pricing parts online

sgart80 · Post by **sgart80** » July 2, 2009, 9:16 am

I'm at the point in my project where I need to start buying parts. I've looked online at over half a dozen sites; O’reilly’s auto parts, LMC, Dennis Carpenter, Carolina Classics, John's f100, classic auto parts, and blue oval truck parts. I'm pricing things like kingpins, brake lines, brake cylinders, window anti-rattle kits, and so on and so forth. It's not hard to find the parts, the hard part is figuring out if the part they have listed is going to fit my truck. And what is included in some of the “kits” (some websites are very descriptive with lists of individual parts included, other sites just say “kit” and you don’t know what you are getting). I've made a spread sheet in excel to keep track of everybody’s prices. I have read the discussion on the boards about parts quality and dennis carpenter being the best, but why is there such a difference in price of similar items? For example, things like kingpins and brake cylinders should be a interchangeable, right? I have read some of the stories about weather stripping, and I know I’m buying mine from dennis carpenter, but things like kingpins, u-bolts and bearings should all fit interchangeably right? It looks to me like I can save money by buying my brake lines from LMC, my front brake cylinders from blue oval, my kingpins from classic auto parts, and so on. Is everybody just paying the price at dennis carpenter, or are people shopping around? I guess I’m looking for some advice. I don’t want to order brake parts from six different places and not have the brake lines from LMC fit the brake cylinders from blue oval. Has anybody bought from the different companies and had problems with brake parts fitting together?

This is what I have found pricing wise from the different sites:
Classic Auto Parts has the cheapest tie rod end rubber dust covers, kingpins and replacement front headlights.
Johns f100 has the best price on leaf spring u-bolts (front and rear).
Blue oval truck parts has the cheapest front brake cylinder (the prices were all over the place which concerns me that blue oval might not have the correct part, when the next closest price was $35)
LMC had the cheapest rear turn signal lenses, brake/clutch pads and accelerator pedal. (And their door anti-rattle kit looked like it had the most complete kit for the money $189, while dennis carpenter’s kit was $200, but I don’t know what comes in it because the picture in the catalog was for a different year truck)
Dennis carpenter weather stripping was the most expensive individually, but if you get the "kit" that has the door seals and front and rear windows, it was reasonable.
O’reilly’s auto parts had the best prices on front and rear drum hardware, rear brake hoses, rear brake cylinders, and front and rear shocks.

PFM-64f100 · Post by **PFM-64f100** » July 2, 2009, 9:41 am

My $.02 is...

Brakes (all parts except MC and boosters)/shocks/headlights/kingpins/tie rods/ - I buy normally from O'rilly or AZ and the reason is those parts normally come with a LTW (life Time Warrenty) so if they die or wear out I just walk in the store and get new ones. They store everything in the computer for me. I think I have replaced the rear shocks on my 64 like 3 times now because of the LTW. Only paid once. There's lots of parts that happen this way, you just have to make them get the book and maybe decode the book for them

Lenses/rattle kits I get from the others like DC and lmc. If you getting rubbers for doors or windows go pay the price at DC it will save you in the long run. I'm sure others have good stuff but I havn't seen much bad reviews about DC rubbers. Now LMC rubbers we just won't go there do a search.....

Another thing is AZ and Orilly can order most parts just ask they may be able to get you the part and still price match yes they will price match most of the time.

dwbr · Post by **dwbr** » July 2, 2009, 9:48 am

the only problem with orealy and autozones lifetime warrantly is you end up changing out the parts 3-4-10 times, starters , alternators, water pumps, how many times do you want to change these things out, i prefer to spend the little extra money up front and have a quality unit that will last
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charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » July 2, 2009, 9:57 am

I am a fellow hobbyist and a professional in the restoration parts business. As a result, I get to experience both sides. I'll give a brief opinion of general purchasing practices.

When I order parts, and when possible, I prefer to get it all from one source. For one, it allows me to build a good relationship with the business. When I have a good relationship, they will be more willing to work with me for returns or exchanges and such. It may not be politically correct but it is the way it is. They can get familiar with my project which streamlines the ordering process saving time which is valuable to the business and valuable to me.

If I have a parts supplier near me, I prefer to support them even if the prices are a little higher. The convenience of being able to drive to the store get what I need and get the job done the same day is priceless. I happen to have Melvin's Classic Ford Parts about 40 minutes away. I've not yet had any problems with them or the parts I have acquired from them so I continue to support them.

