Reproduction Fender & Header Panel / Front Clip Quality?

[Salvagedcircuit]

Curious, has anyone picked up the recently manufactured front fenders or reproduction fiberglass Header Panel / front clip? How do you like them? Are they manufactured to the same quality as the OEM ones? Do they fit the same and are they the same thickness? Thanks.

[Limeyjeeper]

My experience with aftermarket front clips is that most of them are not good. Would always recommend getting a good junkyard one. Can't comment on fenders. But if they are Keyparts then their quality is usually really good.

[ghetdjc320]

I’m currently running aftermarket fenders with an oe front header/grill. The fenders took some modification to fit properly and are definitely a thinner metal than originals. You can make them work if you need to but I’d suggest just getting some junkyard fenders as well.

[Htchevyii]

I purchased the Crown Automotive 83506616 Header Pane from Jeg's for my '89 XJ. I had read some reviews saying that the panel was not the correct dimensions and others were OK. I took a chance and ordered it anyway. It was complete garbage! The reviews were correct that stated the it was not wide enough. if you were to align the front of the fenders, the hood wouldn't have closed. The fiberglass work was also very lumpy over the entire panel and would have required extensive bodywork over all visible parts. I ended up returning it and repairing the cracked one off of my parts rig. There were no fitment issues with the used one even though it was off of a different vehicle. Maybe some other brands are OK?

[Salvagedcircuit]

Thanks for the input guys! I went with a junk yard header panel from a 91-96 XJ and an aftermarket driver fender. My driver side fender ended up being an aftermarket already so no harm done. the driver fenders at the junk yard were all rusted out or had rust bubbling.

[eaglescout526]

I watched the guy who is building mama fratelli’a XJ and he bought crown parts, good example of why crown sucks despite having the license to reproduce those parts. 

[ghetdjc320]

I wish key parts would add fenders to their offerings. We need someone to make a decent body panel

[Salvagedcircuit]

Well, the cloned fenders work, but just as @ghetdjc320 mentioned, it took a bunch of modification to fit properly. The geometry does not line up well where it meets the cowl. My clone fender had too much material on the flange and needed to be sanded down. The sheet metal square bend toward the front clip does not sit flush with the original header and leaves a triangular gap. Also, a major goof on behalf of the clone fender maker: the original fender has 9 holes for the fender flare. Mine came with 8.

Overall, I'd have to classify it as a junk clone part, but I had to make it work under the circumstances. I'll be keeping an eye out for a original driver fender whenever I repaint. 

[ratrapp]

this is just another example of used is better than new.i see it everyday at my shop.