Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

[Hank H.]

This is a judging question: I recently ordered and received a pair of male hood latch pin spring assemblies from Paragon. They look nice except the adjusting slot at the top of the pin is a little wider and is not cut down the sides as far as the originals. Are these likely to be a deduct under NCRS standards? Has anyone used these with judging success? I can return them and simply clean up my originals, but they won't look cosmetically as good. thanks

[Roy B.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

This is a judging question: I recently ordered and received a pair of male hood latch pin spring assemblies from Paragon. They look nice except the adjusting slot at the top of the pin is a little wider and is not cut down the sides as far as the originals. Are these likely to be a deduct under NCRS standards? Has anyone used these with judging success? I can return them and simply clean up my originals, but they won't look cosmetically as good. thanks

Don't take this wrong but I never can understand why some people will go repro ( most are done wrong) and don't take the time or effort to restore their original parts. To many Corvettes are becoming KIT cars.

[Sal C.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

WE HAVE A WINNER!!! Roy,that is the best statment ever made on this board.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

With a bazillion of these pins out there I'm not sure why you'd buy a repro - or why they even make one.

If you do not want to refinish yours (or have them refinished) then check out eBay, one of the major swap meets, or one of the Corvette junkyards. These are not difficult items to obtain and I'm sure you can find one in excellent condition.

Leave the repro to parts that you just can't obtain or that cost way too much to repair/replate. Repro parts are almost always not the quality you'd want or expect.

Patrick

[Hank H.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

Thanks to all. That is the direction I was leaning. I can make the originals look pretty good without refinishing, but they will obviously show some wear. Already have a return number for the repros. thanks again.

[Roy B.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

Sal
Aside from my many GM accessories , mechanically my 55 is 100% original down to it's nuts and bolts .Reconditioned or replaced with original parts , not repro's.It wasn't easy or cheap to do but I wonted to know I was driving a real "GM" car having original GM parts. (Now that's me) and I also understand at times you may have a need to use repro's. But then if you have the real part why not take the time and money to keep it GM.I've been into NCRS from 1975 and more and more see Corvettes using more repro parts . I judge mostly 53 to 57 Corvettes and each years I notice they have more repro parts installed and less real parts . Besides many are not correct they also miss the logo's . Years from now people may not know the difference between a repro from a real part. Even lately I've had people tell me my parts are wrong on my 55 because they don't look like their parts that are (repro)
They now repro kit Corvettes and use mostly all repro parts ( they have too) but now real Corvettes use so many repro parts they are looking more like a kit Corvette. The problem is that to many repro parts pass the JM because the JM's don't yet always go into detail .

I think when us older members pass away that had to deal with original parts (showing some wear) back when NCRS was starting, repro parts will be used more often , OH well!!!!!

[Jack C.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

Hank, you may loose a point on condition but you will even that out on originality.

[Bill L.]

Re: Reproduction male hood pin spring assemblies for 1968/69

My limited experience is the same. Repros are never the same as original with the exception of Richard Fortier's exhaust tips!.

I spent about a $1,000 on repro parts only to put them all up on ebay. Like Ray has said. There is nothing like the originals.

It is also more rewarding to restore original parts in my opinion. I always get a big smile when someone on this board suggests how to restore the original and it works

I find plastic interior repro parts to be the worst. Unfortunately

I have yet to find an NOS black carpet for my 70 vert. I am still looking.


Bill