Source for quality parts.

Tatanka

Tatanka

Junior Member
Being new here, I don't want to step on any toes. And, being a Honda Goldwing mechanic by trade, I admit that I'm somewhat spoiled regarding parts quality, in terms of materials and fit & finish. That said: Where can I buy high quality parts for my friend's '31 Model A?

He uses a parts house here in the Twin Cities, whose name I won't mention, but the parts are of distinctly low quality. Today I pulled the carb, grabbed the parts that he picked up, found the carb gaskets and just shook my head. They were glorified paper! I'd asked him for cork impregnated neoprene or similar (Willy carb). Wound up just re-using the carb-to-intake gasket, as the old one was better than the "New" one. And it's not like they're giving away the stuff, either. If I'm going to continue to work on "Lizzie" I need a reliable, quality parts source.

Thanks, Kevin

P.S. Took Lizzie for a 10 mile ride today and she's running nicely.
 

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most of the suppliers give you a choice on some items such as gaskets. your friend should have bought the copper carb base gasket and the same would go for the manifolds to block, water necks.
 
Well, I even gave him a note stating what I wanted! Either the supplier didn't have anything else or didn't understand what I was getting at. I even flattened the mating surfaces with a mill file and the new gasket leaked immediately, so I swapped it out with the old one and that didn't leak at all. I'm sure some Permatex could have sealed it, but I've read here that it shouldn't be necessary to use a gasket sealer if it's a good gasket to begin with.

And, of course, nothing has a manufacturer's mark on it, so I reckon they're bought in bulk from China and re-bagged locally, then marked up 800-1,000%. I don't mind folks making money at all, but these are the same folks who sold Bob a new high-tension wire to the coil that had a big blob of solder sticking out of one end and I had to fix a new part. Frustrating....
 
Would you be so kind as to recommend the top 3-4 vendors for stuff like gaskets, hardware, electrical components, etc.? Appreciate any help as this is all new to me. All I know at this time is who ISN'T working as a parts supplier.
 
Theres some variety especially for gaskets (before you redo the water neck gasket PLEASE read up on here how to do it properly - very prone to cracking the ears off the neck...).

BUT yes alot of the ford gaskets are paper or cork or rope soaked in stuff or leather, etc. They didn't have many exotic materials to play with then. (Think before the time of plastic - Bakelite is closest thing to it)

Parts themselves for the most part (hehe) are of decent quality. Nothing will beat an original in terms of fit and finish but some parts just dont exist so repops are the way to go.

Generally things fit pretty good. Occasional part may need a burr filed off or might fit snug but it will work and it sure beats nothing or spending weeks on end trying to find a better one.

Some suppliers offer an economy version and a made in USA part or top quality part. Usually twice the price but generally twice as nice so its generally better to splurge and go for the better one. AS far as a supplier there is a massive list at the top of this forum for suppliers.

If your looking for original parts Berts in Denver, CO probably has the best selection and very knowledgeable.

Most of the repop parts are made by one or two suppliers for all the parts houses so it really doesnt matter who you buy it from as it really came from one of two companies. Some parts houses do make or have made parts for the best quality product as there may be no good/useable reproduction available. That all depends on what your looking for as to who to go to.

EDIT: youve been talkin while i wrote my book:

Better parts suppliers in no particular order is Berts, Snyders, Brattons, Macs (some varyign opinions on that one)
 
snyders, brattons, berts, tams, mikes,
they all have online cats or check above on the sticky has them all listed
 
It all depends on the part you need.

The venders sell across their lines.

For example, Bratton's has a bunch of the brake parts made up to spec and they work. Synders sells Bratton's parts. I believe if you order rear motor mount rubber from Synders you get the Bratton's labeled part.

Synders makes up the seat springs and Bratton's sells them. Sorry, no more examples for Synders just because I do not remember what else they make. They are a good company.

Both sell the A&L parts.

If the label says Vintique all bets are off.
Wood is only made by a few venders so all places sell the same stuff.

Then some parts just can not be made properly and at a cost you could afford.

Some parts I do not even know why they bother to repro cause you can find good used no problem.
 
I have had excelent service with questions and good original products from Berts, I called Snyders about usage of AA pinion bearings and got an answer right there on the spot, no waiting around for an answer.
 
Snyders, Bratton's, Bert's, A&L is the way to go. If there are 2 offerings get the more expensive USA made one, it will be worth it
 
Thanks for the input, Gentlemen! "Fit" is one thing; "Crap" is another. As the old saying goes: "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear...."
 
Can't speak to Bratton's, although I have heard great things about them. Snyders is fantastic. When I order from somewhere else, I almost always regret it.
 
Be sure to ask for the best from the vendor. There are those that buy on price alone so they have those parts as well as ones that will work well and those that are extremely close to what Ford used originally.
 
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