Corvette Parts Suppliers

[David P.]

Hello Again,

question on Corvette sparts suppliers.

I have been looking at catalogs from:

Corvette Central
Zips
Ecklers
Paragon
Wilcox
and a few others

I have noticed that they all pretty much carry the same items, however, for example, some state that they manufacture things like fiberglass or interior item. Some offer rebuilding services. Some offer NOS GM or used GM parts. There are fairly significant differences in price as well.

Do I assume that a given part is coming from the same source, regardless of which vendor I buy it from?

For example, PM fiberglass parts. Does it all come from the same place? or do I need to ask each vendor where each item comes from (if I want to know).

Also any recommendations on suggested suppliers would be appreciated, based on quality of parts, price, service, etc.

Thanks again.

DAP

[Bob R.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

You didn't mention what year car you have but I assume a mid year. For mid year cars I have found that Long Island Corvette has a great inventory of parts and can ship most items within a coupld of days. I don't like dealing with them on the phone. They don't like to asnwer questions. Most of their items are good quality.
Paragon is another good source for mid year parts the quality is usually good.
Doc rebuild is another good source for parts.
I tend to stay away from Mid America, Ecklers, and Zip. I think too many of their parts are made overseas and poor quality.
Trim Parts is the major supplier of good quality chrome accessoriers. All the vendors sell their parts but you can buy direct from them.
Dewitts is really the only choice for a radiator. All the vendors sell Dewitts radiators.
For rebuilding services yu can ask the Discussion Board about specific items. Everyone has thier own favorite for carburators, radios, wiper motors ect.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

For C1 parts you will find that there is usually one supplier for a particular part since financial return on a tooling investment can be limited.
As an example the fender scoops on 56-57 Corvettes or cove decoration on 62 Corvettes a one year only part. As mentioned some vendors specialize such as DeWitts and thier radiators. Corvette Central manufactures exhaust system in Michigan which I have found to be very good. Others sell thier exhaust systems.
Shop for the best price and Service as many of the parts are the same.

[David T.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

I get very good service from Paragon and also Volunteer Vette in Knoxville. Paragon will give NCRS members a 10% discount. Long Island is a good source for those hard to find parts, but like the previous post mentioned they have an attitude on the phone.

[Scott S.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Hello Again,

question on Corvette sparts suppliers.

I have been looking at catalogs from:

Corvette Central
Zips
Ecklers
Paragon
Wilcox
and a few others

I have noticed that they all pretty much carry the same items, however, for example, some state that they manufacture things like fiberglass or interior item. Some offer rebuilding services. Some offer NOS GM or used GM parts. There are fairly significant differences in price as well.

Do I assume that a given part is coming from the same source, regardless of which vendor I buy it from?

For example, PM fiberglass parts. Does it all come from the same place? or do I need to ask each vendor where each item comes from (if I want to know).

Also any recommendations on suggested suppliers would be appreciated, based on quality of parts, price, service, etc.

Hi David,

In my experience so far, assuming anything about these cars, the parts or the vendors will cost you at least double. Once for the part you assumed was correct because a vendor was selling it, and then it will cost you again to get the "correct" part when you discover at some point that the first part you bought was functional but incorrect. For some parts, all the vendors will seem to carry the same item from the same source. For other parts, there will be significant differences (finish, configuration, USA-made vs. overseas, etc.). It's part by part on a case by case basis, checking each vendor. If you are doing a frame-off restoration, you will become familiar with each vendor's catalog and website.

For fiberglass, I think all of the press-molded reproduction parts come from Sermersheim or Corvette Image, there is information on both products in the archives. Some vendors carry one or the other, other vendors carry both products, you will have to ask each vendor.

[Jack H.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

No! You go part by part and investigate source, configuration and price.

Sometimes a 'full line' catalog will source this/that part from a competitor who makes it (has it made, or has an exclusive contract with the mfgr). Then, at a later date in time, they have a squabble or that catalog house finds a 'different/better' source for the part and it changes.

Often, there are only 1-3 sources for a given part and frequently these parts show up in a plurality of catalogs, sometimes with different pricing. Bottom line, you don't assume anything since just as soon as you do, you get 'bit'...

[Jack H.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Oh, watch for the 'unnecessary' descriptive text... Thinks like, "This is a correct original made from stainless steel that..."

If the part is 'correct' and 'original' there's no need to mention it's made from stainless steel! The reason why they've included that tidbit in the catalog's descriptive text is to tell you UP FRONT that this part is NOT a 'correct/original' because it's made from stainless steel...

[David P.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Thanks for the answers thus far.
I should have mentioned my car is a '67 327 Coupe.

Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

I have a very long list of parts I intend to order and I was going to do it all at once to minmize shippping and maximize any discounts.

And I'm not even starting the restoration yet.

Oh boy.

DAP

[Scott S.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Thanks for the answers thus far.
I should have mentioned my car is a '67 327 Coupe.

Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

I have a very long list of parts I intend to order and I was going to do it all at once to minmize shippping and maximize any discounts.

And I'm not even starting the restoration yet.

Oh boy.

