AMD MAY still be making A Body sheet metal

[demonjim]

Apparently you don’t know how much it costs to develop, make and perfect tooling to produce acceptable short run replacement sheet metal parts. $10 is a stupid assumption even if it was made by slave labor.

As someone who worked in a metal stamping job for 20 years, I can tell you that the cost of stamping parts ain't cheap. Depending on the size of the press, features, they can run from $250,000 to nearly a $1,000,000, or more. Then you have the cost of the dies necessary to make the part, again, not cheap. Once again, the price is determined by the die size, features. Then you have the cost for the material itself. A coil of steel is not cheap either.

Then you have the cost of labor added into the equation, transport charges for the raw and finished material and the finished part. No, it ain't a $10 to make those parts, it's probably in the hundreds of dollars.

 

[demonjim]

the need to rework their dies

That's a possibility. After making the number of parts these dies stamp out, the punches need to be replaced, die blocks need to be resurfaced, then shimmed back to the original height. it ain't cheap making these stamped parts. I went years ago to the AMD center in Georgia to pick up a quarter panel. Talked with the counter guy for a while, and was told they reverse engineer the parts from an original part. At one time they were asking for people to send them original parts so they could get the pieces as close to original as possible.

 

[A56]

That's a possibility. After making the number of parts these dies stamp out, the punches need to be replaced, die blocks need to be resurfaced, then shimmed back to the original height. it ain't cheap making these stamped parts. I went years ago to the AMD center in Georgia to pick up a quarter panel. Talked with the counter guy for a while, and was told they reverse engineer the parts from an original part. At one time they were asking for people to send them original parts so they could get the pieces as close to original as possible.

I offered to loan them my NOS '69 cuda front fenders several times in emails and never even received a reply.

 

[RLF Cuda]

In October 2021, I sent my '68 340 FS FB to The Instillation Center for rear quarters and valance panel. I also had US Car Tools Level 2 kit installed. I got the last quarter panels for a '68 before they went to generic single panel for all '67-'69 'Cuda's where you had to cut the panel for the right side marker opening. AMD/Instillation Cty did a great job but the body shop needed to do a little more work to get gaps perfect. Not a big deal.
Photos are of the car blown apart, with panels installed, finder reinforcement, and on rack after painting early in the assembly process. The final shot is with the car nearly complete. All paint and assembly done by Cars Remember When on Dutura in Littleton, CO.

 

[go-fish]

You don’t have to feel bad for the manufacturer because tooling is expensive, but I wouldn’t expect any sympathy from the manufacturer if you’re too cheap to buy their parts either.

There shouldn't be any feels between either party. It's business, as you stated. Buy'em or don't. Personally though, I wish more companies would embrace volume sales. If AMD reduced their prices by 15-20% OR ran Speedmaster style Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals every year they would increase sales by a good margin. Question is do they want to increase sales? Do they want to be stuck with inventory if it doesn't move? AMD may think there isn't a demand because these aren't strong sellers. Maybe they aren't strong sellers because there is "good enough" used parts, maybe Mopar guys are so cheap we just won't ever buy at the rates of Chevy owners. Who knows?

 

[barbee6043]

When I talk to some B body AMD dealers, the co. has had serious "issues'. Lets just leave it at that.

 

[ch1ll]

As someone who worked in a metal stamping job for 20 years, I can tell you that the cost of stamping parts ain't cheap. Depending on the size of the press, features, they can run from $250,000 to nearly a $1,000,000, or more. Then you have the cost of the dies necessary to make the part, again, not cheap. Once again, the price is determined by the die size, features. Then you have the cost for the material itself. A coil of steel is not cheap either.

Then you have the cost of labor added into the equation, transport charges for the raw and finished material and the finished part. No, it ain't a $10 to make those parts, it's probably in the hundreds of dollars.

I was a tool and die maker for 45 years and I have made stamping and form does. Nuff said.

 

[cuda1452]

It's funny though. All the GM guys have good sources.

AMD makes the best GM panels out there. That's all we use at our shop. Nothing is perfect. But the mopar and GM stuff we get is the best available.

 

[barbee6043]

When you must have a quarter panel, and usable used is unobtainaium, the repop panel that is bad is way better then nothing.

Way back years ago, there was a Mopar repop dealer in Mo. named John Hardin. I well remember driving there and we would go thru a doz. repop RR quarter panels looking for one that was not dinged and boogered from shipping. AMD.
Thats about when the 68-9 RR projects got to costing like $3500. I swore off them and buying quarters and went to early B bodies that were NOT rusted out JUNK!

 

[A56]

It sure would be nice if any of this were true and they started pounding panels out in THIS country.

 

[Demonic]

It sure would be nice if any of this were true and they started pounding panels out in THIS country.

I agree, but we would have to be willing to pay for that. I'd bet if AMD had a plant here, the cost of any given panel would be double. Regulations on chemicals, that is, paint, etc; taxes on businesses. You know what I'm saying. This is the #1 country on earth, with a high standard of living. Labor and material costs are correspondingly high here. This is a hobby for most of us, i.e., disposable income. When times are tight, hobby costs are the first to go.

Here's a real-life example: Some years ago, I was shopping for a beach chair on vacation. I found the usual Chinese ones for $20-40, and a group of ones with a big "Made in USA" tag on them for $90.- I looked over the chair, and seeing the rivets at the hinge were the same size as all the rest, I went with the cheaper one.

 

[A56]

I agree, but we would have to be willing to pay for that. I'd bet if AMD had a plant here, the cost of any given panel would be double. Regulations on chemicals, that is, paint, etc; taxes on businesses. You know what I'm saying. This is the #1 country on earth, with a high standard of living. Labor and material costs are correspondingly high here. This is a hobby for most of us, i.e., disposable income. When times are tight, hobby costs are the first to go.

Here's a real-life example: Some years ago, I was shopping for a beach chair on vacation. I found the usual Chinese ones for $20-40, and a group of ones with a big "Made in USA" tag on them for $90.- I looked over the chair, and seeing the rivets at the hinge were the same size as all the rest, I went with the cheaper one.

Folks here are still paying $80,000 for trucks.

 

[barbee6043]

Folks here are still paying $80,000 for trucks.

They have really good salaries.
So many just ask what is the payment!

 

[360notch]

He may be wrong about the cost of production, but he's not wrong about the quality. I have first hand experience multiple times with AMD's ill fitting quarters. Nothing's gonna fit every car perfect, but holy CRAP what an experience. Like with FOUR different cars.

I'm not doubting your experiences, but just want to give a balancing point of view regarding AMD. My experience with AMD sheet metal has been consistently good. I've replaced 2 AMD a-body quarters, and both fit perfectly. Same good experience with AMD a-body and e-body header panels, rockers, floors, etc. I once tried a cheaper brand (the Classic Industries' cheaper brand), and had to return it because the fit was terrible.

 

[jeff ezell]

In October 2021, I sent my '68 340 FS FB to The Instillation Center for rear quarters and valance panel. I also had US Car Tools Level 2 kit installed. I got the last quarter panels for a '68 before they went to generic single panel for all '67-'69 'Cuda's where you had to cut the panel for the right side marker opening. AMD/Instillation Cty did a great job but the body shop needed to do a little more work to get gaps perfect. Not a big deal.
Photos are of the car blown apart, with panels installed, finder reinforcement, and on rack after painting early in the assembly process. The final shot is with the car nearly complete. All paint and assembly done by Cars Remember When on Dutura in Littleton, CO.

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Beautiful car!