Where are some offbeat places to locate hard to find parts?

[Steve1968LS2]

Doing a story on finding hard to locate parts. Sheetmetal, trim, interior parts.

Can be websites or brick/mortor places.. Everyone knows about Year One and Classic but what about more "off the beaten track" places.

I know of a few, but I want the story to help the average hot rodder.

Thoughts?

The perfect candidate is the guy with the barn full of OEM parts for XXX car and he has a little website to sell them.. or just by word of mouth.

Whatcha got?

[Damn True]

Interesting topic Steve, I look forward to reading it.

Kinda hoping you find some good sources for used LSx motors. If you do.....leave that out of the article and tell us. HA!

[DarkBuddha]

I'll share one of the places I've gotten some good deals on some cool ex-race parts: www.musclemotorsports.com . The sell new and used race gear, especially circle track stuff. But they've also got coilover springs, brake parts, etc. I've bought some brake related stuff and an oil cooler; all of it used but perfectly functional.

[Steve1968LS2]

Interesting topic Steve, I look forward to reading it.

Kinda hoping you find some good sources for used LSx motors. If you do.....leave that out of the article and tell us. HA!

Actually if we share the info then they will sell more and can lower their price.. right??? lol

[Damn True]

Or the supply will dwindle and the prices will rise.

[TonyHuntimer]

What kind of parts are you talking about?

This place has a bunch of weird and really cool old hot rod stuff. Problem is the guy who runs it is not the nicest guy in the world and everything is overpriced.
J M Enterprises
1215 Willow Pass Rd, Pittsburg, CA 94565

This place is pretty cool too:
http://www.gmsports.com/

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[Steve1968LS2]

What kind of parts are you talking about?

This place has a bunch of weird and really cool old hot rod stuff. Problem is the guy who runs it is not the nicest guy in the world and everything is overpriced.
J M Enterprises
1215 Willow Pass Rd, Pittsburg, CA 94565

This place is pretty cool too:
http://www.gmsports.com/

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

you know.. hard to find trim parts, sheetmetal, interior parts for off beat cars even.. lets face it, it's easy to find a fender for 1st gen Camaro. But what about a '64 Galaxy

Websites.. storefronts and even offbeat websites are what I'm after.

[derekf]

If I remember correctly, there was a yard in Lubbock that was heavy into the Tri-5s and also had a LOT of Chevelle and Impala parts - they had a row of like 30 '57 Chevy parts cars along one fence back in the 80s. I believe it was called Chevycraft; I'd called when I was local about some trim parts for my 65 and they were rather proud of what they had, but I bet they've got pretty much everything.

Also, the Auto Ranch just north of Denton was mentioned last month, every time we'd drive by I'd try to pick out a couple of cars in the yard but there was just too many to focus on one.

[Steve1968LS2]

Or the supply will dwindle and the prices will rise.

lol.. there's no shortage of LS1 engines in the world.. and the way guys drive thier 4th gen f-bodies there will be a steady supply of pull-out engines.. lol

[DeepBlue68]

Also, the Auto Ranch just north of Denton was mentioned last month, every time we'd drive by I'd try to pick out a couple of cars in the yard but there was just too many to focus on one.

That place is sweet. Every time I drive by it I'm amazed at the number of cars they have out there. I hear theyre pricey though

[trapin]

Steve....are you talking about actual companies or parts dealers who do it on the side? There's a guy here in Michigan named Al Maynard who has a butt load of rare parts. I remember going to his place once as a teenager and he had an amazing collection. One of his prized rare possessions was an "alleged" experimental small block Chevy with hemispherical combustion chambers. It was a concept engine that he somehow wrestled away from the Chevy Motor Divison in the early 70's...allegedly.

Whatever you do....do not mention that scumbag who owns Heartbeat City here in Michigan. The last thing that conniving, snake-in-the-grass needs is any free advertising. Talk to the people at Team Camaro, they can't stand him over there. One of this hobby's biggest crooks.

Sorry for the forked tongue...but the mere thought of him makes me want to kick a puppy.

[Bill Howell]

I am not sure what you are looking for Steve, but one of the odd places I found several parts for the goat was here. http://www.amesperf.com/gto_registry/welcome.html
Ames, of course is a retail, new parts outlet for Pontiac parts, however, the link is to other links where people have those little odd parts that are impossible to find unless you walk several bone yards looking high and low. The great thing about the internet is it puts some of the same info at your fingertips. I found some impossible to find defrost routing tubes for my car here and the nos rear tail panel that comes on 65 gto's. Also, as common as you would think it would be, the clip that holds the trunk lock in place is different on a early a-body than any thing else, so this was the only place I could find a used one.
I hope this helps.
BTW, check your pm's/

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve....are you talking about actual companies or parts dealers who do it on the side? There's a guy here in Michigan named Al Maynard who has a butt load of rare parts. I remember going to his place once as a teenager and he had an amazing collection. One of his prized rare possessions was an "alleged" experimental small block Chevy with hemispherical combustion chambers. It was a concept engine that he somehow wrestled away from the Chevy Motor Divison in the early 70's...allegedly.

