OK, here is the deal, what is the best car part you have found and how much (or Little) did you pay for it?

Me first, I found a REAL crossram intake at a yard sale for 300.00 about five years ago. No carbs, linkage, nothing. Just a bonafied Winters aluminum cross ram intake with the top plate and bottom base together. Oh the cars I have envisioned because of that intake...

Attended a storage locker auction in the mid 80s, they cut the lock off and pulled out NOS 69 front and rear bumpers still in the GM blue wax coating. Got them for $20 ea. I still have them, stored in my basement rafters. They have been waiting patiently for 20 years for my SS to be completed.

a couple years ago i scored an original 69 RS windshield washer motor/pump with the headlight solenoid for $150. didn't even need painting, i just bolted it on. priced one lately??? NOS 69 1/4 gills for $100 at a swap meet, talked him down from $125, they go for almost $100 each now.

i should have bought the mint condition wood wheel i seen. guy was selling it for $150. it didn't sell and later he told me he got $500 for it on ebay. :clonk:

basket case 12-bolt posi with new clutches $300.

years ago i was a "regular customer" at the chevy dealership for NOS sheetmetal parts and the saleman sold me everything at dealer cost and no sales tax. saved some bucks there for sure. $180 per side 1/4 panels, $140 for RS fenders, $50 for front fender wells. rear tailpanel $67. header panel and lower valance about $50 each. if only i had known then what i know now, i would have bought a truckload of each.

Best/cheapest part would have to be the upholstery job I got. Complete houndstooth buckets, seatfoams, spring repair and bench/rears done for a couple hundred bucks (I had the covers).
Best CAR would have to be my 69 coupe car for 2k from a gal in a trailer park!
Had been sitting under a big evergreen tree for years, but good condition and everything was there ;)

Dano :beers:

I was out junkin one day in a town about 100 miles away. There was this old house in the middle of the big junk yard that they used for storage. I opened the door and just saw tons of starters and stuff. I ventured in the door alittle ways and I found 1 NOS 67' RS fender still in the box and 1 NOS 69' chevelle fender still in the box. Picked them up for $70 for the pair. After the guy priced them I turned that F'n house upside down but that was all I could find.

A great looking Ford 302 high-rise intake for the price of the aluminum metal!

$2.50!

And my junk301's used Duntov cam and lifters out of a junk motor for free!

pdq67

A complete set of YH coded ralleys for my 69...on epay! $200 for the 4, complete all dressed out...I guess he didn't know what he had...he said he took them off of his 57 chevy but that he thought they came off of a 69 Z28...I guess he was right!! ;) :thumbsup:

I think this is my cheapest best score so far

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66376

but the BEST I did was a very nice TC member sold me his headlight washer solenoid for a VERY reasonable price. I cant tell you how much or I have to disable you :) Thanks again :)

Man, Ive scored lots of parts thru out the years, but dollar for dollar, my best score would have to be a NOS ash tray. I payed 10 bucks for it.

I bought the Edelbrock Carb (600 cfm) from a guy at a car show a few years ago for $40.00. I brought it home and took it apart and cleaned it and its been on my car for about 2 years now and works great.

67-68 GM gas tank. My brother bought it new in later 80's for about $80.He recently sold it to me for what he paid.Now they are in the $400-500 range.Also gave me two Muncies for $100 each. Nice to have a brother who was a gearhead in the 80's and also a packrat. Also got two NOS (in the old crusty paper wrapper) 70-72 Chevelle wagon rocker moldings for $20 at a body shop going out of business auction.I imagine they are worth some dough since they aren't reproduced like the two door mouldings are.

A year ago last August, I bought a set of used ready to run Dart iron eagle heads from member Mike1978 for $650. They changed my life. Up until the day I first fired the 327 with the new heads, I was perfectly happy with a slow car with bad paint. Today of course, I am considerably poorer, with several unfinished projects from last year, and planning more, much more this winter....

