The fiberglass repro filler piece arrived today. It's the piece that goes on the front below the radiator. It looks to be too short. Are the tabs supposed to meet up with the holes in the fender extensions or are there supposed to be some kind of brackets?

I don't know how the fiberglass piece compares to an original but here are some pics of an original steel filler.
>>> link to pics of air baffles <<<<

Bob,
I had the same question about the fiberglass. I passed it off as fender/extension alignment issues. My left fender was hit in the early 70s, straightened and looks real good but a small difference could show at the lower edge. Anyway here are pictures of mine. The right and center seemed to fit great but the left is a bit off.
Right


Center


Left

Great pictures!

Mine is way short at the ends, 1/2" on one side and 1 inch on the other. Mine had some damage at one point, too, as I've been finding. Looks like I can either try to pull in the fender extensions (probably won't work) or rig up some brackets for the ends. Thanks for the input.

Where did you purchase the lower air dam from, I have not been able to find them. JK

I got mine from Paddock http://www.paddockparts.com about 5-6 years ago. They are still in their catalog for $109.95.

Anyone knows where to get the original steel fillers? I even didn´t know they ever existed...
Have the fiberglass repro myself (still not installed yet) and I´m not very pleased... Sure, the part fits but doesn´t look to be solid enough to endure the car´s vibrations over a longer period. In especially the tabs seem to be prone to tear down at their base. So, before installing I will have to enforce them on their backside. I would prefer to get my hands on the original steel ones. Never have seen them on eBay - any ideas where to get them?

Thx

Thomas

Thomas , none reproduced in steel....sometimes you can find them , more or less banged up on EBay...I found one for a friend of mine in Arizona , rusty , dented etc, but a good steel filler , I think we lucked out for under $45, plus shipping.....
but after we got it here , using a hammer and a wood block for backing we got it almost perfect...then some rust removal, primer and paint....
but you cant find one brand new...
Ive seen some advertised here too , I think, but it might be a good idea to advertise for one under "parts wanted" while you search EBay...

99 bucks from Ames. The steel ones go for well over $200 when they show up on e-bay.

I've been watching for a good steel one for years too. If possible I'll replace the fiberglass someday. My original dissappeared in Dec '71 when it got slightly damaged. Oh how I wish I had pressed the insurance settlement back then to replace it. Instead I ran the car for the next 28 years without the baffle.

Classic has both the fiberglass and the steel. They also have the lower air dam. If I get down there this week I'm picking the air dam up. I'll let you know what it looks like.

bhiggins3, that must be a very new product (lower air dam in steel)?
lets hear it if you find it...I searched "forever" for one of those for my friend before...
and if you find it , lets hear the price?

At least in their (CI´s) new Firebird catalog (F2005) they only advertize the fiberglass lower panel filler for USD 109.95 ea - didn´t find anything about in steel.

On the other side I recently got two emails from CI concerning new product releases, for example new fuel tanks for 1967-69 Camaros and Firebirds manufactured by OER in stainless steel (USD 229.95 ea) or new 1967-69 F-Body convertible top frames for USD 799.95 ea.

So, everything seems to be possible. If they really produce new lower filler panels in steel please let us know.

Regards

Thomas

I checked CI online catalog and only found the fiberglass lower baffle. However, vendors are sometimes slow in updating their sites.

I think bigguns was thinking about the upper filler panels (GTOKen's photos on the link above show those too).

It doesn't look like it would be all that hard to repro the lower filler in steel. And I think they could sell a good number.

Bjorn, I should have clarified. The lower Air dam the one that goes under the front valance is only in fiberglass. Thats the one I was going to look at this week when I'm down there. The AC filler panels they have in both steel and fiberglass. They also have the lower filler panel for the 67 and 68 only in fiberglass. I was thinking of the valance when I wrote that. Sorry to get anyones hopes up.

Thats ok, you just confirmed what I thought was right is correct...not bad to be right once in awhile...LOL

Talk to my wife...LOL

Still remember our conversation about the lower vent baffle in steel? Just got outbid at eBay´s...
I was willing to pay up to USD 175.00 but not THIS price: USD 248.00 for a simple piece of steel!
If I could sell all of my Firebird´s parts for THIS money I´d surely reach the 100,000.00 USD-mark...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7992076309

There´s once again the possibility to bid on a lower vent baffle in steel on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4572309490

It certainly will attain high price... Already costs US $82.66 and still has 3 days 16 hours to go...


Thought you ought to know in case you want to bid.

The steel one is definitely better than the plasticy one I bought from Classic Industries.

I purchased a fiberglass one from Year One (for a 69 that is), and to my great surprise it fit perfectly. Keeping my eyes out for a steel air dam, but after seeing one being sold for $360 on ebay two weeks ago, I think I'll have to contend with the on I have...

Goran , nice to see you here, didnt remember you were Snow Cruiser!