Buying Parts C3
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Buying Parts C3
Who is the best/honest priced dealer of parts in the country (US) on the west coast for my C3. Reproduction parts will do but don't want to pay shipping from East to CA. Should I trust Ebay or should I stick with the well know companies? Just asking for good recommendations.
Thanks,
Bruce
Thanks,
Bruce
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,147
Likes: 4,258
From: US-PNW
Who is the best/honest priced dealer of parts in the country (US) on the west coast for my C3. Reproduction parts will do but don't want to pay shipping from East to CA. Should I trust Ebay or should I stick with the well know companies? Just asking for good recommendations.
Thanks,
Bruce
Thanks,
Bruce
Ebay has been good for me but then again, I never buy from sellers without a 99% or better rating along with a track record of selling for years. So far so good.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 487
Likes: 66
From: Rhode Island
NOT PARAGON if you want to know why just ask and I will pm you CORVETTE CENTRAL will take good care of you even if you have a problem
Last edited by bobby70; May 3, 2021 at 09:45 PM. Reason: more info
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,668
Likes: 2,473
From: Indiana
In general..all the sponsors here are pretty good..and will vary on what they carry availability and customer service.
shipping as stated above depends on total price.
as an example
top flight has free shipping 49 on up right now, paragon charges by $..all have periodic shipping or other specials.
if you are on a timeline contact them all for availability.
i buy from them all because of availability/ total price/ and quality of search pics and for me USA made or not like Zip.
shipping as stated above depends on total price.
as an example
top flight has free shipping 49 on up right now, paragon charges by $..all have periodic shipping or other specials.
if you are on a timeline contact them all for availability.
i buy from them all because of availability/ total price/ and quality of search pics and for me USA made or not like Zip.
Last edited by interpon; May 4, 2021 at 08:26 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,151
Likes: 294
From: Opelousas, Lousiana
CI 6-7 & 9 Veteran
I just ordered fuel lines from Paragon, I ordered the parts on Thursday and I received them on Sunday. They are in Michigan and I am in Louisiana. I love their catalog, it is almost like a shop manual.
At least get a free catalog from them,
At least get a free catalog from them,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,668
Likes: 2,473
From: Indiana
paragon is next day to me standard shipping in indiana from michigan!
must be a freak thing because i order from 2 others in michigan and its 2-3.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 725
From: Marietta GA
Top Flight is one of the biggest restoration sellers. They usually have sales and no shipping if your order is above a certain amount.
Please note that the most parts are made by a single Chinese manufacturer that all the vendors sell. The exception would be interior pieces, and engine parts from Delco (they are made all over the world too).
Please note that the most parts are made by a single Chinese manufacturer that all the vendors sell. The exception would be interior pieces, and engine parts from Delco (they are made all over the world too).
Pro
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 353
From: Portland, Oregon
I’ve ordered many good parts from Ecklers, Corvette Central, Paragon and Corvette America. I really like Wilcox for the biggest collection of how-to stuff. Dr.Rebuild has some hard to find parts and diagrams, but he goes totally mental if you annoy him in the least. Rock Auto has the biggest choice of the same parts from different manufacturers and the lowest prices by quite a bit; but few corvette specific parts.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,282
Likes: 7,862
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Me, East Coast, But Zip Corvette.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,691
Likes: 1,834
From: Huntsville AL
Data points when shopping for Corvette parts from a guy who have been buying Corvette parts for 30 plus years;
1) The best vendor is the one with the item you want in stock.
2) Don't accept a backorder, look somewhere else.
3) They all for the most part sell the same repo crap repackaged.
4) Ecklers is a good source for cheap T-Shirts and Bling for the wife.
5) Corvette Central has the best guy T-Shirt collection. Good quality too.
6) eBay for hard to find used OEM stuff.
7) If C2 related Long Island Corvette Supply (LICS) is hands down the go-to vendor.
8) Doc Rebuild has good stuff if you can figure out how to order from that place.
I have used them all and have nothing bad to say about any of them. I used Wilcox exclusively when they were a young startup (if that is the correct term) when doing a C2 frame off restoration with great results. Corvette America (when it was that) was my go to for interior parts. I tend to use Volunteer Vette in KY now that I'm in AL as their stuff shows up on my door step in 1-2 days.
Doesn't matter where you shop because if an item from one vendor has a Fit, Form & Function issue than that same item from another vendor will have the same issue. Rule of thumb is restore the original before buying repo if at all possible.
1) The best vendor is the one with the item you want in stock.
2) Don't accept a backorder, look somewhere else.
3) They all for the most part sell the same repo crap repackaged.
4) Ecklers is a good source for cheap T-Shirts and Bling for the wife.
5) Corvette Central has the best guy T-Shirt collection. Good quality too.
6) eBay for hard to find used OEM stuff.
7) If C2 related Long Island Corvette Supply (LICS) is hands down the go-to vendor.
8) Doc Rebuild has good stuff if you can figure out how to order from that place.
I have used them all and have nothing bad to say about any of them. I used Wilcox exclusively when they were a young startup (if that is the correct term) when doing a C2 frame off restoration with great results. Corvette America (when it was that) was my go to for interior parts. I tend to use Volunteer Vette in KY now that I'm in AL as their stuff shows up on my door step in 1-2 days.
Doesn't matter where you shop because if an item from one vendor has a Fit, Form & Function issue than that same item from another vendor will have the same issue. Rule of thumb is restore the original before buying repo if at all possible.
Last edited by Mr D.; May 4, 2021 at 07:11 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,420
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I’ve ordered many good parts from Ecklers, Corvette Central, Paragon and Corvette America. I really like Wilcox for the biggest collection of how-to stuff. Dr.Rebuild has some hard to find parts and diagrams, but he goes totally mental if you annoy him in the least. Rock Auto has the biggest choice of the same parts from different manufacturers and the lowest prices by quite a bit; but few corvette specific parts.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 294
Likes: 35
From: WA
I'm in the same boat regarding west coast stuff, except I'm located in WA. It sucks when you need a $5 part but shipping is $10.
I recently bought a bunch of fuel tank related stuff from Top Flight Automotive, and like Interpon mentioned they had free shipping for $49+.
Generic parts I'd buy from Rockauto, more specialty parts look for free shipping from some of the vendors mentioned by others.
Corvette Pacifica might be another option, I almost went with them instead of Top Flight except that they were a little bit more expensive. I haven't ordered anything from them but I've heard they are good. Keep us west coast people updated if you find any good vendors on the west coast!
I recently bought a bunch of fuel tank related stuff from Top Flight Automotive, and like Interpon mentioned they had free shipping for $49+.
Generic parts I'd buy from Rockauto, more specialty parts look for free shipping from some of the vendors mentioned by others.
Corvette Pacifica might be another option, I almost went with them instead of Top Flight except that they were a little bit more expensive. I haven't ordered anything from them but I've heard they are good. Keep us west coast people updated if you find any good vendors on the west coast!