source for muscle car bodys

grumpyvette

grumpyvette

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now if youve ever looked into finding a project muscle car , because you want to own a really clean muscle car project and youve found most of the cars you can find are either rusted 1/2 way past useless or way over priced, and you want something in decent condition, you will quickly find original body's, in anything like decent condition, cost far more than the original cars cost brand NEW.
If you do find a decent car its likely to need extensive restoration or cost you a great deal more than you might expect it too.
and if you want something thats rather rare, you will have a great deal of trouble finding decent replacement parts, something like an American motors AMX or even an older Buick can be a challenge to find parts.
the early camaros, mustangs, GTO, chevelles, some mopar products, and of course most corvettes all have a good support base

1969-camaro-coupe-collage.jpg

http://www.classicindustries.com/produc ... 96963.html

1969repbo.png

1967_replacement+shell.jpg

http://www.corbettsauto.com/1969_camaro ... _parts.htm

http://www.dynacornbodies.com/body-shells/camaro.php

http://www.copart.com/

http://www.opticarmorwindows.com/

https://www.autometaldirect.com/new-product-alerts

http://www.racingjunk.com/category

http://www.c2cfabrication.com/wp-conten ... syear=1967

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/ ... ewall.html

http://www.restorationperformance.com/s ... ent/Detail

http://bangshift.com/blog/Classic-Indus ... anels.html

http://mikescustomcars.com/69bodies.htm

http://www.classicindustries.com/camaro ... 44720.html

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-state-muscle-or-project-car.4318/#post-32725

http://ghostworks.yearone.com/1969-mail-order-camaro/

http://ghostworks.yearone.com/1970-Challenger/

http://restorationpartssource.com/store ... _Parts.htm
 
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now just as a bit of a home work project lets say I at random select a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville to build ,just as an execise
(purposely selected because its NOT super popular)
Id like to get you gentlemen's help here!

pontiac63bonneville6.jpg

and lets say I needed all the glass, a hood, front fenders trunk and a trunk floor and floor pans, can anyone tell me where to find those components?

Ive worked on hundreds of body repairs and minor body mods on standard cars like chevelles and camaros , GTO, lemans, and road runner's cudas etc.
rust damage is a huge P.I.T.A.

a plazma cutter and a mig or tig welder and a donor car or at least the matching panels would be a huge help.

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...don-t-you-own-a-spot-welder.11875/#post-70397

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-don-t-freak-out-mid-process.9302/#post-33608

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/welding-auto-sheet-metal.4604/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/access-to-weld-car-body.12826/#post-66325

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/lower-cost-plazma-cutters.12739/#post-65576

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ol-for-auto-body-panel-work.12571/#post-64082

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/welding-in-new-floor-pan.10735/#post-46871

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...o-buy-a-mig-for-sheet-metal.10601/#post-45510

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/welding-sheet-metal-repairs.4232/#post-11182


one of the few advantages working on corvettes have
is theres no potential for rust on body panels
either smc or fiberglass may have several other problems,
but rust fortunately is not the major issue.

The Corvette began production in 1953. The body panels are made from fiberglass and resin using two basic methods and continuously improved over the years. These methods are referred to as "press molded panels" and "sheet molded composites" or SMC.



Press Molded Panels
Press molded panels were produced from 1953 through the 1972 model year. The fiberglass and resin were hand laid or sometimes sprayed into molds. These molds were then heated and placed under very high pressure. This process resulted in panels having a uniform thickness and finish.

SMC
SMC panels were produced from 1973 to the C6 model. SMC panels were created from heated high pressure molds that compress a mixture of fiberglass, resin and catalyst. This new process created panels that were much smoother than press molded panels, provide tighter tolerances and a superior finish.


Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber was used on some C6 ZR1 panels. The hood, front spoiler and roof panels were all made using carbon fiber composites. Carbon fiber panels were significantly stronger and lighter than SMC or press molded fiberglass panels. Carbon fiber had a greater tensile and compressive strength than fiberglass at a lower density resulting in stronger panels at lower weights.

176.jpg

YEAH! OPGI has a few parts but what other options do you have?
Id like to have a long list of potential body and interior supply options in this thread listed as a reference point

http://www.opgi.com/bonneville/1964/she ... dy-panels/

http://www.getusedparts.com/
 
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For a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, only Trunk Pans, and floor pan sections are reproduced.
AMES Performance comes to mind.
1963 Bonneville similar to my 1963 Pontiac Grand Prrix but Bonny built on a longer wheelbase chassis frame.
Front fenders, hood, glass must be sourced out used originals or GM NOS.
Car Clubs, Pontiac Friends, Ebay for used original parts.
Sometimes a friends local old car junkyard.
Hood, front fenders, windshield the same on all 1963 Pontiac Fullsize cars.
Back rear window glass special for 63 GP. Used on 63-64?Olds Starfire also.
I had to install used original replacement backglass on my 63 GP last fall.
Took out of a 1964 Olds Starfire myself.
Installed into my 63 GP with wife helping.
Impossible glass to find. Took 1 year to find it.
 
