Just wondering if there are any things that i should try to get my hands on before GM discontinues them. I was thinking about picking up some red RS emblems because they just got discontinuted are really hard to find..however i dont know like if i ever have to worry about mine falling off.. I've also got GM replacement floormats and mudflaps. Just wondering if theres some stuff that might be good to get now before i cant get it later... or do you guys think that everything will always be avaible in like OER or something?

 

Here is my opionion, if you can get ANYTHING from your dealership third gen related that is out of staock or OEM grab it. Dude, these parts are no longer made and there is not a huge market for after market parts yet. You can build a 1st gen from parts and pieces from a catalog because the demand is high. Now OEM stuff demands a premium so grab it now before it is gone.

 

If someone has the money they should buy every damn 3rd gen part they could find and store it for 5-10 years. Then turn around and open up a company. Classic industries already sell parts for 3rd gens. Just think in 6 years all third gen cars, no matter what year,will be at least 20 years off the assembly line. My 86 is already 20-21 years old in the late 80's, the 60's and early 70's cars were becoming hot. I will not sell my camaro for that very reason unless forced to by some awful reason. I will keep my camaro at least until my son is out of high school. That would make my camaro 38-39 years old. NADA already considers any camaro built before 1987 a collector/muscle car. I know because I checked last night so I could register mine as a classic for emissions testing reasons.

Here's a link to the NADA guide so you can check to find your car
NADA Guide

 

Like the other folks said...buy anything and everything (except the stuff I want )

 

I second TAdan's response, but I'd get to it soon.

My dealership parts contact says that GM is discontinuing 3rdGen stuff at alarming rates now. A lot of what is still available is parts that were used across the entire series line (Firebird, Formula, T/A, GTA). Most of the model-specific stuff is gone, especially for the later 3rdGens.

Hopefully, the aftermarket will step up to fill the need soon.

 

Back when I started my Project in 1998 I could still get leather coverings for the GTA seats. They were reasonable price too, considering. I think I could have redone a whole GTA seating surfaces for around 1200 at the time in GM OEM stuff... I went back 1 year (after I got my seats) later and could get nothing.

I snagged some parts not too long ago... not much to brag about tho.

JOhn

 

I would try just getting the parts that you may use now, like air filters, oil filters-look at the PF-25 oil filters right now-, spark plugs, HEI parts, and even hoses and belts.
Even with the aftermarket stuff out there, it's going to be hard to find stuff like this for cars this old.
Next, would be emblems/decals for the car.
Then, if you have big bucks, go body parts and intrerior stuff.
Now, if you have lots of money, or just want to make money, get items that are for the Anniversary cars, or limited production cars.
And, like TADan said, don't get what I collect!

George

 

I think the biggest thing is honestly what kind of money are you willing to lose. At this point its all speculation, and not a sure thing. Unlike an investment into a liquid account like stocks, the return would take you some time after you started trying to sell it.

There will definately be winners and losers, and to me its a crap shoot.

There are parts that I gather together because I know or suspect that I might need one. I have extra dashes, extra nice dash pads, gages, etc, that I refuse to sell, its not that I could not use the money, but to sell something that I more than likely will need is silly.

Matter of fact If I have something extra that I have kept as a backup, I will buy another one IF I want to modify one rather than use the 2 nice ones I have... I think its an illness, because I soemtimes will not use what I have if I have another possible purpose for it. But I will buy another identical part and use that one.

John

 

No, im not looking to buy NOS stuff now and sell it later. I was thinking about buying some NOS stuff for my car now, in case its unavailible in 10-20 years when i might need to restore my car.

 

I know the sickness..........!!That's why I just picked up a NOS radio block off plate for a third gen.I have no good reason to have one,but I can't help myself!! I am putting that with my fourth gen pace car emblems and NOS second gen Quarters,etc...going to the dealer to see if I can get some more pieces to finish my 85 Z!!I love to have my own hoard for the day I can't get these parts!!.........BILL

 

Start hanging around the boards, and see what is going bad or breaking commonly on the cars, then make your determination from there... Taking good care of something goes a long way, but having a spare is always a good thing.

FOr the most part you should be able to always keep the car running. Engine parts and Such for a SBC V8 will be available for at least 20 years just because there are so many of them and demand is high. Many parts are the same from day one, but minor changes to them make them car specific, and sometimes they can be modified to work with other applications.

Things like Belts, Hoses, etc I would not worry about, THings like Cosmetic items, emblems, badges, decals will become more difficult to find, Althogh there are already aftermarket companies making decals. In time Emblems will come, But there more involved in the mfg process.

Things like Dash pads & interior pieces will be the most likely to break because there plastic and they get brittle with age...

Also things like ground fx & such that are exposed to the road are not bad to have on hand, I have an extra set of Bumpers I picked up for $10... there GM, used but perfect

John

 

I think OKFOZ hit it on the head. Unless you are doing a perfect restoration, metal parts (fenders, doors, hoods etc) will be available after market. Get the stuff that breaks, fades or wears like dash pads, arm rests, the pesky center console lid, seat belts etc. And if any dealer has sunvisors that are not sagging out of the box, grab all of those even thought that will probably be an easy part to remanufacter (if classis is already not doing so)
I remember a junkyard in VA Beach had a 25th anniversary T/A with the white leather seats. How did I know it had white leather? Because the back seats were laying on the ground, in the mud. Looked like they had never been sat in. What a crime, a poorly run junkyard.