My $400 '68 Camaro I got off E-bay was FULL of parts, 2-BBC bellhousings (one 621 and one later replacement pn# really dirty but no cracks/stripped holes), BBC intake, '69 rear spoiler (good used), 3.73 posi rear 8.5 ten bolt, tilt column, HEI distributor, and about $2.00 in change... of course I also had to throw away about 300# of scrap too. (including a '68 Chevelle 396, rusted solid). Best $400 car ever! :)

I scored a holley 850 D/P with the large 50cc reo pumps (new) for my 68 chevyII B/B I had years back, I paid $70.00CDN about $10.00US in your money!

first good score, found an original 100% complete console with the horseshoe shifter in perfect shape at a swap meet, guy was asking 150$, i paid 135$
second good score, also a swap meet, i bought a big box of astro vent stuff for 20$, everything, valves, balls, bezels, ducts, firewall ducts etc. my car was completely missing everything, i had enough to do the whole system balls, bezels and everything (works and looks awesome btw), and still have enough to do three more cars.
my best score was recently. i had been looking for door panels for my car (standard) for ever, and had not bought any because i hate the repops. i had almost ordered some repops in fact. found 2 perfect door panels, in medium blue (my color) with all trim but the "camaro" emblem, laying against a pile of parts looking dusty as hell but complete, i looked at them to see if the trim was good for parts, plus it had the top rails, and the guy said "i know you gotta have them, what'll you give me for them?" i just laughed and said "yeah". he responded "ill take 5$ for them" i immediately bought them, took them home cleaned them, and just about crapped when i saw how perfect they were. i bought the emblem and put them on, they look incredible, not flawless but 100% better than the repops. still need some original med blue rear panels, anyone have any? :D

A buddy of mine went to a garage sale and on the top shelf in the back was a brand new 67 camaro master cylinder and booster gm labled in the box nerver open.He brougth it told me about it didnot know I had a 67 and sold it to me for 50.00 bucks about 6yrs ago.If he knew now what they go for!!

I found a guy in Santa Rose advertising a restorable 69 RS 6 months ago. I went to look at the car and it was looong gone..real bad. Vinyl top car and the rust in the roof was serious .I opened the hood and it still had the RS 605 wiper motor complete w / headlight sel. I asked him what he wanted for it and he said $100.00 and you take it off..I said OK, I didn't want him breaking anything so that was fine by me.

Bought a CJ-7 (forget what year) for 25.00, and sold it for 550.00 the next day.

Best Camaro part: Used, but in absolutely new condition...Dashpad...80.00 shipped.

75 bucks for an Endura bumper and outer brackets off of Ebay 2 years ago when others were going for $600. Hint search for enduro. Or a convertible A/C air shield (wraps around the cocktail shaker) in mint condition for 10 bucks a year or so earlier. Now all I need is the other one.

20 bucks for a waterpump with the correct casting number and is correctly dated for my car. It even has a nice paint job on it. I picked it up off of ebay a few months ago. Sometimes you get lucky, RonM.

Bought a CJ-7 (forget what year) for 25.00, and sold it for 550.00 the next day.Ok, then I have one too. I bought a 1980 Celica beater to drive for one winter. Paid $450 for it in November, slid it on a guardrail in the snow in January, and sold it for $700 in April.

I finished a motor for a friend of mine from Iowa in May, while I was doing the build he had told me that he had scrapped a 69 Massey Ferguison combine that his dad had bought new, but had pulled the small block out first and it was sitting in the barn on a stand. Fast forward to July and my wife bought a 69 roller so I call my buddy to see if he still has the motor...he says if I want it just come get it just to get it out of the barn. It turns out to be a virgin 69 327 010/020 block with a forged crank that doesn't even need any machine work......lol wish I could stumble on a couple more of these http://www.camaros.net/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif

I bought a 69 SS (not original engine) in pretty rough shape for parts - $500. Of course that was 20 years ago. Still a good deal at the time.

It was sitting at a repair shop next to my favorite mexican restaurant for a few months and I went in and asked about it. They checked with the owner who said that I could have it for $500.

I salvaged engine, tranny, disc brakes, rear end, SS hood, console gauges, instrument cluster, YJ rims, and lots of misc parts. Wish I had kept the whole thing...

Ok, then I have one too. I bought a 1980 Celica beater to drive for one winter. Paid $450 for it in November, slid it on a guardrail in the snow in January, and sold it for $700 in April.

