76-78 nosecone support bracket repros

[Wallington]

A few quick pics. I picked up a set of the 76-78 nosecone upper support brackets #527359. The 74-75 models used an earlier version #492636 which had a shorter slot, replaced by the later version.

I'm not sure who makes them, they were supplied by Firebird Central. Firstly, they look neat and dimensions are very good. I'd already spotted an issue straight out of the pack. The channel sides are a much tighter fold, not curved, may not be as solid as a result but both were flimsy anyway. Plain, no stamped details.

Firebird repro 527359 nosecone support brackets (2) by Ben, on Flickr
Firebird repro 527359 nosecone support brackets (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Here's the issue, the bend shown on a NOS piece. The radiator support on these cars is not vertical, leans forward, and the brackets should match this. Not only does this give an incorrect angle at the bolting face to the fibrglass inner support, it also sits the entire nosecone lower that it should be bu about the size of the already enlongated hole.
NOS GM 527359 Firebird 76-78 nosecone support bracket 3 by Ben, on Flickr

And here's the repro just sitting loosely next to originals on my car. The bend doesn't loose quite as much but the repro was also balancing and not sitting quite as flush, you get the idea. Now to try and sell them.
Firebird 527359 nosecone brackets stock vs repro (4) by Ben, on Flickr
Firebird 527359 nosecone brackets stock vs repro (2) by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

I found a spare nosecone top bracket #527359 in my collection so a couple extra comparison pics to add to those a few above.

It's a nice reproduction, it's just terribly incorrect and useless. Naturally,  I contacted both the seller and the manufacturer. No reply, easier to ignore and keep selling.

Firebird nosecone top support brackets used GM 527359 vs repro (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird nosecone top support brackets used GM 527359 vs repro (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird nosecone top support brackets used GM 527359 vs repro (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird nosecone top support brackets used GM 527359 vs repro (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird nosecone top support brackets used GM 527359 vs repro (5) by Ben, on Flickr

[5th T/A]

I never noticed the slight bend is this bracket until you pointed it out. The more I see, the more I am disappointed in repo parts. Honestly since it sits at the top of the core support, I would think it really shouldn’t rust out?

[Wallington]

They probably don't, but they are always buckled and bent.

[FormTA]

I could run that through my shrinker and it would bend it nicely but if I didn't already have that piece I could see myself struggling to make thinks line up. It would be extremely frustrating.

[Wallington]

For sure, but you shouldn't have to. Guys are having dramas with their panels not lining up, wondering why fibreglass mounting points are cracking and breaking off, all because they trust major restoration shops that claim they are selling accurate parts.

[FormTA]

Ya, exactly! I have part trust issues now.

[roadking77]

Im not sure if I responded to this before but when I did my 77 I bought repros as mine were most indeed rusted (like just about everything else on that car). The ones I got were bent and were exact to the originals. But that was at least 10 years now, I probably got them from Ames.

Yes, anything repro is suspect these days. One would think that parts would only get better as manufacturers gain more experience and feedback over the years. It seems like everything is getting worse! And the supply is shrinking!!