The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Do truck parts companies have bettet quality?

I have catalogs from LMC,Brothers,etc..One of the above is more expensive than the others I've looked at.Is their a quality difference from companies.I'm looking for value,not as much as cost.

I have been using Brothers and POL for about a year now.Have'nt had any problems with any of there parts. Tony from 456 sent me a great ignition switch, he was a big help. Brett

Thanks,
I bought a few times from Brothers,and found the pricing to be better.I just wondered if LMC have higher quality since the prices were a bit higher.Chuck

I have found the overall offering for parts for the '60-'66 Chevy/GMC trucks, Panels & Suburbans, is larger from Truck and Car Shop, than either LMC Truck or Classic Parts.

My shop is close to LMC Truck, Classic Parts & Jim Carter, all of which offer many of the same parts, but some prices are better from LMC Truck and some prices are better from Classic Parts. Some parts are better quality from LMC Truck and some parts are better quality from Classic Parts.

I have found the quality, fit, finish, price & variety of parts, vary from supplier-to-supplier. I wouldn't say the quality of the part is better, simply because it cost a bit more. In some cases, I am really surprised that the suppliers don't do a better job of scouting the competition, in order to determine price-points.

Being so close to a parts supplier, is quite an advantage, because I can inspect the parts, prior to purchasing them, which is much better than waiting to see what I get after the parts arrive in the mail. If the quality, fit & finish is sub-par, I have already paid for the item, including tax & shipping and often times, it is not worth the hassle, time or money to package it and send it back for a refund. For this reason, I make every effort to buy locally, but I have found the Truck and Car Shop to be very competitive on price, quality, fit & finish, compared to the many other suppliers, I have tried.

Here is a list of other vendors, that supply parts for the '60-'66 Chevy/GMC trucks, Panels & Suburbans:

www.bowtiebits.com
www.lmctruck.com
www.classicparts.com
www.oldchevytrucks.com
www.ecklerstrucks.com
www.gspp.com
www.truckandcarshop.com
www.harmons.com
www.oldmusclecars.com
www.classicchevroletparts.com
www.classicindustries.com
www.bobschevytrucks.com
www.brotherstrucks.com
www.mar-k.com
www.wheelvintiques.com
www.totallystainless.com
www.earlyclassic.com
www.horkeyswoodandparts.com
www.raybuck.com
www.americanclassic.com
www.yogisinc.com
www.rbsauto.com
www.obschevy.com
www.cheyennepickup.com
www.chevypickupparts.com
www.fillingstation.com

Although the number of parts and variety varies greatly, all of these supplies offer something for the '60-'66 Chevy/GMC trucks, Panels & Suburbans and most of them offer a free catalog.

I have used parts from both LMC and Brothers I have found some stuff like my side panel trim was a better fit from Brothers.

I've used mostly LMC, and some parts from Brothers if they're on sale. Shipping is more from Brothers (CA) than LMC (KS) for me (MI), and you have to consider that.
I try to get engine parts locally, and I'm not afraid of getting used parts if they're in good shape.
Shopping is fun for a while, but sooner or later you have to place the order.
Good luck.

cm

For most of us we only buy a given part once, or at least that is the plan . That means our "experience to compare quality" is pretty limited. Now Tony, a.k.a. 4-5-6 Chevy Trucks, has been buying parts for years, and the same parts over and over since he restores 4-5-6 trucks.

I'de say his advice is gold, purely based on the principal of "been there and done that".

Might be best to ask about specific parts, and then get the advice on who is best for that part.

For what it's worth I personally like Classic Parts of America and The Truck Shop, LMC is always last on my list.

Thanks to all of your advice!