I had to add the Jeep story because I, as a matter of practice, have overpaid for everything I have ever bought. I have gotten maybe one good deal in my lifetime, and the rest of the time (cept' for the dashpad) I have paid full boat. I have never even rerally done that good on Ebay. I have received many items for free, and some from this very board, which I am very grateful for. But, buy (not a typo) and large, I never get a good deal. No matter how good I think I did, the next guy found it cheaper somewhere else, the next day. I do have fun though, so I have that going for me, which is nice. (Carl...Caddyshack)

6 sets of factory 68-69 console gauges 3 for free, 1 for $80 and 2 I have no idea where they came from

1 set of excellent front and rear bumpers $50 from Ebay close to home

1 complete console gauge harness with low fuel indicator $10 at this past Fall Carlisle

BB a/c box for my 69 $100 from a guy in Hemmings

63 Corvette Muncie M20 free from a friend cleaning his garage

1 1970 454 LS-6 block stamped for Chevelle w/auto another freebie from someone cleaning out their garage

there are probably a dozen or more thinkgs that I have gotten, I just can't think off the top of my head. All in all I have done better in the musical instrument department than the automotive department.. :thumbsup:

67 12 bolt for $50.00. the guy even delivered it. He thought it was a 10 bolt when I saw the 2 bottom bolts of the cover parallel with the housing I just smiled and said nothing. A 942 4bolt block and a steel crosdrilled 454 crank that was std for $200.00 from a neighbor. Won't even mention the set of 840 heads and other pieces. I sold the block for a whole bunch more than $200.

I think my best find was that I didnt even have to find it, a local gentleman had found us after knowing our love for camaros he gave us his 67 convertible in hopes that we would one day restore it, havent got around to it yet , I have thought about trading it for a 69 convertible because i already have a 67 convertible but, i dont think that would be very nice. What do you think??

How about a 454 4 bolt short block, 350 long block, Ford 302 with complete rebuild kit, and a Ford straight 6 for FREE!!!!!!!! Got to love Criagslist.

Also got a Camaro 12 bolt posi for $80 about 8 years ago.

K so my car doesn't have anything much yet..... But I did manage to score a working turbo 350 just for the gas money for the guy to pick it up and deliver it to me, and I got a complete 80s 1/2 ton truck 350 engine for $100 :beers:

i was able to find a 366/427 BBC at the junkyard. I was just walking around and she was just laying on the ground. i was surprized that no one else had took it. I went and asked the owner how much and he said it was no count and its just a core motor. i was like that good enough for me. he priced it for $150. i loaded her up right then and there. when i got the big beast home i pured some gas down the throat of the carba and she roared to life. i was surprized that there was no smoke nor knocks. my lucky day. :D

I got a forged crankshaft originally from a 396 for $150 Canadian, I think that was a good deal, I've seen pretty high prices for forged BB cranks. It's still stock size, didn't even need machining. Also a good TH400 for $100, I had it rebuilt anyway, but apparently it was in excellent shape to begin with.

Gotta fully functional-in-good-condition M-21 for free a few months ago. Firebird being converted to automatic, the 4 speed was in his way.

A year ago I pick up a 65 mustang fastback body for $300 with title.
Pat

mine would have to be the '67 ss/rs i bought off a kid on a farm for $800 back in 1980 no motor or trans but the body was straight,the interior was perfect,it had console gauges,darker than average tinted glass,and a 12bolt with 4.10s and posi.
GOD i wish i still had that car!
Eric B

Couple months ago bought a 69 12 bolt for $250 all ready to put in.

I'm crossing my fingers like you wouldn't believe that we're about to get in on a 70 T/A for $1400...

Picked up a set of old Torq Thrusts at a pawn shop for $10 a piece. Of course I had to restore them, they didnt look like this when I got em. No complaining here, though. Just some labor, and vintage wheel resto experience:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Goat/100_1242.jpg

The $40 was the total cost for me. Already had the tires on the Rally IIs that were on the car, and did the mount/balance myself at zero cost also.


dave

I just found a perfect spare 69 Camaro subframe way out in my backyard. Does that count?

