I got home from work today to see a package from Classic Industries. It was their new catalog. I was very impressed with their selection of 3rd gen parts. They had replacement carpets, door panels, headliners and kick panels. I found aluminum hoods, GFX, cowl hoods and heater control assemblies. They had custom dash assemblies, emblems, and plenty of original GM parts. I was happy to see so many parts becoming available for the restoration of third gen Camaros.

 

sweet, how do you get a catalog? Is it for Free? I should take peek at classic industries, thanks Scott

 

www.classicindustries.com. The catalog is usually free with an order or $5 without an order. When you place your first order, they refund the $5 back. That's how it used to be with them, it could've changed.

I'm on their mailing list so I got the new catalog without requesting it.

 

Yes, the companies have been getting bigger Third Gen selections over the last few years, it's been for a while now. Which is great, but I find that when things are reproduced there is usually something about them that is not perfect or exactly like what the factory made.

 

I'd like them much better if they had silver/gray 'IROC-Z' rocker and rear panel emblems...and dash assemblies...and auto shifter plates...and 3rd brake lights...and black plastic upper door panel pieces.

They do have a nice selection but, like other restoration parts merchants, they haven't reintroduced the aforementioned impossible-to-find items.
IROCZTWENTYGR8, what sorts of inconsistencies/abnormalities are you seeing in reproduction parts?

- 89_IROC

 

Most repro stuff just doesnt fit the same. The holes dont quite line up. The curves are off, like replacement doors and fenders. The texture isnt the same. Some are totally non-functional, like a dash pad I bought years ago for a Ford resto job, it wasnt large enough to fit past the molding like the factory piece, so I bought a NOS Ford part. Oh yea, and the glove box light I got for my Stang, doesnt fit in the hole. They say to drill it out larger... I dont think so! I just painted the dash, I am not drilling on it. I've seen some really good repro stuff, and I've seen some really BAD stuff. I'm sure the thirdgen arena is no different than Mustangs, Galaxies, 5-6-7 Chevys, and Chevelles. I can usually deal with slight fit problems, but when it comes to loss of functionality, I wonder what they were thinking.

 

Not to bash Classic but they don't have alot of the stuff in their catalog. They might have at one time. Every year their catalog gets bigger and bigger.

 

I got the new catalog from a friend a few weeks ago. I was amazed at all the 3rdgen stuff! I can't wait to start ordering!!!

 

Before you send in your orders take the catalog to your local dealer's parts department. Alot of the stuff is still available, with some obvious exceptions, and CHEAPER through GM!!! Out of $8,500.00 I've spent on Thumper's restoration in the last year only $85.00 went to Year One or Classic Industries!

 

$8500 and you still have the LO3?!?!?!

j/k, your car looks sweet!

 

You didn't see it before I started!!

 

I've been to your Car Domain site. Do you have any pics from before you started the IROC conversion?

 

Not really, the closest is the pic at the body shop were it's still got the old wheels on it. I hadnt't taken a picture of Thumper in over 5 years! The nose was caved-in, the sagging doors had many dings, the rear-end was whining, the interior and chassis were both trash, and the only positive part of the car was a complete absence of rust. The whole resto started as just a paint job, a very good paint job, but just went crazy from there!!

 

A neighbor needed a new air dam and I gave them the Classic Ind catalog, and that night playing around found that GM less. Especially going through either GMPartsDirect or NewGMParts, you'll get a better deal.

 

It's true, GM is usually less expensive. Also, shipping is sometimes way too expensive with those companies.

 

I have an older catalog from them, and it's great! I also like the Paddock. My favorite though is Year One. Pricey, but every nut and bolt that you could think of!

 

GM cheaper? & you are dreaming. I have never gotten a part from GM that was Cheaper than somewhere else. But I think if I start ordering stuff for my 87 Iroc I will order through Hawks, Theyt seem to have what I need interior wise.

 

Try another local dealer or "GMpartsdirect.com"...

 

...except dashes and gray 'IROC-Z' rear panel/rocker emblems and auto shifter plates and deluxe gray door panels...

Essentially, everything my interior needs is not located at YearOne. Hawk's, however, has most of the interior stuff. I'm not bashing on any particular aftermarket folks - I'm bashing them all equally. It gets extremely irritating very quickly when I finally have the cash for that one piece and then find that it's been discontinued with no aftermarket availability.

Get it from Hawk's or Classic Industries; YearOne's selection blows. This is, however, merely my .

- 89_IROC

edit: The dealer is cheaper. You just have to get to know the parts guys well enough so that they give you their 30% discount

 

Most of the time even with our club discounts GM is still more. Plus alot of the time I am sitting on 20% discounts from Classic.

 

It all depends on what you are buying. I used to sell parts, some GM pieces, some not. I purchased a fair share from dealers as well, for repairs, resale, and restoration work. There were some parts that the cost to the 'aftermarket' such as mom+pop stores and places like Classic or Year One (and even others, some old GM stuff is still available) was so high that they just couldnt compete on a price level war. It just depends on what it is you are buying, and how much GM wants it sold through their channels or not.

I bought many parts at actual dealer cost, so... if you have the right friends then nobody can compete with the dealer.