Gday all, just purchased some panels, Bonnet, Tailgate and a front left guard, from EBAY. I am just waiting for them to arrive and was wandering if anyone has fitted these panels before. The dude says they are new and looking at the pics they are. I understand they may not be the best fit but how do the actually go?

They're fine in terms of strength and all that, maybe a little bit more flimsy. Stock 1200 panels are still like paper when you remove them, so anything should be that strong.

What panels you get? Each of them have their own foibles. A mate of my wifes told her to use new guards and original bonnet coz the guards are sweet but the new bonnet sits too low. Also the new tailgate sits too high, and the rear quarters need a little bit of massaging to get a perfect fit.

These are the issues we've come across, but there are many different manufacturers of these panels, so the supplier may have something to do with it.

All in all it's a hell of a lot easier then finding rust free originals, and it's still made of metal, no glass here.

It might be best to use 2 matching front quarters, as they are shaped slightly differently to the originals, it might not be enough to notice once its on, but you'll find out.

The top lip of the tailgate sits too high as whorida said, have to cut it and reweld it a bit lower.

Thanks Tyrie, you just reminded me, you can't use new guards with original doors and vice versa (well you can, but requires work).

Taiwanese (pretty sure that's where they're made) guards curve back slightly, meaning original doors catch on them. If you use taiwanese doors there will be an unsightly gap between them and the original panel.

What about front aprons. I have also purchased the front apron mould that sits under the front grille, along with a new front grille from the same manufacturer. Has anyone had any issues with fitting these or heard of any?

Trav

In my experience, the repo front aprons are very, very poor quality and should be removed from manufacture

Well i kinda knew it was going to be a little extra work to fit em, I will just have to wait and see how bad it is going to be.

Nothing a hammer, oxy, welder and grinder cant fix though

Damn right mate, that's the spirit!!

I've been tossing up welding the front guards on to smooth it all up, maybe the apron as well.

Good welding should hide many of those minor repro imperfections.

thank goodness for your mums work in regards to welding

Yeah i just received my $50 front apron today and im rather dissapointed Its full of ripples and a few dents!! But hey it was $50 and can be fixed.. Thats my warning haha

Wardy