Whatever you do....do not mention that scumbag Jim over at Heartbeat City. The last thing that no good, sack of s**t needs is any free advertising. I can't stand that motherf**ker.

And pardon my language....but the mere thought of him makes me want to kick a puppy.

Either.. both..

Guys who have a business or guys that have a barn full of parts and have turned it into a business.. sometime you need that odd part and it's hard to find some of these sources..

Wow.. you really don't like Jim.. I only dealt with him once and he was fine, although expensive and I found what I couldn't get elsewhere.. what happened? (you should tell me since he is in my database for the story)...

[Steve1968LS2]

I am not sure what you are looking for Steve, but one of the odd places I found several parts for the goat was here. http://www.amesperf.com/gto_registry/welcome.html
Ames, of course is a retail, new parts outlet for Pontiac parts, however, the link is to other links where people have those little odd parts that are impossible to find unless you walk several bone yards looking high and low. The great thing about the internet is it puts some of the same info at your fingertips. I found some impossible to find defrost routing tubes for my car here and the nos rear tail panel that comes on 65 gto's. Also, as common as you would think it would be, the clip that holds the trunk lock in place is different on a early a-body than any thing else, so this was the only place I could find a used one.
I hope this helps.
BTW, check your pm's/

The classifieds didn't work for me.. is it just me?

Anyways, Think of a "yellow pages" of places that deal in hard to find parts like sheetmetal, trim, interior parts.. could be a business or a website for a specific type of nitch car (that has a classified section)..

Funny part is that Im not even writing the story, although it would be fun. Im just helping out

[Steve1968LS2]

Also, the Auto Ranch just north of Denton was mentioned last month, every time we'd drive by I'd try to pick out a couple of cars in the yard but there was just too many to focus on one.

http://www.ctcautoranch.com/

[Patrick]

I dont know if these qualify since they are mostly "project cars" for sale... but interesting none the less.

http://www.gotexasexports.com/

http://wwww.chevyimpalas.com/

[Bill Howell]

The classifieds didn't work for me.. is it just me?

Anyways, Think of a "yellow pages" of places that deal in hard to find parts like sheetmetal, trim, interior parts.. could be a business or a website for a specific type of nitch car (that has a classified section)..

Funny part is that Im not even writing the story, although it would be fun. Im just helping out

I thought that is what the link was? Sure, I had to wade through several pages of want ads, but in the end always found what I needed. Once I would find someone with a odd part, then they would either know where another odd part was or who would have one. That was part of the fun of the build, playing detective and finding those parts. You are so right, everyone sells first gen camaro stuff, but step outside that box, and things really get hard to find.

[trapin]

Either.. both..

Guys who have a business or guys that have a barn full of parts and have turned it into a business.. sometime you need that odd part and it's hard to find some of these sources..

Wow.. you really don't like Jim.. I only dealt with him once and he was fine, although expensive and I found what I couldn't get elsewhere.. what happened? (you should tell me since he is in my database for the story)...

It's common knowledge around metro Detroit that he is not a pleasant person to deal with. I was warned by a number of people to stay away but curiosity got the best of me when I was in need of a rebuilt steering column. I called his shop to talk about trading in the one I had and I just about dropped the phone when they told me I would get a $25 core charge for my original '68 tilt column. I told the guy that they were going for over $150 on eBay and that $25 was ridiculous. Then he drops this bomb on me...$435 for a rebuilt replacement. I tried to reason with the guy before he actually started yelling at me (yes....yelling) that I was never going to get more than $25 for my tilt column. It was apparent to me that this guy wanted my column and desperately wanted me to be suckered in to bringing it to him. I hung up on the a**hole and called Ricks First Gen. They put me in touch with Gary's Classics in Dallas, Texas where I eventually sent my column to be rebuilt for $125. I got it back and it looked brand new. Jim is not a well liked guy around here. He does of course have his friends (those with money). But that's about it.

Oh...and he loves his neighbors at Pump It Up too. Pump It Up is a children’s play center that is located next to his shop in Shelby Township. He likes to drive up there on Sunday's (when his shop is closed) to see if any of the parents are parked in the spots that line the side of his building. If they are, he graciously has their cars towed away. His shop is closed...and the people aren't bothering anyone...but that doesn't matter to him. They're parked in his precious parking spots.

Nice guy huh?

Like I said, talk to the people over at Team Camaro. His name is poison over there.

[toxicz28]

Heartbeat City here in Michigan. The last thing that conniving, snake-in-the-grass needs is any free advertising. Talk to the people at Team Camaro, they can't stand him over there. One of this hobby's biggest crooks.

Come on! Don't tell me you think $4,000 for a reworked cowl induction hood or $15,000 for a JL-8 12 bolt or $350 for used disc brake backing plates is too expensive!

[trapin]

See what I mean?

Lotta love for that man.