Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

**grr** · June 10, 2000, 03:36 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Clay, no such thing as a dumb question here. Smart that you ask around. I think there was someone earlier this week asking about parts houses. I think they had a lot of aswers on the question. Yes, I have done business with Chicago Corvette and found that certain things they have others don't. I've bought a lot lately and would say their service and parts are equal. No complaints, maybe I'm lucky.grr#33570

**Joe L.** · June 10, 2000, 05:02 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Clay-----

The last 5 digits of the VIN number tell you what "number" that your car rolled off the assembly line. For example, if the number were "00001" then your car was the first built for that particular model year; if it is "000250", then yours was the 250th built, and so on.

As far as Chicago Corvette Supply goes, I consider them to be about the same as most of the other major vendors and they're competitive as far as price goes. If they're local for you, that could be a major advantage both in terms of shipping cost savings and your ability to have "direct personal contact" to facilitate resolution of any "problems" that might occur. The only down-side is that you will have to pay sales tax; if you order from an out-of-state vendor, you usually don't have to. Sometimes the sales tax can be a lot more than shipping costs, depending upon the size and type of your order.

**Dale Pearman** · June 10, 2000, 05:58 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

I've known several Chicago Vette employees for quite a long time. I have highest respect for the ethics of the owner and employees. They have inventory, or else they will tell you at the time of your order that they don't. A 100% good place to do business.

(Al, send payment for the above to Varooom!)

Joe, thanks for explaining the basics again. We almost never think of these things.

Varooom!

**Dale Pearman** · June 10, 2000, 06:08 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

I've known several Chicago Vette employees for quite a long time. I have highest respect for the ethics of the owner and employees. They have inventory, or else they will tell you at the time of your order that they don't. A 100% good place to do business.

(Al, send payment for the above to Varooom!)

Joe, thanks for explaining the basics again. We almost never think of these things.

Varooom!

**Robert C.** · June 10, 2000, 06:10 PM

Re: Where have you been,Dale!

Dale, we've all been wondering about what great exploits you were up to the last few days! There's a pretty good thread Friday night about you. Who was right?

Texas Chapter NCRS

**Ted Weststrate** · June 10, 2000, 09:00 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Maybe I should not say this, what I have seen from other repsonds but I had to say something. I have dealt with Chicago Corvette twice now and WOULD NOT recommend them to anybody! BAD customer service and incorrect shipment time.

**Juliet P.** · June 10, 2000, 11:12 PM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Guess I'll have to play "bad guy" here too and agree with Ted. I did not have success with Chicago corvette. I would NOT recommend them at all. And I'll tell you what happened, so you can draw your own conclusions.

They did not tell me that a part was going to be drop shipped, even though they were more than happy to charge me exorbitant overnight shipping rate, which I authorized on the grounds that the "IN STOCK" stuff would be at my doorstep the next day. Instead they backordered several pieces and only sent via overnight the couple of little items (non critical things of course) I figured I'd just order at the same. One of those parts which actually showed up was the wrong part... they sent a C2 part instead of the C3 one... wrong part number and everything. Not what I ordered. The other part I wasn't 100% sure about (choke rod) so asked their tech help folks. Well it didn't fit, but that was partly my fault I guess. At least they shipped the part they were supposed to, their tech help guy should have told me that holley choke rods and Q-jet ones are 90degrees different. But anyways....

A few days later the item I REALLY needed (which I made VERY CLEAR to the salesguy at the time) showed up... It was one of those deluxe carb Rebuild kits which includes all the extra stuff from Jon Hardgrove. Now, nothing wrong with Jon's service... Chicago Corvette is totally to blame for this one! During my rebuild I found I needed another carb part, so decided to call Jon directly. Well, stupid me mentioned the rebuild kit came through Chicago Corvette, so he refused to sell to me direct per some agreement he has with them and told me to go through Chicago Corvette again. OK. whatever.... At that point, I had decided to NEVER EVER order anything from Chicago Corvette so found another supplier, Mike Jones in Hunt Beach CA. Got the stuff the next day.

Well, remember those back ordered items? I phoned CC and canceled them when the orig shipment with all themissing stuff arrived, since it would be way too late. OK, not a biggie. I got over it. Well about 3-4 weeks later the cancelled backordered stuff shows up on my doorstep with more shipping charges (instead of only once with my initial order). Took me about 2 months to get the credit back onto my Visa card... even though the sales guy had me ship the stuff directy to him a few days later, with his name on pkg, inside & out & he promised he would walk it up to the gal who does the Visa refunds. Yeah right... Still took over 2 months to show up.

