TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:25 pm

Just wondering if anyone has ordered sheet metal panels from this company. They are based out of Cleavland ,Ohio. Just ran across their website tonight. Price's seem reasonable. I wonder what the quality of there pieces are.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:28 pm

they are still in business? mill supply used to be good stuff. just make sure they aren't reselling the klokkerholm crap

Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:36 am

How do you tell the difference between crap and good sheetmetal.where are the klockerholm panels made and how do I tell them apart.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:25 am

Sadly when you get them, you'll know. Mill supply used to use a red e-coat, not sure what they use now as I thought they were out of business

If its thin and cheesy return it

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:37 am

I guess the safe way would be to order one or two small cheap parts like outriggers or jack points and see how they measure up, that way you won't be out a sh*tload for shipping, if they are black and made from ~22ga lick your wounds and move on.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:04 am

I ordered two front step panels from them today. They are 18g, and stamped locally in Ohio, acc. to the person I spoke with. He said not all their parts are made locally, however. Likely have to ask per item what the source is.
I haven't received them yet, so don't know how they are.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:48 am

For those that want to check it out- http://www.rustrepair.com/PANELS/68-VW-BUS-BODY-PANELS.HTM

Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:50 am

Scanned through their site and most of the parts that have images definitely look like klokkerholm, so I'd call and ask first.

Ex:
http://www.rustrepair.com/PANELS/68-VW-BUS-CARGO-INNER-DOOR-BOTTOM-4026831.HTM
http://www.rustrepair.com/PANELS/68-VW-BUS-WHEEL-ARCH-026821L.HTM
http://www.rustrepair.com/PANELS/68-VW-BUS-CORNER-PANEL-027256R.HTM

Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:19 am

So who sells the good stuff?

Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:40 am

samm1 wrote: So who sells the good stuff?

This guy:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=409382

and you can order most of his stuff locally in Canada thru these guys outta Calgary:

http://store.concept1.ca/store/filtered/44/c_145/b_Klassic-Fab/

Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:39 pm

Cool thanks for everyone's input, think I'll go with the Edmontonian.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:55 pm

If you are going the green stuff, why not order direct?

http://klassicfab.com/klassicfab/index.php?id_category=9&controller=category&id_lang=3

These guys make good stuff too. I've held some pieces in my hands. I think there is a U.S. distributor out of Cal.

http://www.autocrafteng.co.uk/shop/bay-window_109/

Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:16 am

Just checked Concept1 website in Calgary. I couldn't find any front or rear cross members. Maybe Kalssic Fab doesn't make them.

Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:00 am

Klassicfab make very little for Baywindows, as us bay guys are "cheap"
I would look at autocraft for cross members and outriggers.
I got some pieces for my bug from this US distributor:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1181921
Those pieces weren't listed by them but I saw them on the Autocraft website and emailed this company. They have or can get anything Autocraft. Very nice stuff too.
Otherwise try calling Bus Depot, they have a lot of Baywindow body pieces that are OEM VW. I got my rear corner and battery tray from them, VW stamped pieces. Calling first no matter who you go through is the best idea.

Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:51 am

No single company makes everything, you need to shop around. Scholfield, Autocraft, and Just Kampers also produce really nice stuff. Bus Depot stocks a lot of JK, or just order from their websites directly.

And sometimes, you're just stuck with klokkerholm or finding a donor vehicle.

Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:19 am

Basically concerned about the gauge thickness . As far as cross members go I would like the heavier gauge metal, even if I have to do some fiddle f######ing with them I. Could make them fit. What gauge are the Klassic fab metal? Does anyone know?

Thanks Chris

Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:07 pm

There's a Canadian distributor for some Autocraft stuff.

http://www.eastcoastcornerstore.com/collections/bay-window

Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:22 pm

samm1 wrote: Just checked Concept1 website in Calgary. I couldn't find any front or rear cross members. Maybe Kalssic Fab doesn't make them.
Have you phoned?
BTW a late splitty crossmember is the same profile but a little bit longer, shortening is much easier than lengthening :wink:

Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:34 pm

Update of info I forgot in my other post:

I'm not back east in the Cleveland area right now or I could go there and check things out. From what I know of a local friend ordering from Mill Supply recently is that the majority of parts (if not all) are Klokkerholm panels.

The other place in Cleveland that used to sell bus metal was TABCO. I called them in January to see what they had in stock because I had purchased a lot of old 1990s TABCO sticker bus parts from a local club member. TABCO no longer carries any bus parts due to a drop in demand (panels were sourced from varied vendors and sometimes NOS), but they do have beetle parts, though again most are Klokkerholm panels.

Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:16 pm

Yes bus daddy, phoned today and all they have for cross members is the Klokerholm metal. Mostly splitty metal.