Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

[Mick D.]

Hey folks,

This might be a slightly odd post, but the more I learn about my car, the more I realize I have some odd and 1-year only parts that while expensive - are still somewhat available.

For instance, I was mulling over today whether I would buy part DR111444, which is a Idle Control Solenoid, that really only goes on 1971's, and it is somewhere between $80 and $120. Mine is working, but I was thinking of getting a spare because

1. It is mentioned and pictured in the TIMJG
2. Mine may be a repro and is missing the sticker
3. If it ever breaks, I'll have to track one down anyway

One part of me says 'if i start buying spare parts where will I stop', the other part says 'this is a rare part you'll regret not buying'

I'd appreciate the perspective of long time corvette owners, and any stories you'd like to share

PS : If you have tips on NOS/Used 1971 LT-1 parts that I ABSOLUTELY should be thinking about buying while they still exist online, I'd appreciate it.

As always, thanks to everyone, as I learn more I will try to give back some of the knowledge I am gaining,

- Mick

[Mark E.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

My guess is the value of a "market basket" of selected GM NOS parts outperformed the S&P500 over the past 40 years.

I'll bet Joe Lucia's net worth has increased handsomely because of this.

For your car, acquiring date appropriate alterternators, starters, carburetors, starters may come in handy and be a good investment. If you had a 1970, I would add front grilles to the list.

[Mick D.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

I love the market basket analogy.

Those are some good tips on the starter etc. The 4801-1 carb is already a rarity, but certainly an investment. Starter and Alternator should be findable.

My guess is the value of a "market basket" of selected GM NOS parts outperformed the S&P500 over the past 40 years.

I'll bet Joe Lucia's net worth has increased handsomely because of this.

For your car, acquiring date appropriate alterternators, starters, carburetors, starters may come in handy and be a good investment. If you had a 1970, I would add front grilles to the list.

[Jim L.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

The fellow from whom I bought my '60 fuelie 44 years ago gave me this pearl of wisdom:

"If you ever see something you need for the car buy it right then. If you don't, either you'll never find another one or, if you do, it will cost you more."

Early on I ignored his wisdom. It didn't end well. So I'm now a believer and my "belief" definitely extends to having spare parts.

[Mick D.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

Great advice Jim. My guess is that it goes double for some of these 1 year only or special option items.

The fellow from whom I bought my '60 fuelie 44 years ago gave me this pearl of wisdom:

"If you ever see something you need for the car buy it right then. If you don't, either you'll never find another one or, if you do, it will cost you more."

Early on I ignored his wisdom. It didn't end well. So I'm now a believer and my "belief" definitely extends to having spare parts.

[Mark S.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

Many years ago my Corvette buddies made fun of me for buying NOS parts when reproduction parts were cheaper. As the judging process became more precise the NOS parts became more valuable and they helped me in my years long restoration processes. They have also helped supplement my retirement income.

[Mick D.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

Thanks for the note Mark. I am thinking that I might get a couple of hard to rebuild or replace parts. My alternator is original and dated, so if it were to go out - I would probably just rebuild it, but other items may not be repairable.

Many years ago my Corvette buddies made fun of me for buying NOS parts when reproduction parts were cheaper. As the judging process became more precise the NOS parts became more valuable and they helped me in my years long restoration processes. They have also helped supplement my retirement income.

[Keith M.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

Awesome thread. Timely for me as this concept has crossed my mind more lately. I am still in early stages of teardown of my 69...been at it almost a year now or so. Parts management is definitely something I underestimated a bit at the beginning but have my system down now. Parts are coming off, parts are coming in (from suppliers), parts are going on, etc. Some orig parts will keep just cuz even though likely never use them again. And now to the topic du jour..spare parts. Not much on my car for dated/number stamped on my car was original...though the drivetrain is. So I have been acquiring correct/dated parts over time...alternator, carb, intake, exhaust, coil, radio, etc etc. A few I may even obtain two of. Reasons to do so are various. A part that cannot be rebuilt/restored (e.g. coil). Parts that can be harder to find in correct/dated config. Another reason would be coming across something that is NOS and worth buying. By worth buying I mean....not worth it for a part that is not readily visible and existing one not prone to failure. I like original for the sake of original...not points or prizes. One example for me is headlight mechanism. I have my headlights off and AFAIK the mechanisms worked fine when I last drove the car 23 years ago. I got the rebuild kit...but should I bother? Mechanisms "look" ok and work as far as I recall...so why mess with it just cause I have them out now even though it 54 years old. Maybe just keep the rebuild kit on shelf as "spare" in the event it fails. Another reason for spare parts...may become unobtanium in the future. Maybe not next year but in 5 or 10 years? I mean...they are not making 69 Corvettes anymore and at some point any and all that could be restored will be..theoretically anyway. Offset that with folks who want to build kit/catalog cars....so maybe parts availability continues?

