Who are the vendors now?

Back when I was real active I remember Mid-America Corvette, Ecklers, and one other vendor who used to send me mail order catalogs.

I assume it's all online now.... anyone got a list of the vendors that sell the good stuff cheap :) ??

-W (needs a lot of interior stuff, and chassis bushings etc etc)

So you're telling me it's still the same 2 vendors?

-W

I like

in Morganton, North Carolina, small outfit with good prices and service. Also have used nothing special, but close enough I've gone there to get an item I needed. Haven't used Heckler's or MAD since I found Rik's, just plane better service. Dad

Life is a sexually transmitted condition that is always fatal.

When you're looking for replacement rather than restoration parts Google and eBay are your friends. DAGS.

I've had excellent luck from little guys making a buck selling salvaged parts. (stuff like window regs or a handful of specialized fastners that Chevy, Ecklers and Mid-Am want $$ for), etc.

I've only been stung once and it was by a 'Stang specialist who was parting out a wrecked C5.

If you don't see it on eBay, search for a similar item and pick up some names and addresses of possible sources. Texas seems to have a good number of Corvette salvage guys.

-- pj

Yes, I still get their catalogs

By MAD you mean Mid America? Is what they are now calling Mid-America Motors used to be Mid America Corvette ??

-W

OK.

I just ordered a free catalog from.. Ecklers Mid-America Corvette Central Riks

Have I covered all the bases??

-W

Was Mid American Design. and is now Mid American Motorworks. Don't over look Zip.

What's a Zip? :)

-W

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Speaking of Ebay. What year seats bolt into a 1968 cockpit? I remember that somewhere along the line they redesigned the cockpit for more legroom and that anything made before that year works.

Also, am I correct in remembering that a 1969 steering wheel is identical to the 1968 but a smaller diamater?

Lastly, whats the best source for the 1968 small instument bezel? It's a one off because of the pebble grain - and I like the pebble grain. (figures).

-W

Only 68 and later seats will bolt in, all the way to 82.

The 69 steering wheel is different than a 68 in its depth, I don?t think the diameter is different. The column in a 68 is shorter and the wheel has more depth to make up the difference. If you install a 69 wheel which will bolt onto a 68 column, the steering wheel will be further away.

We sell the bezel you are looking for. But a 68 was not pebble grain, it was the only year they were smooth and not pebble grain (until the plastic bezels)

You can request a catalog on our website and we guarantee better customer service and quality of parts that anyone else listed above. Read our about us section on our website for more information about what we stand for.

And remember: Corvettes Are All We Do!

I could have wrorn there was a major cockpit change in the C3 in '77 or '78 that allowed for a slightly "bigger" seat - no??

OK thanks... I'll measure the diameter on mine after 6/13 and get back to this part.

OK on the bezel. I'll have to look at mine again. I have a very late '68 that came from the factory with some '69isms - like the dash wire harness for one.

I already did - thanks!!!

-W

Always good to see that the vendors are watching.

Just because I sometimes get out of touch by past bad experiences I decided to recheck my reasons for shopping with Rik's Corvettes.

I have an intermitted electrical problem with my '64 and decided to get a spare part for the road in case of a complete failure. Checked Rik's price first, then ZIP + 13%, then Mid American Motorworks + 39% but then thought I'd try my old standby, Rock Auto. In this case it is a common parts maker and it was half the price of Rik's (AC Delco). In other words the basic part from Rock Auto is 30% of the cost of Mid American Motorworks part.

Here's the catch with Rock Auto, the shipping is set by where it is shipped from and they have no warehouse and ship from suppliers. If you order 3 parts and they all come from the same place the shipping is bearably close to other vendors. If they would all come from a different vendor the shipping is most likely more than the cost most small parts.

After all that I would still consider ZIP but Mid American Motorworks, not so much. Like GM they've out grown their usefulness with bad pricing.

Here is a couple more that I've used.