ConcoursMustang Forums

3rd Generation 1979 - 1993 => 1979 - 1993 => Topic started by: 79mustangcobra on March 10, 2015, 02:39:43 PM

Title: NOS 79-82 Cowl Grill Comparison to Reproduction
Post by: 79mustangcobra on March 10, 2015, 02:39:43 PM

I was fortunate enough to find a NOS 79-82 Cowl Grill.

 I know they reproduce these so I bought a reproduction from my favorite parts store NPD to compare the two.

Both were packaged well for shipping

NOS

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/A2F95343-4982-4D2E-87C0-FDE06CC903E7_zpsrxq2vsat.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/A2F95343-4982-4D2E-87C0-FDE06CC903E7_zpsrxq2vsat.jpg.html)

NPD

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/FCD9DCF5-818A-44F3-BB12-53C755F893AB_zpstfy7udnc.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/FCD9DCF5-818A-44F3-BB12-53C755F893AB_zpstfy7udnc.jpg.html)

Out of the Box

NOS

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/DEF4C02C-6369-42E2-90EB-6AE6C1F60EC2_zps1mixblbq.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/DEF4C02C-6369-42E2-90EB-6AE6C1F60EC2_zps1mixblbq.jpg.html)

NPD

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/F1BDE938-382A-4217-BCA8-3E74ED799E6A_zpsudoftqvd.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/F1BDE938-382A-4217-BCA8-3E74ED799E6A_zpsudoftqvd.jpg.html)

First look - NOS is of course nice.

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/F492867C-03F3-4ADD-A2EF-2345C4038160_zpsbimwdasq.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/F492867C-03F3-4ADD-A2EF-2345C4038160_zpsbimwdasq.jpg.html)

Reproduction part is made by Daniel Carpenter. Looks nice but the plastic is not the same quality. It weighs half as much as the NOS

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/19434AB1-BED8-4261-9158-82D2965AFA7D_zpstpyxhtw6.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/19434AB1-BED8-4261-9158-82D2965AFA7D_zpstpyxhtw6.jpg.html)


Parts compared to each other. Reproduction on top NOS on bottom.

Front

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/A7850931-09C3-4B6E-BE4C-A5F36DC12B61_zpshflfmysm.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/A7850931-09C3-4B6E-BE4C-A5F36DC12B61_zpshflfmysm.jpg.html)

Back

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/80598E7A-C5C0-438A-9F93-C5CCC716239B_zpsy10mv8t6.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/80598E7A-C5C0-438A-9F93-C5CCC716239B_zpsy10mv8t6.jpg.html)

They look really close to the eye. The only puzzling thing is the part number on the reproduction.

It has a E5 part number? This is odd because this part was changed in 83.

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/C7EC79F0-3BBA-4952-B059-D7BB848F9F12_zpsdba0j5db.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/C7EC79F0-3BBA-4952-B059-D7BB848F9F12_zpsdba0j5db.jpg.html)

NOS part number.

(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/2D441DB8-F137-4E2B-8233-FCAFBBFAF758_zpsnuldlfqo.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/2D441DB8-F137-4E2B-8233-FCAFBBFAF758_zpsnuldlfqo.jpg.html)

Conclusion. I think the NOS is better made, but this part is unavailable. I think that we are fortunate to have someone like Daniel Carpenter making reproduction parts for our cars. Other than the weight, I think there is not much difference.

Title: Re: NOS 79-82 Cowl Grill Comparison to Reproduction
Post by: bluemax on March 10, 2015, 06:02:48 PM

Saw your write up over on FEP, thanks for taking the time to post up here as well.  :)

Title: Re: NOS 79-82 Cowl Grill Comparison to Reproduction
Post by: J_Speegle on March 10, 2015, 09:34:02 PM

Yes thanks for taking the time and effort.

Title: Re: NOS 79-82 Cowl Grill Comparison to Reproduction
Post by: 79mustangcobra on March 11, 2015, 02:42:07 PM

Thanks for the kind words.  Just trying to help our hobby.