The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Shipping costs are killing my project!

I got a lot of unrepairable body panels and would like to get new replacement pieces. The shipping costs are killing me, often costing more than the part being shipped!
Anyone know of a way to get around that? I live near Tacoma, but haven't found any local suppliers for a second series truck
Thanks!.

Hi DeepSix,

Some Stovebolters have used Fastenal and Greyhound for reasonable shipping. You might see what's available to your vendor and maybe they'll work with you. Others with firsthand experience will likely chime in soon..........

Good luck,

If you think shipping to Washington is expensive, try Alaska!! Most sellers on fleabay or Amazon want to charge 2nd day air for everything, even stuff that will fit in a USPS flat rate box.

I ordered a bunch of repair panels from Jim Carter (cowl panels, cab corners, bed aprons, fender patch panels, etc.) and as I recall they had a shipping promotion, but of course it only applied to the lower 48. Anyway, I had them ship to me c/o Span Alaska, an LTL freight forwarder in Auburn near you and they brought them up to their terminal in Anchorage where I picked them up. They also picked up a front drive axle for my SuperDuty in PA and shipped it to Anchorage for about $300 IIRC. The trick is to order as much as you can in one bunch so you're not paying $50 shipping for a single $30 part. Definitely call the supplier and ask them what shipping options they have. You might also check with Span Alaska and have them give you a quote for pickup of the shipment at the supplier.

I'm still in the disassembly/repair stages, but am actually contemplating a road trip to pick up some stuff as my restoration continues. Probably buy a small trailer, fill it with stuff and come back home and sell the trailer.

Try Chevies of the forties, they are down in Vancouver Wa. I am in the Tacoma area too, so it is a 2 hour drive south but you can pick all your stuff up in one trip. I bought my complete exhaust this way and saved.

You know I feel LMC is the absolute worst about their shipping prices. Doesn't matter how small the part is, the shipping turns out to be like 30 bucks and the more parts there are, the shipping goes up. But I do think that Classic Parts of America has fair prices on their shipping.

I ordered a roof panel from classic industries. It was about 270. Shipping was 172! Needless to say, I didn’t complete the order. Yikes.

I've order repair panels and other parts from Classic Parts and ordered the majority of the pieces at the same time. A representative of Classics actually called me to work through the best possible shipping arrangements. At the end of the day, I thought they were extremely fair and took care of me. Oh, I had ordered a door and after trying to fit it, it was determined the manufacturer did not put the door together correctly and there was no way to correctly align it. Classics was quick to accept the return and get me another door without the shipping charges. I know I am repeating myself but Classics has always taken care of me with all of my truck parts.

I found Classic Industries shipping charges to be high also.

I usually use Greyhound shipping for my bulky items. It is still fairly pricey, but not as pricey as using the big shipping companies. I did use an LTL service once to send two front fenders from the west coast to the east coast and that was over $400!

Us old retired geezers just hook up a trailer and fill up the gas tank!
Jerry

IT'S ALL PERSPECTIVE.

Shipping costs are a gauge of how willing you are to get what you need. Think for a minute as if you're the shipping company. Now would you think those rates are excessive? Personally, I just shop all the suppliers and put together the most cost effective orders I can from one or multiple suppliers. Then I wait.

Pay the shipping cost and you could:

*Play with the kids or grandkids.
*Spend quality time with your significant other.
*Fix other things on your truck.
*Work on the house.
*Go to a movie.
*Read a book.
*Visit a national park.
*Avoid getting a traffic ticket.
*Avoid getting into an accident and having to deal with your car insurance and your homeowners insurance who covers your
"personal property" inside your vehicle. Yep, those new parts you just picked up might not be covered by your car insurance!

I recently paid above market value for a COE hood. It was a couple states away but they offered free shipping to the Turlock swap meet last week. The convenience paid for itself. One way or another shipping is going to get you. I offset the above market value purchase price by taking my daughter to the swap meet and having a grand day of it. Then we grabbed the hood and headed home.

IT'S ALL PERSPECTIVE.

It's really very simple. Buy donor parts or a donor truck that's near you. Better metal, better fit, no shipping, cheaper part price, fun to search and find and it recycles and you can practice welding on the scraps. If I'm counting correctly that's a win win win win win win win win. The deals are in the trucks with no motor, no trans, no title, rusted in places, dented in places and missing stuff you don't need anyway. I've never purchased new sheet metal for TF. I've had many.

I would like to know what "a lot" is and what pieces are you talking about?.......and for the 900,999th time to new guys: Please! EVERY TIME you start a question post............state the year, make and model of truck.

P.S. I know I used "and" too many times. It was done for dramatic impact, visual acuity, maintain subject anticipation and situational awareness. It's high level writing stuff. The commas were left out between "win, win.." for the same reasons.

Yes, it is all a matter of perspective- - - - -if I ever need a part from California, I'll gladly pay whatever shipping is required. I left there in 1980, and the best sight I've ever seen was the state line fading away in my rear view mirrors! It would be difficult to push this Tennessee boy back out there with a D-9 Cat!

Jerry

Oh you ain't kidding! Once my retirement goes through I'll only come back to visit. Half our stuff is packed waiting on all the paperwork monkeys. Hope to be gone by July. Love the state. It's wonderful but the people and politics have turned it all to hell. I'm moving to Ireland so... back to the original post...Shipping costs are killing my project!

Not sure about JimCarter anymore....not that he has every part for everybody, but back when I was buying most of my parts for the 37 his policy was they shipped the most economical way. I've ordered many times and was quoted the options. There is no "set charges" .....as they have never had a flat rate to my knowledge.....anyone know the current scoop on their shipping??
I've not ordered lately, but the last order was they passed on the ACTUAL shipping charges. Can't get much better unless you order enough to get free shipping.

If you can wait, are there any annual swap meets at large venues within a reasonable driving distance of your location. Most are usually in the summer months. Vendors usual set up and if you get a vendor list in advance you could reach out to them to make sure they bring the needed parts with them for you.

Try this link to search for events in Washington. It looks like there is one in March if Yakima is anywhere near you.

Oldride events list - Washington

If your looking for donor parts there’s a guy up by me that has a bone yard of those trucks. Check Spokane Craig’s List. He’s by Silverwood theme park North Idaho

I ordered a bunch of stuff over the holidays. Jegs, Summitt, CPP, and Amazon. I found the Free Shipping deals. Saved me bundle.