When I was first searching for a project car, I couldn't believe that I could find Corvettes for less than a comparable Camaro. So, 4-wheel disk/4-wheel independent suspension/ FLAG SHIP, or common mullet-mobile.

I was mighty proud of myself and my superior intellect. That is, until I picked up my first Eckler's catalog. Why is everything so expensive compared to the old Summit catalog I've thumbed through a thousand times?

Over the course of my build I've tried many techniques for saving money. One method is to use universal parts. Problem is, universal part fit all cars equally bad. Only universal part that I can recall being happy with is an eBay stainless radiator overflow tank. Or maybe my $10 Vitalloni mirror set.

Another method has been to substitute factory parts from other models. I needed a new headlight switch. 40 bucks! Not available from Auto Zone or Amazon? Got real jealous over all those $10 Camaro light switchs on eBay. I mean they even look the same! Could they be the same? After comparing a lot of pictures, I found the only difference was the Corvette switch has vacuum fittings to control the pop-ups. I have fixed headlights, so which one do you think I got?

The Camaro came to rescue again this week. My rearview mirror was delaminated. Replacement black w/map light $40. Stainless backing without light $40. Camaro stainless $20. Looks like it'll fit! Camaro on left, original on right.


Anyone else found any tax loopholes?

 

So far, I avoid Eckler's since everything there is more than the other places. The other places are expensive, Eckler's is even more so.

 

Funny thing was the $20 mirror came from Ecklers.

 

But like you said, that was for a Camaro...not a Vette. I agree though, prices are absolutely ridiculous. Nothing like buying something that's plastic for $70-100. Speedo and Tach housings, made of plastic, are $70-100. Just crazy....IT'S PLASTIC!!

 

I would'nt mind paying for the parts if they were manufactured a bit better. Some of the parts are plain **** poor quality and they are not cheap. I remember buying genuine GM parts for my 92 corvette from the dealer that were a bargain compared to some of the catalog pieces. If your rebuilding your transmission, differential or engine you can get high quality parts for a lot cheaper than the corvette catalogs. I found 5speeds.com has good trans rebuild parts for muncies. Differential parts I bought locally from a diff shop in PHX, all high quality parts that were surprisingly cheap. You can use parts from places like del city for electrical switches, relays etc. But you probably wont find an airconditioning switch for a corvette there. Autocityclassic glass has very good prices on windshields and windows. Good stuff too. Im going to try steele rubber to replace the bullcrap weather stripping I recieved from one of the vendors. That stuff was garbage. So, if you dont need date coded stuff, yes you can save a buck here and there.

 

I'm way ahead of the game-

I just bought a low mileage wrecked BMW for $1200..Window sticker in the glove box- $98K new.

Sold the cats, transmission, door panels and brakes - So I'm actually on the positive cash flow.

Then just put the engine in my car...

 

Sunstroked,

Let me know what you think of that weather stripping when you get around to it. I'm going to try and replace that before summer next year.

 

Ecklers is ok for tee shirts and jewelry

 

 

Part cars are great. I did the same with a wrecked Camaro. Engine, 6-speed trans, radiator, cooling fans, fuel pump.

Come to think of it, my car is half Camaro at this point.

 

Actually a really neat trick to beat the Corvette tax-

When searching for a part- use the actual part number -and if you don't get any or just a few results add "gm" to the search.

I needed new ball joints for my 73 - found I needed "Moog K6035" ball joints. I did a couple for searches and found them for $12 as the company had bought out a Autoparts store and was liquidating everything- had no idea what they were used for.



Richard

 

I don't order out of the catalog any more. Ecklers has good sales, and when I started my build i was buying parts in bulk. I think I spent 2-3 grand on one order. 10-20% off was a major selling point. Now it's all nickel and dime stuff. Order from any supplier and the shipping ends up being more than the part. So I just buy off eBay. So I'm recent history it's been Ecklers, Corvette Central, Wilcox, etc. Whoever has the cheapest/free shipping.

 

My Dad has a 65 Mustang GT. It drives me crazy to look at the prices his parts catalogs. Its pennies on the dollar compared to our Corvette parts.

 

After owning a 70 Torino which no one sells new parts for I'm not complaining about the price of Corvette parts, at least they're available.

 

You`re not alone! We made a great deal on a 71 coupe, damaged front clip, interior gone. We didn`t know that every single piece of the interior is 300 bucks.... which isn`t bad.... unless, of course, you need every single piece of the interior!

 

Good tip on the mirror! Thanks.

 

Maybe this is the correlation to that other thread from yesterday on why C3 prices aren't as high as Camaro's, etc.. Maybe people see the price of fixing things and are like, forget it...

I broke a few of the cheapy quality yet expensive armrest pulls for my 78. Seriously, $125-150 a pair and you can't just buy 1. One I was able to salvage with the armrest repair kit, the other 2 were junked and my originals were broken by a PO.

Or the visors, I have 1 repro and 1 original. Quality is not even in the same universe. Too bad my original on the drivers side was ripped or I'd have kept it. Maybe I'll try to find an original some day, but I'm sure it'll be expensive but prob not any more than the repop junk.

 

I buy almost everything from Paragon. I did buy seats covers and foam from Al Knock. So far the parts have been high quality and they have fit the way they are supposed to. Paragon also has an excellent catalog which has some of the best diagrams to get part numbers I have seen.

I have a good restoration shop helping me with my car and they are ordering a lot of the parts from Paragon. Most of what I am ordering comes from Paragon also.

 

one of the reasons I sold my 73. Once I priced brakes, steering parts it got sold fast
Got away from vettes and finished an A body. So much cheaper and eaier to work on

x2 if quality of parts was there big maybe, most repop stuff out there is pure junk so price accordingly. Nope vette junk is still super expensive.

Love ordering parts from Summit, cheap fast no headache.

 

That's badass..plan on doing the same thing one day except with a 2JZ.