What plastic or rubber body parts do you want to see reproduced?

[Ludworks]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently setting up for plastic/rubber reproduction. As far as external body parts go, what do you guys need? There is a separate post for interior parts.

Here's the list so far in order of how I'm tackling them:
Turn Signals (Sides and front)
Brake Lights (wagons first, other body styles later)
Front Grill (Late model first)
Bumper end caps/corner caps (front and rear. Wagons first, other body styles later)


I understand seals (window/door) are also in demand, but I don't think think current process will be able to accurately reproduce those. They'll be dealt with separately later on.

Anybody interested in the rubber belting that runs horizontally? Or emblems? What about the crash blocks that mount to the bumpers?

[89 MJ]

The little bumper guards would be good, but I don’t know if they would sell well. I’d like to see emblems produced again. The other thing would be the side markers for SX/4s and Kammbacks on the quarter panels. The side moldings would be good too. I think you’ve got a good list there.

[vangremlin]

Thanks for pursuing this.  I own a Kammback and a two door sedan.  I would be interested in the bumper ends - fronts are the same for 81-88, but the Kammback's are unique in the rear.  My sedan is a 1980, those are one year only for all models I believe. 

There is a piece that attaches to the body and covers up the gap between the rear bumper on the Kammback that would be nice to have but I'm sure there wouldn't be a lot of customers for that.

I have a mostly intact rear bumper end for an SX/4, which are also unique that I would be willing to send you if that would help you out.  Let me know.  Thanks again for doing this!

[Ludworks]

Side markers for SX4s and Kammbacks are the same as Spirits, right? Those are very doable.

Yes, the bumper fascia piece that always crumbles away. That's a good call. I know those were used on early models. The trick will be finding some still intact to copy.

Emblems would be very easy, but they'd come out as black or white plastic. Making them metallic is tricky. Either electroplating or vapor deposition would be required. It might be easier to cast them in pewter or zamak. I'll have to play around with that.

Vangemlin I appreciate the offer. I'll let you know if I need that later on. Lights (especially tail lights) are the top priority for me right now.

[vangremlin]

Yes, side markers are the same for Kammbacks, SX/4s, and Spirits.  Those used to be available through Kennedy American, but I haven't checked on that in awhile.  There used to be a member on the Den that reproduced them for awhile, but I don't believe he is still active.  His turned out really nice but they were just one color, without the silver on the raised portions of the lense.  I don't know if you'll be able to do that or not. 

Thanks!

[maddog]

The 80 eagles also had a filler piece between the bumper and the back of the car that is different from the rest of the model years.

[maddog]

So I just looked on the AMC lives website and they do have weather stripping for the Eagles.
https://www.amclives.com/collections/weatherstripping/1980-1988-eagle

[Ludworks]

Vangremlin, do you know, the silver on the lens, is it painted or some kind of actual metal?

Maddog, AMC Lives is not a source I would use myself...but good to know they say they have those. That bumper filler piece (fascia?) is what I think Vangremlin was talking about on the Kammbacks. I wonder if all the 1980 models use the same piece or if their shaped differently depending on the body style? Either way they shouldn't be too hard to remake, I think the trouble will be finding one that's survived!

[vangremlin]

Vangremlin, do you know, the silver on the lens, is it painted or some kind of actual metal?

I got mine from Kennedy American back in 2008-ish, and I believe at the time they told me the original ones had the silver plated on, but the reproductions were just painted. 

I looked the other day, and didn't see them offered at Kennedy American or AMC Acres.  However, I did run across someplace on Facebook last night that is reproducing them:

carreplico.com

Thanks!

[maddog]

Vangremlin, do you know, the silver on the lens, is it painted or some kind of actual metal?

Maddog, AMC Lives is not a source I would use myself...but good to know they say they have those. That bumper filler piece (fascia?) is what I think Vangremlin was talking about on the Kammbacks. I wonder if all the 1980 models use the same piece or if their shaped differently depending on the body style? Either way they shouldn't be too hard to remake, I think the trouble will be finding one that's survived!

There's another company that has parts for eagles as well called American Parts Depot, they even have the side marker lenses for SX/4's. As for the rear filler piece I think the wagons and both the two and four-door sedans had the same one.

[Ludworks]

I'd bet that Carreplico and American Parts Depot probably have the same source for those side markers. Don't quote me on that, but that seems to be the way it goes for most similar things. Seems like they've got that covered though, so probably won't worry about those for the time being.

As far the filler pieces, they're also going to be a lower priority, seeing as they're only used on early models. When the time comes I'll put some posts on here asking to borrow specific pieces like that. Hopefully someone has a clean one to copy.

There are a couple of parts with metal plated/deposited/stamped on them that are going to be tricky, but I've got some ideas. To reduce cost I'll try and offer some parts without the metal and see what people think. For instance the front side markers have that "chrome" strip around the lens. Well that's actual metal that's been bonded to the ABS. However I can make the part much cheaper if I skip the "chrome" and offer it with a black border around the lens.

[maddog]

I actually hate Chrome and would honestly love to get rid of as much Chrome as I can. When I had to replace door handles on my car I went and got the black Jeep half door handles and honestly I think they're better made than the ones that came on the car originally, they also look better. As for that rear filler piece. I was actually contemplating taking what's left of mine and seeing if one of the local shops around here could make it out of sheet metal but I would definitely prefer something that doesn't dent. But it's also not a high priority right now, getting the car back on the road however is. One other body piece I know a lot of people with wagons would love to see made is hatch hinges.

[Ludworks]

Good to know on the chrome. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. Honestly I go back and forth on it.

I should also be able to make front side markers, side molding/belting, emblems, tail lights, grills, and bumper corners in solid black.

The hinges themselves or the seal underneath?

[89 MJ]

Both the hinges and seals would be ideal.

I’ll say it, I like chrome. And it seems like lots of younger folks that actually show interest in these cars like chrome too. I’m talking people that are in their teens and 20s here because that’s my age. That said, silver paint looks like chrome for a distance. If it’s easier to not do the chrome, I’m sure people would be more than happy to paint stuff silver.

[maddog]

I agree that both hinges and seals would be good to get replicated I know AMC lives has the gaskets and people have had good luck with them, but it'd be good to be able to have more than one source for stuff like that. Also if you really want something Chrome looking with paint they sell chrome paint and I mean the color is actually Chrome.