I need some basic parts for my '56 Buick (springs, shocks, plugs, wires, dist cap/rotors... stuff like that). I don't want to order online and pay expensive shipping + customs taxes. Where do all you Canadians order your basic parts? Canadian tire is having trouble searching for part numbers in a car this old. Any help?
#1 Stay away from Canadian Tire parts counter #2 Order parts when the loonie is high! Really now,find a old dude at a napa or a old mecanic and they may be more helpful.
Head out to some carshows and cruise nights and start chatting with some Buick owners You'll find most car owners will bend over backwards to help you out I'll check thru my favorites and see if I have anything Doubtful as I'm into tri-five Chevy's You could also Google Buick car clubs and see what comes up Ontario55
Find a local or semi-local Canadian shop that can order parts in for you. I found an air cleaner on Speedway, but with shipping, duty, etc. I balked at the price. I went to a local hot rod shop and they had 5 of them for $15 less than the Speedway price. So that was a bonus - no exchange, no duty, no shipping and a cheaper sticker price! Sometimes you luck out that way, or they can order somethingin with a larger order and get a discount. Some are more compe***ive, some aren't. You have to shop around and look at the value of the Canadian dollar a bit. Here out West, Hot Rod corner were great for me to get in some Mooneyes parts: https://hotrodcorner.com/ and I've heard nothing but good things about the Old Car Center http://www.oldcarcentre.com/ . Some things you just have to bite the bullet on though and get from a specialty shop in the US. I have a Kanter catalog, and California Pontiac Restoration catalog for some specialty Pontiac parts. I'm sure there is a Buick equivalent to CPR. Hope that helps
Horton Hot Rods in Milton should be able to order you replacement parts for that car, as well as speed parts. My brother is one of the guys on the counter there. http://www.horton.on.ca/ cheers Ed N.
Hey Fast Ed I ***ume you've dealt with Hortons if your brother works there I have to tell you and everybody what I think of Hortons Hot Rods They are the most accomodating , friendly , helpful , knowledgable place to deal with And with them there is no such thing as a stupid question And they'll take the time to explain anything to you They are so helpful and we in Ontario Canada are very fortunate to have them Ontario55
head north to Barrie a company called Midhurst Cl***ic Auto Parts has tons of stuff and can find just about anything. Everything is NOS and in good condition and fair prices.
Call the Napa on Birchmount. The guys there are leftover from when it was a mom and pop store called Birchmont Auto. I have yet to stump them.
If you have to order from the states, try to find a friend on the U.S. side of the border and have the parts shipped there. I live right across from Sarnia Ont. on the U.S. side and I have a lot of car friends in London/St. Thomas on the Canadian side. they have their stuff shipped to me and make a trip over to pick up the parts. I don't know what they have to pay at the border but they say it's way cheaper than having it shipped to Canada from the U.S. I have some cool stuff show up on my porch, then i check my e Mail and discover that the parts fairy isn't real, it's for somebody in Canada! If you ever want anything shipped to a U.S address, you can always have it shipped to me. Just let me know what's coming and when, so i don't bolt on my own ride!!!
If you order small parts from the US see if they can ship the USPS, usually there is no customs fees, just make sure they don't ship the UPS. I found that Napa can still get a lot of older tuneup stuff
yep, find a napa or carquest store or any long established jobber should get you what you need. stay the hell away from the clowns at CTC.
========================================================= I live near St thomas,and I have my parts sent to a guy in Warren Michigan..It works for me !! As for parts for that old Buick..isn't the Spring Barrie Flea Market on this weekend?? Midhurst cl***ic parts will likely be there.. 1939fiat
You would only pay duty, not the brokerage fee a shipper would charge, but that could end in tears if you get the wrong border agent.
... and so the HAMB pulls through once again. I've got about 8 places to check out tomorrow. Thanks guys.
Damn memory. I think it is called CBI parcel on Cudaback ave. in Niagara Falls NY. A couple of minutes over the border and you can pick stuff up from them. It cost $5 to have a item recieved by them. Good luck. Peter
the parts you named are available at almost any real auto-parts store not CTC it depends on the clerk he might have to use the phone and call suppliers.
A lot of the basic parts Napa has been good for my Buick, although it's a 1970 model I understand that they are able to go much further back for the older models.
hey, pick up an issue of old autos. there are pages and pages of vendors/car clubs in that paper. kinda hard to find on newsstands but if you p.m. me i will try to hook you up, i am in toronto wed-sat at markham and 401 and if you want to meet up i will be glad to p*** them {my old ones} on to you. barrie is on june 5-8 this week-end, check that out and bring some comfortable shoes. you will be walking alot lol. folks that have been know what i mean. dermott.
I actually just subscribed to oldautos this morning. Thanks for the tips, I'm waiting for calls back from the above mentioned places.
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