Hi guys
I typically post in Convertibles or historysections here, but since I am a MN resident. I usually go to look at John's Auto Parts or Crosstown Auto, but even recently..old cars are getting very scarce. Firebirds and Camaros I typically come across are all but stripped and offer little if anything.... leaving me to wonder why they haven't been crushed. Since I have a rare very Bird, parts and options are few. What are your impressions and findings for odd parts in the 'Cities or State? My folks vacation at their cabin in Nevis...near Park Rapids...anything near there maybe?
I'll be slowly trying to replace what I need...money being VERY tight
BILL

 

Don't waste your time at John's (i work there) the car buyer is more interested in buying suv's, mini van's and honda's. he seems to think that firebird's, camaro's and mustangs are a waste of time. we got a nice bodied 79 T/A that had a good interior in two weeks ago and just cause it wasn't 94 or newer is was crushed right away.

 

That sucks ...I need a complete set of black seat belts for my bro-in-law s 79 T/A.. His dad cut them out when they bought the car new

 

i know this is pretty well known of a website...but did you guys try www.car-part.com they can search most of the yards around..as for a good place with some nice f-bodies i know a few local yards to me had some decent "parts" cars....lemme know what you might need for parts and for what and i might know a few places to scratch around...

as for a seat belt i wouldnt be able to find a good yard one since most of the birds in there all have windows missing..so the interior gets faded and rotted quick..as you guys know already...

 

Last time I was at Shipman's (in Brainerd) I saw several 3rd. gens waiting to be picked on.

This was nearly a year ago so if they are still there, I don't know.


Dean's in Baxter (if he is still in business, I know they were trying to run him off so they can add onto the industrial park now with the 371 bypass) use to have some 3rd. parts as well.


Another place is Rick's in Royalton. Haven't been there in years (over a decade) so I'm not sure what he has anymore.

Or John's in Little Falls. It is on the South side on county road 76 (haven road). You can see a few 3rd. gens sitting in there when you drive by on hwy. 10.

 

late models are certainly the order of the day appears you can charge more I assume, however, while I was at Johns during the summer months, they had an '88 white Fleetwood Caddy that supplied me with a much needed part, however, I needed more. They have a transaxle in fact, I am considering along with an install.
I believe Watertown is even further West of the Cities then me. My mechanic told me of 'Carmichaels' closing out it's remaining wrecks however, I felt I hadn't enough time to amass funds and I would assume they closed down now. Johns' had scrapped that Fleetwood it appears, but the 3rd gen Camaro I recall they had was in almost complete teardown... Just not much left to salvage.
The big problem is finding the right deal, now that eBay offers tax free, low cost auctions you have to weigh against local taxes, transpo, etc.
Bill

 

Dean's in Baxter has 2 fbodies, 1 86 Iroc-Z stripped to nothing, and 1 84 firebird in rough shape w/ a v-6. He crushed the rest of his f-body line up.

 

i HERE THERE IS A SALVAGE YARD IN THE KASSON,MN AREA THAT IS SUPOSE TOHAVE a lot of f-bodies

later
and
GB

 

During the winter months and due to repair leading to another, I think eBay is the place for now. I do think I may have John's do the tranny for my Cadillac...anyone have them do mechanicals here?
They have a nice setup, though limited
Bill

 

Bemidji isnt that far from park rapids, we have 5 here

Hensleys Auto
M&M Auto
Far North Auto
Ricks Auto Salvage
Aazzee's Auto Salvage

i live within 3 miles of Hensleys, M&M, and Far North

Ricks and Aazzees are on the south side of town

i dont know the #'s of camaros/firebirds but i imagine between the 5 at least 1 of them has what you need. aazzees, m&m and hensleys are packrats, they seem to keep everything, while for north likes to keep the stock constantly moving and changing, dont know about ricks though...

if you do decide to come to Bemidji to look call me up and we can hit em together, i have a truck and a trailer so i can move pretty much anything you want to take out, and i have a huge shed to store stuff in too. id be in there more often but i have to work all the time and go to school, but if your comin for a weekend or something definitely let me know

 

My folks aren't too keen on my storing any parts, so that's quite remote, the best deal is get 'em and drop 'em in quick as possible. For big parts I was asking about shipping to my mechanic but being as I just paid off my debt there...hehe
If I get a trans and install at John's Auto Parts, will I regret it past 90 days?? I heard lifetime warranties on used parts are out there but the one quote I got was from $300 upto $500 on a trans w/o labor added (install quote) He charged $30 to ship to MN metro area... Just can't recall the location he's in.
I need a working power antenna for my 89 Bird and my 1988 Deville if you can find one of those, for less then the standard $50, like $15 to $20... more my budget! A good condition bumper for my Deville, or the front honeycomb and metal support for the Firebird. I only have the fascia cover in red
Bill

 

i know theres a few up here [duluth] chesneys there a lil arogant on takein more than 1 part off to see if it works....or theres calvary auto salvage nicer people both theese places have birds of all years.chesney ships and says they can get anything you want..

 

Who has website scouting close by?
I noticed one site with vert parts that had online photos, saving a trip youcould check the stuff out before hand, this was out of state though, but still a salvage yard
I found an 88 Eldo power antenna for example on eBay I may be able to use on my 88 Deville, pretty cheap. for my front bumper, even on Ebay these are scarce[sp?]

 

Out here in Hawaii there are two Army installations which have auto salvage yards. They probably take in 20 cars a week and the income is used for soldier and family member recreation.

Because of the age group, lots of 3rd Gens come through here, so if there's any military installations around in your area, might be worthwhile to check them out. You'll most likely need a military ID or friend with one to purchase parts.

 

Hadn't heard of that. Problem is, as the case is with my tranny being bad, it's very hard to get anywhere of distance to get the part and the repair I need. I'll be looking at options prior to my profit sharing but I always scout eBay for various items being a long time user of that service