And some of the correct parts I have obtained will sit on the shelf until the part that is in the car dies (e.g. alternator). Exception to that would be when I tear down the engine and replace carb, intake/exhaust manifolds, etc. As for the question of where would you stop in terms of buying parts...well you could buy an entire car's worth but I don't see the need. That's kind of a personal subjective decision.

[Gary R.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

posi cases from GM. When they obsoleted them about 12 years ago I bought 30 of them and they're gone now. I wish I bought 100

[Mick D.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

wow very interesting Gary - I never thought about that part. Do they tend to need replacing from age? or harder driving that cracks them?

posi cases from GM. When they obsoleted them about 12 years ago I bought 30 of them and they're gone now. I wish I bought 100

[Mick D.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

+1 on the headlight assembly, I restored a transam and one of my big problems was that i kept buying newer parts and then FITTING them, even though the part was working. It was literally never ending. This was not a frame off resto, and I should have just bought them as spares. It's still not 100% finished.

Since starting the thread, I have picked up some very hard to find parts for the one-year-only 71 CEC system on everyone's favorite auction site, and I may try for a few more bits and pieces that as you say are almost guaranteed to become 'unobtainium'. As an example - I actually have the correct gas cap with red lettering... I checked online and the cheapest one is nearly $500, so that has already surpassed a reasonable level of 'pick one up just in case'.

Awesome thread. Timely for me as this concept has crossed my mind more lately. I am still in early stages of teardown of my 69...been at it almost a year now or so. Parts management is definitely something I underestimated a bit at the beginning but have my system down now. Parts are coming off, parts are coming in (from suppliers), parts are going on, etc. Some orig parts will keep just cuz even though likely never use them again. And now to the topic du jour..spare parts. Not much on my car for dated/number stamped on my car was original...though the drivetrain is. So I have been acquiring correct/dated parts over time...alternator, carb, intake, exhaust, coil, radio, etc etc. A few I may even obtain two of. Reasons to do so are various. A part that cannot be rebuilt/restored (e.g. coil). Parts that can be harder to find in correct/dated config. Another reason would be coming across something that is NOS and worth buying. By worth buying I mean....not worth it for a part that is not readily visible and existing one not prone to failure. I like original for the sake of original...not points or prizes. One example for me is headlight mechanism. I have my headlights off and AFAIK the mechanisms worked fine when I last drove the car 23 years ago. I got the rebuild kit...but should I bother? Mechanisms "look" ok and work as far as I recall...so why mess with it just cause I have them out now even though it 54 years old. Maybe just keep the rebuild kit on shelf as "spare" in the event it fails. Another reason for spare parts...may become unobtanium in the future. Maybe not next year but in 5 or 10 years? I mean...they are not making 69 Corvettes anymore and at some point any and all that could be restored will be..theoretically anyway. Offset that with folks who want to build kit/catalog cars....so maybe parts availability continues?

And some of the correct parts I have obtained will sit on the shelf until the part that is in the car dies (e.g. alternator). Exception to that would be when I tear down the engine and replace carb, intake/exhaust manifolds, etc. As for the question of where would you stop in terms of buying parts...well you could buy an entire car's worth but I don't see the need. That's kind of a personal subjective decision.

[Joe L.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

posi cases from GM. When they obsoleted them about 12 years ago I bought 30 of them and they're gone now. I wish I bought 100

Gary------


I've got those covered but doesn't Eaton still offer them?

[Gary R.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

Gary------


I've got those covered but doesn't Eaton still offer them?

Hi Joe,
Yes they do, new cases are loaded. The cases are cast in China, assembled in Mexico. The cases are pretty good, uniform machining that is better than originals. The one thing that is clearly different is the opening on the large window, it's cut back, the USA cases are not.

The assembly isn't anything to be proud of so I take apart every one and rebuild new posi's. I don't use the fiber clutches or spring pack. The spiders are ok but I like the original 10-17 better. There are less clutches in the stack too, due to the thicker fiber plates. They smudge by hand and within 100 miles the oil is black with material.

[Gary R.]

Re: Spare parts you wish you'd bought for your Corvette earlier

depends on the years
63-64 cases were Dana and junk, same for the pinion gear
65-68 were eaton, first design, not much better than the Dana and very prone to cracking. Once cracked it's a time bomb to implosion. You can't safely weld them and trust them to last. Some have I know but it's a mistake.
69-71 were better than the previous one but not the best
72-79 were the best, double OD case, 10-17 spiders, junk clutches.
80-82 back to Dana, not impressive at all