Important Advice Grumpy,
On fleabay with super rare unobtainable Pontiac parts, always email through fleabay , ask the seller a question.
Get thier phone number. If they give it call them.
Discuss potential purchase.
Sometimes they will shut down auction early.
If no answer don't bid .
Ultra rare like a Pontiac Ram Air 5 engine, everone Pontiac wants.
Case like that. Stay quiet. Need $50-65k to buy it.
Just win the auction.
Pontiac guys with ultra rare get offended easy.
You can tell them off through ebay.
I have done it a few times.
Nothing happened. :mrgreen:
 
I found a New source for hard to find original Pontiac Parts Grumpy.
Not Fleabay.
Bought an original used Fan shroud for the 70 TA.
I put a crack in mine.
All repros wrong for my car , made in china, and made from cheap plastic.
Price was right & in excellent condition.
Correct parts for that car are super hard to find today.
Let you know how the Service was when it gets here.
Time to drive her & drag race once again
 
any time anyone finds a good source for muscle car parts Id appreciate if they post a link and any info, as it helps all of us!
 
I can't call it a good source just yet Grumpy.
Haven't recieved the Special Fan Shroud just yet for the 70 TA.
It must arrive safe & undamaged.
Let you know.
Its been shipped.
Be here soon.

Sure are a lot of crap repro parts out there.
About 40-50% parts on 1970-1/2 TA's unique.
Long time owner so I can spot differences easy.
 
Frank's Pontiac Auto Dismantling in 29 Palms, CA.
1970-1/2 TA Fan shroud arrived safe.
Free Girly Calender given too.
I can recommend. Put up pics later & link.
 
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index...teel-reproduction-chevy-ii-bodies/?refer=news


https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index...s-get-a-boost-in-latest-highway-funding-bill/

btw having built and installed several sbc engines, in the 1966 chevyII cars I can tell you they look great if properly set up but the shock towers make the internal engine bay clearance very cramped, compared to some other options
DSCF0642.jpg

and the cross member and steering linkage force you to use a expensive and complicated oil pan,,,,
( this was one of the very first custom oil pans I ever welded up) ,

because , if I'm given the option of SBC vs BBC
I,m basically a BIG BLOCK CHEVY ENGINE , and 392 & 426 HEMI type ,of guy,
I vastly prefer the 1969 camaro , or the 1964-1970 GTO, 1965-71 CHEVELLE as a muscle car platform in a chevy, rather than the chevy II
or the 1968-1970 road runner bodys in a mopar



http://www.classicindustries.com/shop/1966/nova/parts/engine/oil-system-parts/oil-pans/?p=1&sb=2
ChevyII_07_1000-970x548.jpg

ChevyII_06_1000-970x729.jpg


the cars do look good once set up, I built a 406 SBC with a tunnel ram, dual quad solid lifter cam engine (that looked similar to this picture I found) and we mated it to a highly modified, and strengthened th 400 transmission, with a 3700 rpm stall converter and a 4.56:1 rear gear way back in the mid 1970's and went very low 11 second runs in the 1/4 mile when that was not that common, or easily done, in a street driven car
e8fc28c0fef6ed4f2874e0f8cb35c061_zpsqlavryu5.jpg

1966-chevy-ii-nova-ss-super-sport-pro-street-pro-tour-3.jpg


7a75fe4ff6fc85aadf60ec48db7194a1.jpg


1966-chevy-ii.jpg
 
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I miss my 67 Nova SS. Sold it along with other cars to thin the herd before moving south. Back half pro street car with 327 on a trans brake. Ran 7.7's in the 1/8th with 1.7 60' . Crankcase evac headers, velocity stack, and other nostalgic go fast stuff on there including an 80's front suspension upgrade. Made regular driving better but nothing like the modern coilover conversions from DSE etc. Yup, beat that blue one every pass that day at a track rental day.



 
I always liked the way those 66 -67 novas looked,
but I found the 68-70 was much easier to install a BBC engine into,
due to the vastly improved, later front suspension design,
and removal of the restrictive shock tower design that the earlier cars had
 
Ya the 68 and later ones are far better vehicles overall but I like the boxy look of the 66-67. I had a 66 I bought in 74 as my first winter beater so I could take my 68 Camaro off the road during winter up north. Bought that 66 for $100.00, drove it winters, rain days, keg parties, concerts, and other places where there were risks I'd rather avoid taking the Camaro to. Five or six years later I sold it for $150.00 ! AHAHAHA

 
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