Just wondering if anyone knows any suppliers of NOS stuff for these years?? I've always wondered what happens to all the parts when GM decideds to stop making them.. I'm sure someone buys them correct?? I've been on the internet and phone for the past couple hours trying to find stuff and am coming up empty...kind of discouraging really. There has to be some parts out there somewhere...

Internet part searches always come up empty for junk yards, but I think the system is broken. I guess the yard has to be hooked up to their network to get results. I did a search for us, canada, and mexico and get nothing. Just doesn't sound possible. The yards around here suck so I've been calling all around the state. That is a PITA also..got one guy one the phone and asked if they had some wheels. He said yes, they have alot. I asked him If I have to come and pull them myself ...since I'm out of town I'm not going to be able to look at them. He said "no, everything is on racks all the wheels are here you can look at them" he would't really tell me if they had what I wanted...kept giving me the run around. I told him I'm out of the area can you just look for me. He wouldn't do it I know these cars are old, but damn...it almost makes me want to sell my car since I can't find what I need anyway

I did find a place with 1 turbocast wheel that I want...prefered the whole set but he said he only has 1. Didn't take it, but maybe I will. If I find some other places with one or two here and there I might go back.

 

I know that as far back as 1981, Pontiac threw away decals that they decided not to stock anymore!
I had bought a 1981 NASCAR Turbo Trans Am, and was trying to get replacement decals for it. I contacted Pontiac direct, and this is what they told me.
So, you would have to either place want ads, or just keep checking all the thirdgen sites (including this one).
I would join P.O.C.I., and use them as a great source.
Go to Pontiac shows, espically the national shows, and you will find stuff.
But, parts may cost a ton, as more NOS items go up in price, since they are no longer availible.
Finding wheels is very hard.
What other parts are you looking for?

George

 

I talked to a guy who worked for GM. He told me specifically that GM periodically would purge backstock of parts that weren't selling. Rather then sell them at a loss the parts were de-milled. The long and short is they're destroyed when they become obsolete. The example he gave was the order came down to destroy all the NOS sheetmetal (body parts) for 70-7? Monte Carlo's, and that's what they did... Fenders, 1/4's, chrome, you name it, they cut it up and sold it as scrap metal.

I would imagine that the same thing happens now. I once priced out a dual cat y-pipe from the dealership, at the $2500 I was quoted I doubt GM will ever sell as many as they likely produced. At some point (if it hasn't already happened) I'm sure the order will come to recycle the materials in those catalytic converters.

Bottom line is the first place to try is the dealership. They can do a dealership search or locator to try to find someone who's got what you need on a shelf. Next resource they have available are obsolete parts houses. I had a technical difficulty with a battery cable in my Formula. Turns out they were discontinued, found one on a shelf in Arizona, $120 later I had a new OEM cable. The "performance suspension" tag for the dash of WS6 85-92 Firebirds used to be $5 from the dealer. A couple years back I needed another one, price was listed at $13 but again, discontinued. $20 later I had one of the last three in the system.

After the dealer there's the aftermarket, but then Next Gen, Classic Industries and the like get their parts from the dealers same as we can.

Ebay and the classifieds follow.

 

If you're in the market for a set of stock aluminum rims, you might want to try The Wheel Warehouse located outside of Dayton, Ohio. They have a great selection of remanufactured wheels at reasonable prices. You'd also be surprised what your local dealer can still order. What kind of parts are you looking for specifically?


Here's the link to Wheel Warehouse:
http://www.thewheelwarehouse.com/default.html

 

82TA, didn't realize you were so local. We're just down the road from one another. Westwood Auto Parts I have found usually has a good selection of 3rd Gen parts, already pulled. Prices are a tad high but the selection makes up for it. King Road isn't bad, there are several more yards on Detroit Ave. that have good reputations in town.

I was talking with one of our plant mechanics the other night and told him I was looking for a set of N96 rims- his friend owned Evergreen Parts out here near Whitehouse and when the metroparks bought out his property a few years ago, he sold off all his excess inventory for scrap value- including several nice sets of N96 rims.

If you do an internet search under remanufactured wheels or factory reproductions, you should be able to find quite a few places that sell N24s. Trans Am Creations usually has a nice selection, they might be worth a try:
http://www.tacreationsusa.com/firebird_wheels.htm

I know that I saw a set of N24s up for sale on ebay very recently, they may even still be up. Always worth it to check there- 82-84 parts seem pretty abundant in my daily search for parts. Good luck!

 

Yah, tried westwood...they have nothing, also northtown auto parts, nothing. Found 2 Firebirds at KRAP, an 82 and an 84. Pretty much stripped of what I need...and what is there wasn't in too good of shape. I did however take the complete rear seat and cargo trim from the '84. Yesterday I basically got the phonebook out and called pretty much every junkyard in the area, not one of them had anything. I did check out that wheel place in Dayton though. They had some but I don't have the money for what they are asking. I'll try the other sites you mentioned. As for Ebay, I'm always looking there also, but I think that some of the stuff goes for way too much and shipping can get high...for wheels anyway. I"ve got alot of other parts on Ebay for my bird though.

 

I've found similar results on interior parts for '82 - '84(similar to the exterior GFX and the Z28 nose).And to top it off mine is med doeskin custon cloth w/high back seats(well seat the drivers seat is one with the separate headrest).You see a lot of early 3rd Gens with this interior color,especially Firebirdsso it's odd to be so hard to find replacement parts.

 

The dual cat Y pipe is still available from GM for $861.00 I just bought one.