Another thing to consider when splitting orders between vendors is the shipping charge. That factors into the price of the part. When it's all said and done, is the part really cheaper? Not always.

Without a doubt, some places will provide products of higher quality, such as weather stripping. But some things ultimately come from the same source, no matter who you buy them from. The only difference is labeling and, perhaps, packaging. Also keep in mind that in most cases you get what you pay for.

62galxe · Post by **62galxe** » July 2, 2009, 1:16 pm

If you dont mind ordering parts I have found some good prices at rock auto. I have found parts there that the local places couldnt get.
http://www.rockauto.com/

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » July 2, 2009, 3:26 pm

dwbr wrote:the only problem with orealy and autozones lifetime warrantly is you end up changing out the parts 3-4-10 times, starters , alternators, water pumps, how many times do you want to change these things out, i prefer to spend the little extra money up front and have a quality unit that will last

I agree, from past experiences with Jeeps. I've had awfully good experience with the local NAPA store. Most of the guys there have gray or thinning hair (like me) and have more than a little knowledge beyond what's in the computer. Most things can be shipped in overnight or 2 days at best.

UPDATE: A word of advice. If you (like me) collect parts as you can afford to buy them, be sure to check out whether of not they are the correct part and fit your application before too much time passes (so you can return them if they are wrong).

oldtrucks · Post by **oldtrucks** » July 2, 2009, 6:01 pm

sgart80

I agree with charliemccraney I too am in the restoration business and I will use as many local suppliers as possible and for the same reasons. I might add tho, if a part you have ordered happens to be the wrong one and you purchased it locally the cost of returns goes down dramaticly.

I have used most of the suppliers you have listed with good results but like Charlie said you have to factor in the cost and time for shipping when arriving at the total cost for a part. If it is at all possible to order more than one part from a supplier you will save a lot on shipping and make up the difference in saved shipping.

Really do your research and don't leave any stone un-turned. Build a good list of suppliers for reference and have fun with your project. Continue doing what you just did by asking a lot of questions and good luck.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » July 3, 2009, 7:01 am

One other option you may want to consider, and I'll mention it since he'd never toot his own horn: you may want to have a discussion with Tom from Flashback F100s (member here). I suspect if you're looking to buy a good amount of this stuff (like the rubber, trim parts and other Slick specific items) he would entertain making a bulk purchase deal. A lot of what Tom sells is Carpenter parts so the quality is there. Additionally, he can tell you what is good and what isn't, what will fit and won't, offer solutions in used when new isn't available and knows how to install everything he sells.

Depending on where you live and his show schedule, you may be able to order what you need and have him bring it to a show for no shipping charge.

Rick Allen at Carolina Classics is also good like this. It's far better IMO to pay a little extra and get personalized service from someone you know than pinch pennies and have to deal with returning items to a large, faceless company.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » July 3, 2009, 9:25 am

Good point.

sgart80 · Post by **sgart80** » July 6, 2009, 7:52 am

Thanks for all the replies and the heads up about rockauto.com. They seem to be consistently cheaper than any other online pricing I've come across so far. My debate now is to save upfront and buy all the parts I need from them and take the chance of having to ship them back if they don't work out for me. Or I could spend a little more at Oriely's and be able to return it with out having to pay any shipping. I need to go to oriely's and see if they will price match rockauto.com prices.

furnitureguy-123 · Post by **furnitureguy-123** » July 8, 2009, 9:55 pm

Just my 2 cents. I ordered,(or tried), to order a clutch fork for my 66 stepside from NPD. After 4 attempts and still not getting the right part, I realized I had paid shipping to and from 4 times. They will credit you for the part, but you have to pay shipping to return the wrong part. I quickly realized that was the most expensive part I never got. I ordered one from Oreilly's, got it the next day, and although it was also wrong I paid nothing, and got to hold it in my hand and look at it.

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ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » July 9, 2009, 11:53 am

dwbr wrote:the only problem with orealy and autozones lifetime warrantly is you end up changing out the parts 3-4-10 times, starters , alternators, water pumps, how many times do you want to change these things out, i prefer to spend the little extra money up front and have a quality unit that will last

me too.

also if its not made in the USA i wont buy it