The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Parts supplier opinions wanted

Hello all, I need a few parts that I'm considering buying online, and I wondered if anyone here had a preference as far as quality/price/etc. from one source or another. The two items I'm looking at are a '50 speedo and a chrome hood "Chevrolet" ornament. (red/blue painted letters)

Finding quite a rather large range in prices for some items, and I'm assuming a lot of this type of stuff comes from the same manufacturers. (probably most overseas, darn!) But not entirely sure, so asking you pros.

I've bought from Chevs of the '40s, LMC, and American Classic. Any difference in the quality of the parts, or is it just pricing? (Also taking shipping charges into consideration.) Thanks!

I've had the best service with Classic of America,but window stuff for the doors is Truck shop in Orange Cal.there stuff is all bent right ,wiskers,etc., and fits good.

Pete

Most the stuff is made by the same manufacturers so quality in most cases won't vary much. There are several companies making things like disk conversion kits so its worth looking to choose the one that best suits your needs.

I've been happiest with the service I've received from LMC. Prices may be higher but I'll pay a little more to be treated with a little courtesy and my experience with some of the others with cheaper prices will assure I'll never go back to them. Amd LMC's catalogs are great with all the illustrations. Much better than most the others.

I almost always buy something from Jim Carter when I see him at a swap meet. Chevs of the 40's is the vendor closest to me, though they are too far away for a casual trip to pick something up, if I'm going to be in that area and need something I will plan a stop.

I find as a hot rodder much of what I need doesn't come from an old truck vendor. I regularly buy from Rock Auto and actually they often have old truck parts that the old truck guys don't.

Another thing to consider is shipping time. I became very frustrated with a vendor who would allow me to online order at the end of the day Sunday but would never ship till Tuesday. The result was I never received my order until after the following weekend. I was willing to pay for expedited service or fast shipping but the vendor never made it work so if I needed something to continue a project I lost a weekend.

Part of that problem was just their distance from me. But I won't buy from them anymore because they clearly communicated that I was the problem not them.

I have used all of the majors and found they very good, the prices do vary but sometimes my choice was dictated by availability. be sure and ask about that.

I think Classic has the purtiest pictures in their catalog. However, LMC has great line drawings. So good, in fact, that I was able to do my first little job on the Blue Funk by following the diagrams.

I've had good luck with both companies. From questions to ordering. I prefer my small parts to be shipped by mail. My dogs try to eat the UPS man. And if they don't get to eat hiom, they eat the package he leaves.

I believe I got my electric windshield wiper motor from Classic. It was about $30 to $70 cheaper than the others. And, it works great.

Good luck to you, AbleMabel.

Classic Parts Of America has been my main supplier for my '56 for the past few years, and I am very happy with not only their products, but their service. If an item is not in stock, and won't be expected within the time limit I want, I contact other suppliers, and I have bought thru a few. In most instances, CPA has ben able to supply what I want. I have had to return some items, and then again, no hassle whatsoever. Their billing has been correct 100%, and, items arrive at my home packaged to insure no damage enroute.
Last summer while passing thru Kansas City, MO, I stopped in to CPA and met the lady I had ordered from for years--very nice visit. While there we saw a '52 Chev 3100 in the showroom painted Cortez Silver Metallic--wife and I like the color so much, we just had our '56 repainted the same!
Lastly, I think a person can have problems with any supplier, but I believe CPA goes above and beyond to take care of the customer.

Jim Carter's has been a great supplier for me. Not only do they have a lot of the little stuff that can be hard for a GMC owner to find, they have a very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Thanks Pete, I didn't realize you could buy those parts already formed. Their price of $75 for everything for both doors is a fair price especially if it fits.

I got them for My 52 and they fit great than ordered a set for My buddy down the street for his 49 and they fit great just getting some thing thats right is a pleasure.

Woody,found a big bolt parked in a lot down the street from My house it's got door art[from Michigan] and the hood has a pattern on it looks original I got a new camera and am trying to get into the lot to take some pics.

Pete

We love door art!

