Need a favour

[P.J. Romano]

The following is excerpt from my correspondence with OGTS earlier today:

Good morning,
I am the lucky one to have all original sheet metal on my 72 GT but the belly pan has seen better times as the curbs and battery acid took their toll…
Any idea how to cut the shipping cost on the fiberglass belly pan?
Regards
P.J.


PJ,
It might be cost-prohibitive to directly ship a belly pan to you. At best, it could be shipped to a location on the US side of the border and from there you could transport it yourself.
Opel GT Source

So, is there anybody in Detroit or East Michigan that OGTS could ship the belly pan for me? I would pick it up within few days of the arrival. Thanks in advance.

[lezliewk]

I am about 4 hours from Detroit so that would be a very long drive I am sure there is someone up there that will help you, Good luck

[kwilford]

My brother lives in Cambridge Ontario and is a big Healey fan (as in a big "big Healey" fan!) and often buys big "big Healey" parts from the States. He often has the item shipped via UPS to one of their depot in Niagara Falls and then drives across to pick it up. Is there a UPS depot in Port Huron or somewhere close in Michigan that would do that for you?

[Redskinsjbs]

I make a trip about once ever other month up to Albany, NY to visit some friends of mine who are at school there. I know that it is a couple hundred miles away from detroit, but it is somewhat close to Canada . . . even though that isn't saying much.

I just thought that I would offer.

[opelbits]

You might try finding out what truck freight terminal is closest to you but still in the US. You can have stuff shipped to a specific terminal and pick it up there. Might even be cheaper than UPS.

There is a place called Freightwatchers that you might check into. They act like a broker and find the best rates and make arrangements.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by kwilford My brother lives in Cambridge Ontario and is a big Healey fan (as in a big "big Healey" fan!) and often buys big "big Healey" parts from the States. He often has the item shipped via UPS to one of their depot in Niagara Falls and then drives across to pick it up. Is there a UPS depot in Port Huron or somewhere close in Michigan that would do that for you?

I'm in the shipping business, not that I can help in this situation other than offer some advice. Keith is correct about UPS. They shipped a couple of GT rocker/floor panels for me a while back. Just basically covered it with flat cardboard and straps, and off they went. UPS won't tell you this, but, they WILL ship one package weighing 150 lbs, so, I have shipped trans (both 4 and 5 spds, and heads) Also, here's another hint that UPS won't tell you. If the package you're shipping is within 450 miles of a UPS Hub (which Atlanta is a Hub) if it's within 450 miles of Atlanta, I can send it out UPS Ground (cheapest), but, it will go OVERNIGHT automatically. You get the higher service for the cheaper price. My next suggestion it the truck route, BUT, make sure it's terminal to terminal or terminal to truck dock, that's the cheapest way via truck.

[opelspyder]

I would really think through on purchasing a fiberglass belly pan. I have installed one, but most people would have started looking at how much work was really involved in it, and said forget it. It doesn't fit just like the original because it is thicker. Also the Fog light areas need to be cut out a bit, and fitting an original grille to it, is like near impossible. Once it is on there and installed correctly, no one can tell...that is if you do all the body work needed on the inside of the panel as it is left rough fiberglass!
Keith

[P.J. Romano]

Thank you for many good ideas regarding shipping. Actually, I do have a shipping point in Shippensburg, PA where I am spending a week each month (Ex-Ingersoll Rand plant acquired by Volvo Construction Equipment few years ago) but this is good for smaller parts. For bulky parts like belly pan I would still have to drive which is some 500 miles. The cost of gas would be higher than the shipping cost.

I am now entertaining an idea of replacing just the bottom of belly pan with the fiberglas one. The body shop is confident that they could nicely blend it in the body (see the picture). I assume that OGTS could cut it what would significantly lower the shipping cost. No doubt, it would make installation way easier as well.

[BQS4]

If that's all you're going to replace, I'd see if your bodyman couldn't just make that himself.

[P.J. Romano]

Originally Posted by BQS4 If that's all you're going to replace, I'd see if your bodyman couldn't just make that himself.

They could, Gene but it would probably cost about the same. It is also questionable if they could reproduce that middle "rib".
On the other hand, fiberglas is not prone to dents and will not corrode.
Actually, I might even try to implant that fiberglas bottom by myself. Chamfer the edges, use pop rivets and good glue, it should not be a big job. Once painted, it should blend nicely.
My project is changing course quickly (so is this thread ).

[jordan]

I am in Buffalo NY (about 15 minutes from the border) and if it would be helpful I would have no problem if it were shipped to me for a later pick up.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by P.J. Romano They could, Gene but it would probably cost about the same. It is also questionable if they could reproduce that middle "rib". On the other hand, fiberglas is not prone to dents and will not corrode. Actually, I might even try to implant that fiberglas bottom by myself. Chamfer the edges, use pop rivets and good glue, it should not be a big job. Once painted, it should blend nicely. My project is changing course quickly (so is this thread ).

