GM Parts Books/Catalogs

[Kevin Whiteley]

I've been searching eBay (don't know of another source) for GM parts books/catalogs which list the part numbers, names, uses, etc. I have come across several, but apparantly there are several different ones. The different ones I've seen are called:

Chassis & Body
Parts & Accessories catalog
Radio parts
Trim parts
Parts & Illustration catalog

So, can anyone tell me which ones are correct? Essentially, I want to look for any part number and find it's application, or vice versa (at a minimum for 1968). I know the names of some are fairly obvious, but is there one "Master" catalog?

[Joe L.]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

Kevin----

Believe me, there is NO one catalog that will provide all the information which you may be seeking at any, particular time. There are many, many catalogs that will be necessary depending upon what you're after or interested in.

The most useful items would be the "Parts & Accessories Catalog" and the "Parts and Accesories Illustration Catalog". "Chassis and Body" and "Trim Parts" are other names for these catalogs and/or sub-catalogs which contain a more limited range of parts groups.

A 1968 Chevrolet Parts & Accessories Catalog (these were a combined catalog for most Chevrolet models, including Corvette, and light trucks) would tell you what the part numbers were in 1968. You can obtain most of these numbers more conveniently from an AIM. The 1983 edition of the Corvette P&A Catalog for 53-82 Corvettes was the last edition. Most of the parts shown in this catalog, which is now almost 20 years old, have been discontinued or superceded.

[Kevin Whiteley]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

Thanks Joe, I have the AIM, but I've been coming across alot of p/n's and it's difficult to look up one individual part number in the AIM, especially if it's does't even apply to Corvettes. I guess I'm looking for the "Joe Lucia" in book/catalog format.

[Bill W.]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

Joes right most of the #s have changed or have been disc. go to your favorite Chev. dealer and ask your parts man if they have any old corvette parts books laying around. most parts guys are pack rats . the dealer I work at has shelves full of them. they still use them from time to time. Good luck .Bill

[Christopher R.]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

You want the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. The Corvette one was separate from the other car lines. They are available on EBay regularly for $40 to just under $100. Usually closer to $40, but you know how bidders can get carried away. They are only useful to a point. All you're getting is what Chevrolet had available for the application at the time the catalog came out. (They have edition dates.) It's only a point in time on what Chevrolet was carrying at that time for your car. That means you may or may not find a listing for your part. Depends on whether Chevrolet stopped carrying it. Might not be the original part. Sometimes a service replacement part was substituted. So if you're looking for the little gazinkas that hung off the doohickey, you might never find it, or you'll get the wrong one. The AIM contains all the parts and their original part numbers. If you want the most parts listings for your car, get one with an edition date close to your model year. If you want the best chance of availability now, get one close to 1983, when they stopped issuing the paper catalog. Remember though, 1983 was 20 years ago. What does the availability of a part 20 years ago tell you about its availability today? Let alone what part number it's carried under. Chevy Parts counter guys though can search under superceded part numbers. (That's how I got mine 20+ years ago. The Parts counter guy was sick of looking up 19 cent doohickeys. I used to look up the parts myself, and give him a list.)

Before the AIM was released, the P&A catalogs were also useful for the parts assembly illustrations. You can also use the P&A catalog as an interchange guide, like a Hollanders. The P&A catalog will tell you all the model years that the part is listed for. Sometimes it's helpful to know that a part fit not only your car, but other model years as well. But you can't find out if it fit other Chevies unless you have a P&A for those car lines. The P&A for Corvettes was separate from the others. I still use mine, but not as much as I did in the 1970s and 1980s. These catalogs were much more important then.

[John H.]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

The "P&A30B" is the old Corvette-only parts book, with illustrations, and is handy for usage references, etc.; mine is dated 1973, is about 3" thick, and covers '53-'73 Corvettes. I found it on eBay about six years ago.

[Joe L.]

Re: GM Parts Books/Catalogs

Chris-----

The Corvette P&A Catalog was seperate from other Chevrolets, but ONLY after October, 1969. Prior to October, 1969, the Corvette parts were included in the combined Chevrolet P&A Catalog which included passenger cars and light trucks.