I just found a perfect spare 69 Camaro subframe way out in my backyard. Does that count?
LOL.. that counts. You must have quite a backyard. Mind if I go for a walk and look around??? :D

I've had a few over the years. Back in 71 my brother and I bought an orig. crossram intake for 50.00 (and still have it on my 69z) and a couple of years back I bought a real 67 pace car 0-1 4sp. project car with all nos metal and tons of other nos parts . I paid 7500.00 for the car and all the parts. I kept the parts worth around 8K for my 67 L78 car and sold the car for 8500.00

In 1979 I purchased a Dodge 440 magnum with the '67 closed chamber heads, 6 pack cam. edelbrock tarantula intake, holley 750 double pumper, dual point, balanced and blueprinted, ready to install, for $200. It was a real screamer. The guy had pulled it out of his '69 Charger before he sold the car, and stuck the engine in his barn. It had set there for at least a couple years. Partly covered with hay. I put it in a '68 Barracuda and ran it for several years before I sold the car. Great, fun investment.

Think you may be hard pressed to beat this one. Some of the best deals Ive ever got.

1. Two years ago. Complete BRAND NEW wayne due subframe with all the suspension parts, coil overs, swaybar, powdercoated ETC... and dana 44 corvette rear with conversion parts for a 69 camaro 2200 shipped to my door!!

2. About the same time ago 2 m-22 rock crushers in perfect condition complete with all the linkages and shifter for $950 total.

3. The best one of all... A 100% original 1967 z-28 cowl air plenum COMPLETE and still in the sealed ragged GM box!!!! I was in Canada looking at a car. Car ended up not being what I thought so I passed on it. He was desperate to sell something and offered some parts he had. Most of it was junk until I came across this!!! When I asked him what it was he said it was a cowl induction air cleaner setup. I offered him 300 bucks for that and all the other stuff. When I got home and was sorting through it, I almost fell off my chair when I saw it was a COWL AIR PLENUM!!!used on the z-28's To make it even better when I looked up the numbers it verified that it was for a 1967 which I guess is SUPER RARE!! Sold that sucker for $4500

Well, for me it isn't a part, but rather a tool...

I helped answer a few email questions from a member on this site and a few months later I got an email from him out of the blue offering to give me his old Tilt Lift (it is a ramp life system for cars). He said he was going with a four post lift and wanted to see the Tilt Lift go to a good home.

When the time comes for me to upgrade, I'll pass along the deal.

Team Camaro folks are the best!

69 NOS right side fender. $80.00 two years ago. It was hit in the front, but nothing major to fix. About 10 min with the hammer and dolly and it was as good as new. Funny thing is, I was looking for seats at the time at a swap meet and stumbled on this. Not a single spot of rust, and still has the RS tab.

Three things: One was a 1969 muncie 4 speed in a 5 gal. bucket $35.00 all the parts were there and it was a CE coded trany. (2) 1969 396 complete with holly 650 and holly dominator intake, JQ code for $300. The other one was a 1969 RS complete for $1500. LM1 with a turbo 350, just put battery in, gas in carb, and it fired right up.

How about three complete 69 Z28 chambered exhaust systems [no hangers] at a Chevy Dealer that had closed down. I believe they were about $75 total for all three!

Alot of strange stories. I have picked up many parts searching Ebay with Camero, and even bought a pair of NOS rear wheelhouses searching for "wheelhose" for $35. hehe.

GM 69 convertible full quarter panels for $177 each, back when you could still get them from Chevy. Granted, it was a while ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/qp.jpg

I bought a rental property on 2.5 acres wooded. The lady said she was not going to move those old cars off the property. i did not know what she was talking about.........The price on the real estate was low enough that I did not care. Went back there to see what cars were there........3 57 chevys, 2 coupes and one 4 door.

Check my sig. I paid $500.00 for my 67. It's in paint prison now though. Next best deal is Cam, lifters, pushrods,rockers, RPM Vortec intake, New Vortec Heads with all gaskets to install the top end and valve covers for $990.00 shipped to my front door. After that I just picked up a 8.2 3:08 geared rear end froma 68 for almost free and I think about 3 cars worth of 1st gen front and rear window trim. I hope to be picking up and 8.5 rear end out of a 75 nova and turbo 350 trans in a few weeks for on a trade for powerglide I have.

Joe

i got myself an original AM radio (that works) for $20