Hmm, who's gonna get down on their hands and knees to verify that that "rib" is there? basically it just channels the water to the drain hole.

[clayfive]

I thought the rib just added stiffness to that big flat area. Channelling water makes sense. Plastic would be flexible enough to take some abuse from curbs and such, but fiberglass can crack and delaminate pretty easy.
I'd cut out te area behind rib (rain channel) and lap weld in a rectangular piece of 20 ga. Couldnt cost much and you'd be able to drill and mount things there (air filter in my case) if you had to.

[opellane]

Originally Posted by BQS4 If that's all you're going to replace, I'd see if your bodyman couldn't just make that himself.

I have to agree, My belly pan on my GT project was all messed up, missing pieces,etc ( car hit telephone poll)
But the body shop fixed it with no problems, A good body man will be able to weld in new sections and get everything straightened out. and take less time than using fiberglass and will last allot longer, and I wouldn't worry about the channel too much as nobody will see it. Metal is the way to go,That's what I'd do.

[dcm013]

Originally Posted by P.J. Romano The following is excerpt from my correspondence with OGTS earlier today: Good morning, I am the lucky one to have all original sheet metal on my 72 GT but the belly pan has seen better times as the curbs and battery acid took their toll… Any idea how to cut the shipping cost on the fiberglass belly pan? Regards P.J. PJ, It might be cost-prohibitive to directly ship a belly pan to you. At best, it could be shipped to a location on the US side of the border and from there you could transport it yourself. Opel GT Source So, is there anybody in Detroit or East Michigan that OGTS could ship the belly pan for me? I would pick it up within few days of the arrival. Thanks in advance.

I'm in Troy, MI. About an hour from the Blue Water bridge. If you have it shipped to me I can certainly hang onto it until you can pick it up. Just send me a PM if you want to do that.

Don

[Sparky73]

I am in Saginaw, about 2 hours North of Detroit, and wouldn't have a problem helping you out. PM me or email, jpsamuel "at" yahoo.com

[P.J. Romano]

Originally Posted by jordan I am in Buffalo NY (about 15 minutes from the border) and if it would be helpful I would have no problem if it were shipped to me for a later pick up.

Originally Posted by dcm013 I'm in Troy, MI. About an hour from the Blue Water bridge. If you have it shipped to me I can certainly hang onto it until you can pick it up. Just send me a PM if you want to do that. Don

Originally Posted by Sparky73 I am in Saginaw, about 2 hours North of Detroit, and wouldn't have a problem helping you out. PM me or email, jpsamuel "at" yahoo.com

Thank you very much all, both Buffalo and Troy are good alternatives for me. Saginaw is not too bad as well.

Originally Posted by BQS4 Hmm, who's gonna get down on their hands and knees to verify that that "rib" is there? basically it just channels the water to the drain hole.

When you have nicely restored GT, spending few extra bucks is worth. (Opelitis?)

Originally Posted by clayfive I thought the rib just added stiffness to that big flat area. Channelling water makes sense. Plastic would be flexible enough to take some abuse from curbs and such, but fiberglass can crack and delaminate pretty easy. I'd cut out te area behind rib (rain channel) and lap weld in a rectangular piece of 20 ga. Couldnt cost much and you'd be able to drill and mount things there (air filter in my case) if you had to.

Difficult to see on the picture but the belly pan is slightly pushed up at the front to the point that the radiator grill does not fit well. There is even small crack in the middle in front of the grill. This is why I am intending to replace the whole slice, rather than just the piece under the battery tray.

Originally Posted by opellane I have to agree, My belly pan on my GT project was all messed up, missing pieces,etc ( car hit telephone poll) But the body shop fixed it with no problems, A good body man will be able to weld in new sections and get everything straightened out. and take less time than using fiberglass and will last allot longer, and I wouldn't worry about the channel too much as nobody will see it. Metal is the way to go,That's what I'd do.

I am trying to avoid welding on already nicely painted car. This is why fiberglas insert (not the whole belly pan) looks like an attractive option. It also seems to be relatively easy D.Y.I. project with a just small final touch by the paint shop to smooth and blend fiberglass insert. In addition, the battery acid will not affect it any more.

Let me put some more thoughts to it...

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by P.J. Romano I am now entertaining an idea of replacing just the bottom of belly pan with the fiberglass one. The body shop is confident that they could nicely blend it in the body (see the picture). I assume that OGTS could cut it what would significantly lower the shipping cost. No doubt, it would make installation way easier as well.

I concur with the comments regarding concern about fiberglass belly pans, and the section you are planing to replace is at least as vulnerable as the rest. Have you looked through my photo gallery starting at
MIG Welding Bodywork 2007 - Opel Photo Gallery
as to how to remove the belly pan and repair it with steel? A decent body-man (and I am not one) should have little problem following my instructions on removing the original steel belly pan and repairing it with new steel.

JM2CW