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Database for parts suppliers?

L78fanatic

Well-Known Member
Senior Member
I know this is a long shot, but is there a database anywhere that lists the best parts suppliers for our Chevelles? I know it would be a thankless job to keep such a list updated over the years, but I'm just wondering if ever there was one compiled? This could greatly help newbies as well as seasoned Chevelle owners/restorers. Parts like best sheet metal, best interior parts, best chrome bits, etc.

John
 
Unless someone here who isn't working & doesn't mind not seeing the sun for a year steps up, this seems unrealistic.

Here's my two cents....If you need an item in particular, ask about it here or TC first. If no help, take a chance & buy it from your preferred supplier. If you get the item & you're unhappy with it, hopefully they stand behind it & will take it back.

The bottom line is most of these places carry parts that are made by the same small group of manufacturers. Customer service is what sets them apart. Places like Summit & Jegs now sell parts as well & their return policy can be way easier to navigate than a dedicated restoration parts company...so that's something to keep in mind.
 
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Most of the parts are made in Taiwan or China and sold by the different distributors in the US.
What Pete said LOL
 
Understood...I get it. I'm still collecting parts for my 1967 L78 engine build, and it has been a challenge but fun nevertheless. I've been surprised how many of my parts are actually made (machined) here in the USA although maybe the bulk stock materials may have come from overseas (e.g. cam, connecting rods). Plus, the used and NOS hard to get items are still out there! It's like a treasure hunt for sure!

The primary focus of a list would be for auto body restorations, as I see all the time certain vendors being recommended over others for certain parts. Other than my original '67 GM produced SS 396 I'm really very uneducated when it comes to new parts sources for restorations. In my review of TC threads over the years I often see TC members recommending certain suppliers over others for sheet metal, for instance, and so forth.

Things like proper emblem placement is something I often observe being done very poorly on restorations. I know there are templates out there floating around (and I have a source for those for a '67), but why in the world nobody has actually done a detailed measurement off an original car and prepared cadd drawings to show proper placement is beyond me! I believe you can picture what sort of a restorer I am. LOL! There's only one way to do it...the right way! The Assembly Manual shows emblem placement with absolutely no dimensions!

But, back to body and interior parts....these sorts of restoration parts is what I am mainly speaking of with respect to a list of best suppliers.
 
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I used to be a relief man at South Gate GM and on one work station we had jigs and fixtures that simply clamped on in a given spot and it was near impossible to drill emblem holes in the wrong spot. Only problem might be that someone wasn't paying attentionto a build sheet and drilled the wrong emblem holes, i.e, small block vs big block etc.
It happened..
 
I used to be a relief man at South Gate GM and on one work station we had jigs and fixtures that simply clamped on in a given spot and it was near impossible to drill emblem holes in the wrong spot. Only problem might be that someone wasn't paying attentionto a build sheet and drilled the wrong emblem holes, i.e, small block vs big block etc.
It happened..
That's hilarious. I can only imagine the amount of screw ups that happened on a daily basis in the assembly plants.

BTW, I just realized who are you now that you mentioned working at South Gate. (y)
 
That's hilarious. I can only imagine the amount of screw ups that happened on a daily basis in the assembly plants.

BTW, I just realized who are you now that you mentioned working at South Gate. (y)Was an awsome place of employment for any car nut.
 
I like Ausley's and NPD for my parts. Hinshaws has an unusual stock of older parts but his new and repop parts are limited. I have gotten stuff from Tamraz and Ecklers too.

I am spoiled that Ausley's and Hinshaw's is close by to me, NPD is in Charlotte, 1.5 hrs away.
 
That's hilarious. I can only imagine the amount of screw ups that happened on a daily basis in the assembly plants.

BTW, I just realized who are you now that you mentioned working at South Gate. (y)

I worked at a GM Plant in Illinois out of high school (Central Foundry Division). That's where the sausage was made for many of our Chevelle's....cast iron & malleable iron parts. I worked there from 1968 to the mid 70's. If only I had known what certain parts would be worth today I might have grabbed a few (no, not really). But it was fun seeing those parts being made, and actually contributing to the build! Hot work though!

I only realized after many years (thanks to Jeff Helms) that the alternator pulley on my new '67 SS 396 L78 was "not" a deep groove pulley from the factory (I have a pic of my new engine). Somebody messed up and put the wrong pulley on in the assembly line no doubt. I'm sure there were many such mistakes back in the day!
 
I'd like to have seen more of how the parts came to be than I did because by the time our assembly plant got the parts they were just parts. Lol
Think about it, from design of each component to being manufactured to final assembly and shipped. What a journey.
 
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