price of NOS parts

[CHROMAHOLIC]

I will not buy anything after market....I do agree some of the prices for NOS are crazy. But aftermarket is junk, nothing ever fits right....if it's body parts you are buying...spend it on the NOS because the time you have in making the after market junk fit...you might as well of bought NOS

[moregrip]

I hear alot of good things about TriPlus body panels. Anyone have experience with them?

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by CHROMAHOLIC

I will not buy anything after market....I do agree some of the prices for NOS are crazy. But aftermarket is junk, nothing ever fits right....if it's body parts you are buying...spend it on the NOS because the time you have in making the after market junk fit...you might as well of bought NOS

I agree with that, restoration and paint is what I do for a living and I definately see a difference in fitment and appearance.
What I'm saying is that I'm not going to do it with a pickup truck for those kinds of prices anymore.

The last time I restored a 77 pickup, all the GM body panels were still available straight through GM (about 10 years ago?? Been a while) AND they were CHEAP. Entire GM longbed bedsides just over $500, GM front fenders $150, GM hood $200 etc. etc...
So if anything had rust in it (which was most every panel) it was actually cheaper to buy a new GM piece rather than fix what was there. All in all with labor and new GM sheetmetal I had about $5k in it. Not that bad. But at that time the truck wasn't worth much more than that anyway, and they still aren't. So I can't justify doing another one now. The GM parts aren't available anymore, so it's all NOS and prices are ridiculous for a truck that in the end isn't worth the money it would take to do it all.
Different story though if we talk about a desirable muscle car.

Just my take on it.

[88Jimmy4x4]

whats strange to me is the prices have tripled in the last 6 months or so. For instance, about a year ago I bought a NOS cargo light kit for $80, that same kit on ebay now is selling for $350 - $500.....you would have to really have a show truck to pay $500 for a cargo light or $1500 for a set of bed rails.

Body panels I can see the $$

[Firebirdjones]

Yeah, and I don't know why. The trucks themselves are still easy to find in nice unrestored condition for cheap.

Bought my current 79 1-ton several years back, low miles, original paint and all, and still a very clean looking old big block truck. Didn't pay much more for it than some of the NOS parts are going for

I still see nice original trucks out there for a little more than I paid, but they are out there. Much better bargain than buying a basket case and trying to restore it judging by some of the prices for NOS parts

But hey, I'm not complaining. If someone wants to pay a ridiculous price for my truck I'd sell it. Everything is forsale for a price

[dieseldawg142]

get a Custom Deluxe/Sierra & you wont have to spend silly amounts on cab trim, save it for nos sheetmetal