If you decide to buy anything from Truck Shop in Orange, Ca., find out if it is in stock before you order it. I waited 5 1/2 months for wiper escutcheons. Wound up buying a pair at a flea market, and cancelling the order.

Sorry you had trouble with the Truck shop in Orange Ca. as I have ordered from them and had exellent service. Another place down in So. Cal. is Brothers and they have had great service too. The quality from these suppliers was very very good. There is also a good supplier in Fresno Ca. called Early Classic Enterprises I have bought $7000.00 worth of parts from them and every thing was very high quality. The Disc. Brake Conversion for my 62 was all Name brand parts from GM.,Bendix and Moog supension parts etc.. Bearings were all USA. made and for trucks NOT CAR PARTS converted like some suppliers out there.
ECE. only supplies parts from 1960 thru.1972
62Blue
Don

I'm lucky, living near Kansas City, I drive to get my parts from Carter, CPA and LMC. All three provide great service. I have had instances where I needed to return parts to all three, no problems. Carter has some used parts available for items that are not available new, just call and ask, they may have it.

Agree with the above that the major parts houses named above have the same high level of quality, customer service, etc.

Just one thing to consider, though, when considering where to get your stuff: American Classic and Jim Carter have long provided outstanding support to this web site and have been critical in helping us get established/stay established.

Find both on our Links Page.

Thanks,
John

I have purchased about 90% of the parts needed to do a frame up on my 1952 3100. I have used just about everybody. Problems occasionally occur with almost all of them and all have been resolved. It greatly helped that I have ordered things well in advance of needing them. That said, I pretty much don't even look anywhere but American Classic and Jim Carter. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from almost any other common vendor but all things considered- price, quality, in stock, service, I have had the best luck with those 2.

Chuck

Be careful buying things on sale from Jim Carter. I bought a Holley carb from them and it came loose, wrapped in bubble wrap with no original boxes, docs, CD or anything. I called and they said they would send the instructions and CD but never did.

Quite frankly, that incident has taken them off my list of places to buy from.

YMMV

......been buying from JimCarter since 1995 and I do buy some stuff from American Classic.....even before I knew they were "stovebolt friendly". For some reason I do lean toward JC...perhaps its because I got good service from the git go!

For the most accurate parts I tend to go to Jim Carter, For the regular parts I go to Classic Parts. If I am in a pinch I go to LMC. LMC tends to be the most expensive, and there parts(other than seals and rubber) tend to be cheaper mfg items(Like the Firewall Mat).

The best shop(that I have found) for tech service and hard to find parts is Bowtie Bits in Wichita KS. They have some of the most difficult to find huck brake parts for my 3/4 and 1 ton.
I also like Tom Myers Truck Parts in Miami Ok. It is a salvage yard of Art deco's, AD's, and TF trucks. If he has to order new, he just orders it from Jim carter. His used selection is outstanding, but you will be doing the overhaul work.
American Classic Truck Parts had the best deal on the Overflow tank.

my $.02

When I dud up my 55 I used them all.The Classic parts which used to be Chevy Duty was my first choice due to the shipping time.Livig in Ohio it took a long time to recieve an order from the west coast.But with Chevy Duty being in KC it was only 3 or 4 days at the most.

I have used both American Classics and Jim Carter, and I have to say, I have always gotten great service both on-line and on the phone, and they generally have the stuff I need at a fair price. I have tried some others, but usually come back. I would like to use the Filling Station more - it's a lot closer to me for shipping, but they seldom seem to have what I need, and their parts locator system is not as easy for me to use as AC and JC. Just my .02. Dale

I have only bought a few parts and I think they were sheet metal pieces from LMC. They seemed to fit well. I am suprised no one mentioned Brothers. I have one of their catalogs and they seem to have some nice stuff. Any comments on them?

I haven't checked recently but it's been my experience that their prices are very high and sale prices are about what everyone else is getting everyday.

I have used Tim Tygart's Obsolete Chevrolet Parts in Nashville,Ga with great luck. One big plus is the fact that I get most orders in two days, sometimes the next day because they are so close. Quality has been good but admitadly most of my orders thus far have been sheet metal items.
http://www.obschevy.com/