The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk who has best after market parts?

I'm at a place with my 57 truck project where I need to start purchasing things like chrome door handles, mirrors, glass, etc. There are SOOO many vendors out there selling the same stuff, LMC, American Classics, brothers, the magazines are full of them. I would like to find a good vendor who sells GOOD quality parts and stick with them. I'm trying not to buy just based on price to avoid getting cheap chinese crap for my Classic truck. Thanks! Dave

I like Chev's of the 40's, good service and they're right down in your neck of the woods too.

Well, I've personally dealt with most of them, namely American Classic, Classic Parts of America (formerly Chevy Duty), Brothers, Golden State, F The Filling Station, Roberts Motor Parts (no longer has Chevy parts, just Dodge), GMC Pauls, Paul Parlett, and Harmons. All have given me exellent service and I've only had a few issues, a couple of incorrect parts sent, wi=hich were taken care of quickly and at no extra cost to me, and 1 patch panel that wasn't of the quality I expected, returned without issue. There was also an instance of a part that was shorted, not treally the vendors fault. My truck is an oddball midyear change truck, and needed 1 more bushing than shown in the parts list. The extra one was sent, no issues. I would suggest that you do shop around, because some vendors will have exclusive itams that other vendors won't have. For your location, though, I'd suggest The Filling Station, they're based in your area, so that will help on shipping.

Dave,
I think you are going to find that most of the parts that you get are manufactured overseas regardless of who you purchase them from. A lot of the chrome parts look good but only last for a few years. I get a lot of parts from the Truck Shop, mostly because they are close so I don't have much down time and don't have to pay shipping. I have had some issues with some stuff that doesn't fit but for the most part they are OK.
Fred

From what I can see, a vendor may have a part manufactured and carries it in their line of products. I think they also sell the part to the other vendors. Each vendor seems to have certain parts they have manufactured and sells them and has an agreement to sell the other vendors the same part at a discount so that vendor can carry the part at an agreed price and make a profit when selling it. I know this is the case with Fenton headers and I feel for the most part it's the same with many of the other parts.
Basically this means that most all of the parts are the same and it really boils down to the vendor's service.

Joe

I've been happy with the Filling Station in Lebanon if you ever make it there. They have a cool showroom too.

have had good luck with LMC an Chevy Duty (classic parts)..no probs so far ...but prefer Classic for customer service

I have had good luck with Brothers so far. Their customer service is really good.

One thing is for sure: If you can, avoid aftermarket stuff like the plague. The quality, compared to original, is anemic!

If you have no other choice, then join the club. But if you can re-chrome original parts, you'll be glad you did.

I would totally agree with Alan on this original parts though it is almost too late for me on that. The after market parts for me have been really questionable. I have not dealt with many of these submitted, but from Brothers, American Classic, Chevy Duty, and Bowtie Bits, I would have to say the best stuff I have gotten has been from bowtie. Jeff is really knows his stuff.