NEver, never, never again. They were pleasant on the phone, but they just didn't have a clue. Your mileage may vary... ~Juliet

Got a '70? Click here to Visit the Online 1970 Corvette Registry! E-mail me to join!

**Joe L.** · June 11, 2000, 04:23 AM

Re: Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Juliet-----

I sympathize with your plight-----I've been "down that road" myself and far too many times. However, at one time or another, I think that I've heard similar stories regarding just about every major vendor. But, if we all stopped dealing with every vendor that created such a problem, they'd probably be no place left to buy parts! That's why if one of the major vendors happens to be local for you, that can be a major advantage. There's nothing like an "up close and personal" relationship.

Now, at the risk of starting a riot, I can tell you this: whenever I've ordered from Dr. Rebuild, I've NEVER had a problem. Quick shipment and any back-ordered item (which has been rare) has been quickly received. Since shipping charges are based upon the dollar value of the original order, there's no additional charge for shipping back-ordered items. Of course, the "Good Doctor" can be a bit cantankerous at times, so the best bet is to do as I do: peruse his MARVELOUS catalog, decide what you want, fill out the order form, and FAX it in. In a few days, the parts are at your door.

**Jerry Clark** · June 11, 2000, 06:30 AM

Okay then..

I'll say it too. I went to high school with "Big Al" didn't trust him then and see no reason to now. I was glad when he "got out" of Lectric Limited.

jer

PS. This does not reflect the opinion of the NCRS or its membership. I just love saying that.

**Robert C.** · June 11, 2000, 09:56 AM

Re; Chicago C. Question

Chigago Corvette Question- Where do they come up with all these Original/Dated RARE carbs? I had three national carb rebuilders looking for an LT-1 holley for me. They looked for two years before they found a correct dated unit. A month later CC comes out with this add everywhere showing all these carbs/all dates etc. I called back two of my carb rebuilders and asked , WHERE DID ALL THOSE CARBS COME FROM? You can guess what they said!This happened about two years ago.

Texas Chapter NCRS

**Ol Geezer** · June 11, 2000, 10:42 AM

Re: Chicago Corvette

I use Chicago Corvette because I can just drive over there and see the item before I lay out the cash. I like that approach much better than mail order; for that matter, that is one of the main reasons that I go to shows -- to see the item that I am buying.

Two points to consider, though --

There is no justice in Justice. This point is well known to Chicagoans, but it primarily refers to the local gendarmes.
Chi Corv is located directly across the street from the home of Chicago's most famous ghost -- Resurrection Mary. Maybe "ghosties" also get into their catalogs?

**Jerry Clark** · June 11, 2000, 06:44 PM

Re: Chicago Corvette

Geez:

Got my first speeding ticket in Justice in a 66 GTO, and my second, and my third and...

You know where Playland road dumps out onto Archer, they actually blocked that off to outgoing traffic once to check everyone for address and village stickers, probable cause, never heard the term, Al is right at home.

jer

**Jerry Clark** · June 11, 2000, 06:46 PM

Re: Re; Chicago C. Question

Hey Bob:

No quantum leap here, lets see, nobody in the nation has em yet Al has em on the shelf, huuuummmmm

**Terry M.** · June 11, 2000, 06:53 PM

Re: Chicago Corvette *TL*

Like Dale and Jerry I know most of the folks at CCS. Unlike Jerry I did not go to High School with Al, or Ken. Like Geezer I have taken advantage of the one-on-one situation proximity makes possible. I recommend that option whenever possible regardless of the vendor. Swap meets are just great for that reason. There is no substitute for fondling the merchandise before purchase.

Bob, I can tell you where most, if not all, all those carburetors came from. About a dozen semi trailers filled with 55 gallon drums filled with carburetors. I saw them and Al was kind enough to let me take some photos of very early Holley date stamps which I sent to Gary Hodges. Maybe some day they will see The Restorer for the edification of all Holley haters. I know the folks there spent over a year inventorying all of them because I worked on the technical details of the inventory with them. Guess where the Rochester broadcast codes in the 1970-1972 TIM&JG came from? Yep - 90+% from CVS inventory.

Terry

Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

Production #'s, and Chicago Corvette

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