Body Panels - MSA vs Black Dragon?

[ConchZ]

I finally settled on a body shop to do the refresh on the '73. The body man and I are wondering if there's any difference in quality between the replacement panels available from Black Dragon and MSA. I'll be buying the rear quarter on the drivers side, from the dog leg back. Does anyone have any thoughts on these? Thanks.

[zed2]

Take a look at these suppliers:

http://www.rustrepair.com/repair_panels/onlinecat.htm?r=ru&p=sm

http://www.alfaparts.net/datsun.html

Keith

[Zak's Z]

I know Tabco makes the replacement metal that most of the suppliers use. Im pretty certain MSA and BD buy from them. If anyone knows better please correct me. I ordered from them directly.

http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/html/table_of_contents.htm

[a7dz]

I got my panels from MSA because Tabco was out of stock. The panels from MSA all had Tabco numbers and stickers on them.

[ConchZ]

Thanks guys. From looking at your suggested sites, I think Tabco makes the parts for all the retailers except Wolf Steel, whose parts are sold by the alpha parts website. Wolf Steel is the only supplier to sell a full rear quarter, from the door to the tail lights, which sets them apart. Wolf also claims they make their parts by copying parts sent to them by Datsun owners, and they are asking for more parts to copy. Maybe I'll try an experiment and order a part from Wolf and a part from Tabco. My car goes into the body shop next week for stripping, then we'll see what we need to order. Thanks again.

[lonetreesteve]

I know Tabco makes the replacement metal that most of the suppliers use. Im pretty certain MSA and BD buy from them. If anyone knows better please correct me. I ordered from them directly.

http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/html/table_of_contents.htm

Yes, I found out the hard way about this a few years ago and it's definitely cheaper to buy directly from Tabco.

[ConchZ]

This makes me wonder if I can order interior parts, like vinyl, directly from the same manufacturer that BD and MSA buy them from...

[bpilati]

I used Nissan front fenders.

[lonetreesteve]

I used Nissan front fenders.

I bought a new left front fender from a local Nissan dealer a couple years ago for the '72 that my son and I recently sold. The Nissan factory fenders fit so much better than the after-market fenders that are out there. At the time, the Nissan parts guy told me that the one I bought was the only one available in the country and he had it shipped from another Nissan dealer in California. If I remember correctly, it was just under $200.00 with my Colorado Z-car Club discount.

The original fenders on my latest project are in great shape, so I have no need for new fenders. But just out of curiosity, are they still available from Nissan?

Edited December 16, 2008 by lonetreesteve

[five&dime]

You can still get hood and fenders from Nissan. For what it's worth, our body guy has had experience with Wolf/alpha and does not like them at all.

I don't think he cares much for the Tabco either but he prefers them to Alpha.