There several things to consider when buying parts from these companies.First is the gauge of the metal part, 16 or 18 gauge then the fit of these parts. I have used both Brothers and the Truck and Car Shop over the years and both put out a quality products. Their patch panels are 16 ga. just like GM. orginals. Early Classic Enterprizes is another company who puts out quality parts for the 60's thru 70's trucks too. I can personaly vouch for these guys as I have never had to return a part back other than shipment damage.
I am sure that the other companies have quality parts too as they would not be in business this long.
62Blue
Don

I've ordered from LMC and Classic Parts several times each... relatively similar but in my experience Classic Parts orders ship the same day, if before 3p or so. Twice I ordered on a Monday and parts were at my house in Texas on Wed. - super fast for normal UPS ground.

Thanks,I will have to try them.The others seem to take at least 5 days from ordering.

Any particular new items you are seeking? Depending on the part; quality, fit & finish varies from retailer to retailer.

At the time , I was looking for floor pans and such for my 65c10.

I use to get most of my parts from LMC. About 18 months ago I ordered a vent window seal kit and a window channel kit both at a cost of around $145.00 plus shipping. The rivot holes for the vent kit did not line up with the holes in the old rubber, but I had to install them anyway, because you could not know that untill you took out the old stuff and tried to put in the new rubber. I tried to use the holes in the new rubber, but it would not work. I tried to put new holes in, but they were so close to the other holes that it still did not fit properly. I had to use it anyway, or have no rubber at all. The vent windows now are worse than before since it is very hard to close them without a LOT of pressure. Now they are stuck and do not open easily. As for the widow channel kit, the anti-rattle strip with the felt stuff on it rusted within 1 month of installation and my truck is not parked in the weather, it stays under a carport. I wrote a letter and sent some old vent rubber to LMC to show them that the holes did not line up. About 5 months later and a few phone calls, I got a $20.00 gift certificate and my original old rubber back, still taped to the same piece of paper insde the same envelope that I sent it in. , but I was told that it had been in the "research department" for evaluation so that the prpblem could be fixed. The letter also said that they would not replace my vwnt window kit because it would not do any good since it would not fit anyway. All the rubber from both kits have developed cracks now after only 18 months. I really thought that after years of buying from these people and several hundred dolars spent, that I would have gotten a little better treatment from these folks. I never got a letter from the research department to acknowledge the problem, and they still sale the same kits. It may fit other sixtys models but it did not fit my 65 custom C 10.

My customer purchased a new 20 gallon fuel tank, sending unit and fuel filler neck grommet from LMC this evening, just before the City Counter doors closed at 7:00 pm. In a effort to get my customer's truck done and back to him, we decided to stay late and install the new tank, sender, filler neck & grommet. That is where the fun began.

1. The screws for securing the sending unit to the fuel tank where phillips panhead screws and one of them was mis-produced and looked more goofy, than a shot opossum. The factory screws are 1/4" hex head screws with rubber washers, which were not included.

2. The bolt circle on the fuel sending unit was clocked incorrectly, to mate to the corresponding threaded holes in the fuel tank, therefore the pickup line was either pointing slightly up or slightly down. The factory orientation is at 9:00 o'clock. Furthermore, three of the 5 holes aligned and the other two were too far off, to allow them to screw into the threaded holes in the tank.

3. The five threaded holes in the bolt circle on the fuel tank were incorrectly clocked and slightly off, in order to receive a factory fuel sending unit.

In closing, not only would the aftermarket sending unit, not fit the aftermarket fuel tank, but also the aftermarket sending unit would not fit the factory tank, nor would the factory sending unit fit the aftermarket tank.

If there is, in fact, an R&D Department at LMC or any of the aftermarket parts suppliers, I would be surprised. In my experience of working exclusively on '60-'66 Chevy/GMC trucks, Panels & Suburbans, I have found very few aftermarket parts, that are equivalent or "even close", to the quality, fit & finish of the original parts, they are replacing.

Words of wisdom, if you can purchase good, used parts, do so, in lieu of buying the aftermarket junk we are importing into this country. My customer is taking the fuel tank & sending unit back to LMC Truck, in the morning, for a full refund. We will bring these shortcomings to their attention, but the order-takers at the City Counter are none-the-wiser!

I simply cannot express my disgust for Chinese parts-i've spent a small fortune on NOS parts & old trucks to tear down for parts.