Hi i was wondering if toms differential is still in business, if you look them up on the web it goes to either a site with a 2011 catalog or a site with a 2017 catalog . Has anyone done any business with them the last 6or 8 years i thought i saw somewhere where the original owner retired and or died and the business was sold. any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sadly, Tom passed away a few years ago. Not sure if the business endures in any form.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-sad-news.html

 

I bought my 3:73’s and billet yoke from them in 2019. Got my outer axles in 2020 or 2021 as I had to wait for them to get another order from Spencer Forge. I don’t think Jo ever updated the catalog and I believe they are still in business. Give them a call tomorrow.

 

Thank you supreme and elwood for replying i will give them a call tue.

 

Hi, if you need a drag race differential and rear suspension we have one for sale, probably built by Tom.

Scott Fogaley@sbcglobal.net

 

The business is open, it is run by Tom's wife and her daughter. They are still supplying corvette parts. I just got parts from them last week.

Now the vette parts are custom made and requires knowledge and experience to fit them.....correctly.

Some places have attempted, repeat, attempted to copy them. I have seen some of the copies, I am not going to get into details other than to say you better do your due diligence before you spend the high dollars for something you might think is the same.

 

They have not updated the catalog, as the catalog is pretty good, except many of the items they don't offer anymore. Things like the BOE (Best of Everything) stuff, polished diffs, certain axles, etc.. Also they were out of the good gear sets, attempting to source good bearings, shims, clutch discs, etc. etc. last time I talked to them. Remember that they are just not a Corvette supplier, as that was a small part of their product line. Just before Tom passed, I had an over an hour conversation where he talked about his growing up, hot rodding, etc. He was preparing to go traveling to see the Country in his motorhome. He was discussing the sale and take over by one or more of his workers, but that plan ended with his passing away. I bought some of the last of the 4340 1480 type stuff. The guy was a hard worker, and deserved that travel plan he had. RIP

Best to make them a numbered parts list, send it to them, they lose support time, the more we keep them on the phone chatting. She was doing a good job telling me what they had and didn't have a few years ago. They day I talked to Tom, he took my order, was excited that I was getting some of the last supply, knowing them since the 1970s, when we bought from Pepe Estrada. That order was filled after his passing. I placed one other order getting some of the last billet things they had, different ground shims, I cleaned them out at that time, and got an extra spider set, and a few other misc. Some parts were only being sold with the kits only.

 

Thank you Fogaley,GTR and Tracing for replying , Think i will drive a little slower this year then think about either building up a stronger factory center section or going solid rear axle . Thank you again. Randy

 

I would think over your car usage now. If you are thinking of a Tom's setup, I would suggest getting it while you can. This isn't 10+ years ago with USA made parts, experienced builders, and more guys racing C2-C3's. Many of the parts are gone, many of the old timers, and I guess I'm one now, are retired- either from work or life now. Many cars have been restored and stored away, yes guys are building HP cars still but options are changing. There are new players in the game, some lie like a rug, other tout systems that are unproven or have had QC issues with. Many are now over $10k. Look at pictures of the work, some you won't need a trained eye to see expensive junk. Others claim to be racers and that's fine, but some websites give new meaning to flimflam.

I just got in the last of the 12 bolt gear sets. To my knowledge there are no more left. It is questionable if anymore will be made since they are special ground and were USA made. With the closing of US Gear 3 years ago the only options for new gears, let alone special cut, are from foreign countries. I for one do not trust most of them and would be very cautious of ordering say 50 sets of gears that might not be right or sit on my shelf for years for a market that isn't too large to begin with.

 

Interesting I think one issue I’m witnessing with us new comers coming to the C2 table are some of the old timers are buying/hoarding some of these parts needed for us to use in our C2’s.. Think about it..
This is no bash on a business like what a guy like Gary is doing/sourcing for us C2 owners, it’s the old timers that have multiple O.E. differential parts & engine camshaft’s just to name a few stored away to have their loves sort thru when they pass..

How many multiple parts do u need to hoard.. get them out to us new C2 owners so we can all benefit from getting our cars updated rather than YOU have a stash of parts you can brag about & will never use…. TIME TO CLEAN YOUR STASHES….

Chalie

 

Hoarder!!!!! Ouch!!!!! I call them spares!

 

Oh yeah you're one!!!!!!!

You have a gold mine there, it's not hoarding it is being very wise that you got them while you could.

3 years ago, I was posting everywhere for guys to buy US Gear while they were still in business. Many listened, many did not. Today they're gone. If you find a set add $100 over the current price of imported gears sold today- if you're lucky.

The 12 bolt gears I just bought are the end of the line as mentioned. Few know how to build them and if they found them before I did, they would have been bought just as fast. I am not going to hoard them though, I am going to build vette 12 bolts and use them all.

 

New Balance shoes, keeping the Corvette owner stereotype alive