DAP

"Oh boy" indeed

Wanting to get started and place a big order seems like a great idea, but I would advise caution. One-stop shopping isn't really possible. If you spend some time searching the archives, you will begin to see a pattern of three or four vendors being referenced frequently, while others are rarely mentioned.

Minimizing shipping and taking advantage of discounts is understandable, but not always easy to do. If you have a list of items that you are sure need to be purchased, then you can research each part (the archives here and the 1967 Judging Guide, the Adams' book and Dobbins' book for starters) to find out how it was originally. Once you have an idea about how a part is supposed to be (and just as importantly, how it should not be), it will be easier to figure out which vendor has the closest to original part.

If you don't have a 1967 Assembly Manual, you will need one. If you find the parts on your list in the Assembly Manual, and note the original part number, then you can search this forum by the original part number (just search the part number, nothing else). There have usually been multiple discussions on most of the parts you will be looking for.

You may find vendor #1 has eight "correct" parts that you need, vendor #2 has ten parts that are "correct", vendor #3 has only two parts that are correct, etc. At that point, if you order groups of parts from each vendor to minimizing shipping and taking advantage of discounts, you're also increasing your chances of getting the right parts, and hopefully only buying them once. No matter how good the discount is, if you have to buy something twice, it's really no discount

Don't throw anything away. Even worn out old rubber grommets are good for reference purposes, and if you throw things away, sooner or later you will wish you hadn't. If you take lots of pictures before disassembly, you will be glad you did later.

You might also consider that many original parts can be restored, often for a comparable price as a replacement, and there is usually someone (or several people) who specializes in restoring various parts, if you search the archives for recommendations.

[Michael G.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

David,

Don't have answers for all your questions nonetheless have been doing for quite some time. Most recently have been using Keen Parts as my supplier of choice. Most parts are of good quality and reasonable representation. Pricing has been fair and most likely will discount large purchases. When an issue has risen they've handled it. If they don't have it.....can get in a reasonable amount of time. Ask for Kevin or Kyle.


RestoMike

[Ronald L.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Late mid year, read Scott's post, he knows.

Most of the big box stores you mention do swap parts, Paragon won't tell you, Corvette Central and LIC usually will when pressed.

99% of the time you are going to do it twice if you buy from the catalog as Jack and Scott point out because eventually you are going to find point deducting major differences non of the big box stores are going to tell you about.

Part by part, make a list and spend lots of hours researching this forum to see what people have written about over the last 10 years. There are a lot of sharp minds out here, use different key words as what you call a part might not be what it was called at the OEM.

Look for example at strut rod bushing, a recent thread for example of how the parts are so different. And tips on what to do to get your car safe and maximum OEM look.

[Alan S.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Hi David,
Although it's quite a trip for you coming from Arizona, I suggest you visit Corvettes at Carlisle to take a look at the vendors.
Many of the venders, (but not all), that have been mentioned, will have a representation there. By talking to the venders and their employees you can learn to some degree what they have and their seriousness about selling you what you actually need and not just what they happen to have.
You'll also begin to learn what venders you might want to use for various areas of your restoration... seat covers and carpet, interior trim, mechanical and chassis parts, fasteners, etc; and the possible venders for those things.
Good Luck!!
Regards,
Alan

[Christopher R.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

I have a very long list of parts I intend to order and I was going to do it all at once to minmize shippping and maximize any discounts.

And I'm not even starting the restoration yet.

Oh boy.

DAP

Do it on an Excel spreadsheet. List the parts down the left hand side. Prices from your favorite 3-5 vendors across the top. I use Paragon, Corvette Central (CC), and Zip. Depending on what you're buying, you may want to add Dr. Rebuild, Willcox, Long Island, and Keen. I usually find that I make out best when I split the order up among 2 or more vendors. The spreadsheet will make this obvious.

Paragon will give NCRS members a 10% discount. Zip and CC frequently offer free shipping. You may live near a supplier. But the sales tax amount you will have to pay in person usually exceeds the savings on shipping. Most vendors will give you a 10% discount if your initial order exceeds $500 and you sign up to get your subsequent orders from them.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

I agree with Chris R., make up a spread sheet and email or fax to a number of suppliers. The bigger the list the more interested any supplier will be. Also look at the percent discount by line item. If the particular supplier is the master supplier (supplies other suppliers or makes the part) of the part you should see a larger discount.
To minimize cost see if you can pick up your order at a show. That way you can avoid shipping and sales tax in most cases.
Keen parts is close to me and I have worked with them for many years. If you twist thier arm real hard you can get some great deals.
But be easy on Kyle and Kevin...

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette Parts Suppliers

David,

Don't have answers for all your questions nonetheless have been doing for quite some time. Most recently have been using Keen Parts as my supplier of choice. Most parts are of good quality and reasonable representation. Pricing has been fair and most likely will discount large purchases. When an issue has risen they've handled it. If they don't have it.....can get in a reasonable amount of time. Ask for Kevin or Kyle.


RestoMike

I agree with you 100%. Keen has been my vendor of choice for several years now. And they are the "source" for quite a few of the parts that other vendors are selling.