to be able to install the lock knob and window cranks with clips (the repro vent window crank would not lock on with the clip, so I had to re-use my pitted original--the repro did work however with the original panels). As well, the upper edge doesn't sit properly in the door window channel opening, nowhere nearly as well as my originals. Grain/colour (black) etc looks fine, but the time/effort and mechanical frustration of installing one of these panels led me to leave the second one in the box and live with the original on the passenger side. At some point in the future I'd like to acquire better ones, perhaps by AK, IF they will fit properly. When I ordered from Ecklers they had been selling AK panels, but obviously switched to CA or simply alternate from time to time, likely based on price/availability.

I have read on TDB earlier chains by (I think) John Hinckley and others about poor door panel fit (although some have claimed no problems), and mentioning that CA and maybe AK have re-engineered their door panels for better fit. To me, the issues I dealt with would be relatively straight forward to correct: there's a finite measurement, centre to centre for the shafts and therefore for the cut-outs/raised areas for the crank handles and door lock. As far as I can see, these dimensions don't vary (at least not among body styles, coupe/convertible. Adjustments available to the vent window fit don't seem to change the shaft base location, merely the 'tilt' of the shaft. AK used to show on his website photos of actual doors supposedly used to check the fit of his panels. If they are stock doors, I can't see how door panels fitted to them wouldn't fit a customer's door as well.

I'd like to learn more about the 're-engineering' of these panels before I spend another $400+ to replace the CA repros I currently have that are essentially useless from a practical standpoint.

Of course the other 'quality' issues are appearance-related: colour, grain, shape etc. and these would be of equal concern to fit for someone seeking Flight Judging points, but from a day-to-day practical standpoint, the proper fit has been my focus.

No easy answers,

Good luck!

grant

[Jim G.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I have a 62 vette with an original soft top frame I bought on eBay. I bought a soft top canvas from Al Knoch. Does anyone know where I can find a good local installer to adjust frame and install the soft top? My car is located in central NJ near Trenton.
Jim

[Jim R.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I have CA in my 65 roadster ,complete interior and am very happy with it ,installed it myself and everything fit great, call (VIP corvette) they will save you alot of money on CA interior parts. CA or AL you can't go wrong both great quality products.........

[Mark R.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I have a 62 vette with an original soft top frame I bought on eBay. I bought a soft top canvas from Al Knoch. Does anyone know where I can find a good local installer to adjust frame and install the soft top? My car is located in central NJ near Trenton.
Jim

Jim:

Call Dick Robinson at Robinson Restorations in Huntingdon Valley, PA 215-947-2272. His shop is not far from Trenton.

Mark

[Bill B.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

Definitely Dick Robinson.......Super person........Great guy.......will not give you the runaround........excellent quality work......reasonably priced.

Bill








1961 283/315 fuelie

[Ernie F.]

Re: Al Knoch or Ecklers.....

I like Corvette America's stuff much better. Sure wish they made convertible tops.

For carpets go for Auto Custom Carpets.

Gene,

There is a new top in town and we did the test fit on them for 1968-1975 cars. The fit was perfect, the top worked great. I put it on my own personal car!

There were a few issues with the material used on the front bead but it was corrected! I’m not sure if it’s been judged yet or not, I’ll have to find out how it turned out and maybe make a post!

Dick,

The Corvette America Re-Tooled Door panels are hands down better than anything on the market PERIOD for the mid year cars! The upper support is correct, the window felt is correct as is the padding inside the panel.

We did a BB 435 h/p conv. car and removed the “other” panels in place of the Re-tooled Corvette America panels. Also,

Corvette America has re-tooled the seat foams, the door panels and both have been well documented on one of the other forums.

Ernie