e-body firewall advice

[73RallyeChallenger]

Does anyone have experience with Goodmark or AMD e-body firewalls? I got a quote and I can get a Goodmark firewall for 1/2 the cost of an AMD. Has anyone used a Goodmark with few issues? I tried the usual searches and there is hardly any information available on the blogs or world wide web. Is no news, good news on this one? Looking at photos of both the AMD and Goodmark, they appear to be the same, and they both have a hook on the firewall where there should be a rubberized coated fold over type clip.

[dfrazz]

In my experience, AMD is the closest to factory gauge metal and fit.  Goodmark and Sherman have been difficult to fit, often have holes that do not line up correctly or are missing pre-drilled factory holes, and are not of the same quality gauge of metal.  With something that is so important and visible like the firewall I would go with AMD.

[tman]

 

[burdar]

With as poorly as the AMD parts fit on your 73, I'd be skeptical too.  I don't have an answer for you.

[calicuda70]

In my experience, AMD is the closest to factory gauge metal and fit.  Goodmark and Sherman have been difficult to fit, often have holes that do not line up correctly or are missing pre-drilled factory holes, and are not of the same quality gauge of metal.  With something that is so important and visible like the firewall I would go with AMD.

2nd that goodmark stuff fits like crap

[73RallyeChallenger]

With as poorly as the AMD parts fit on your 73, I'd be skeptical too.  I don't have an answer for you.

You know where I'm coming from. I just find it odd I can't find a single blog entry of someone complaining about the Goodmark or AMD firewall panel fit. This leads me to believe that no one has had a difficult experience with either, and it doesn't matter which to use. Somewhere along the supply chain, I would have to believe that AMD and Goodmark panels are stamped from the same dies. I find it hard to swallow that there are two different factories in Taiwan stamping mopar body panels. AMD panels are not the cats meow that everyone makes them out to be, some of their panels have issues too. The AMD filler panel (Dutchman panel) is a real P.O.S. , it screams "reproduction" from 25ft away, I would never use it again on any car I care about. Ask me how I know.

[anlauto]

What about DII ?

[mrbill426]

We're in the middle of installing a "Sherman" filler panel and so far it looks like a pretty good fit 

You know where I'm coming from. I just find it odd I can't find a single blog entry of someone complaining about the Goodmark or AMD firewall panel fit. This leads me to believe that no one has had a difficult experience with either, and it doesn't matter which to use. Somewhere along the supply chain, I would have to believe that AMD and Goodmark panels are stamped from the same dies. I find it hard to swallow that there are two different factories in Taiwan stamping mopar body panels. AMD panels are not the cats meow that everyone makes them out to be, some of their panels have issues too. The AMD filler panel (Dutchman panel) is a real P.O.S. , it screams "reproduction" from 25ft away, I would never use it again on any car I care about. Ask me how I know.

[73RallyeChallenger]

What about DII ?

I looked at the Dynacorn panel, but they only list one for A/C cars. Also it doesn't look right in the area below the wiper motor from the picture on their website. Look at the folds. What panel do you use Alan? Do you have experience with all three major brands? If so, is there any difference in Goodmark and AMD?

[73RallyeChallenger]

We're in the middle of installing a "Sherman" filler panel and so far it looks like a pretty good fit 

The AMD filler panel fit just fine, but the radius at the ends of the panel that meet up with the quarter has the wrong radius. The radius is too pronounced on the AMD, and much more subtle on a OEM or NOS one. If not fixed before paint, you can spot it in a heart beat. I also had problems with the quarter contour meeting up with the upper doors. Also on the AMD quarters, I have a gap at the rear window where you can see the mouldings clips. My body guy who has worked on many GM and Ford cars had little experience with AMD mopar panels. This time around I'm making sure I do my homework before I jump into anything. You really need to have a body guy that has experience with each panel to avoid any pitfalls with them. This is all on my completed 73 Challenger BTW.

[anlauto]

As for firewalls, I've only done one and it was an AMD

[mrbill426]

Any photos to illustrate what you mean by the wrong radius??

The AMD filler panel fit just fine, but the radius at the ends of the panel that meet up with the quarter has the wrong radius....

[73RallyeChallenger]

Any photos to illustrate what you mean by the wrong radius??

This blog is getting a little side-tracked. But since you asked... (still looking for someone who has experience with a Goodmark fire wall...)

I recently purchased an NOS filler panel, and have a Goodmark to show how bad the repos are. The AMD is on the 73 and is all black and does not photograph very well to show the difference, but I can assure you the AMD panel is about the same in quality as this Goodmark panel. I won't even end up using this NOS filler panel because I found a perfect OEM deck filer panel to use on the T/A project. Can you guess which panel is NOS, and which panel is Goodmark?

Man, I still need to sign up to Photobucket. That is on my to do list this weekend.

[mrbill426]

Thanks for going along with the "side track", it's worth it if it points out a potential problem 

This blog is getting a little side-tracked. But since you asked... (still looking for someone who has experience with a Goodmark fire wall...)

I recently purchased an NOS filler panel, and have a Goodmark to show how bad the repos are. The AMD is on the 73 and is all black and does not photograph very well to show the difference, but I can assure you the AMD panel is about the same in quality as this Goodmark panel. I won't even end up using this NOS filler panel because I found a perfect OEM deck filer panel to use on the T/A project. Can you guess which panel is NOS, and which panel is Goodmark?

Man, I still need to sign up to Photobucket. That is on my to do list this weekend.