Ok, I have a pretty fair knowledge of the reproduction market but haven't shopped for a while and want to make the best choices for some wear items and now it's time to order them. Please post your suggestions for the Best-Most Accurate sources you know of, price is NOT a factor, OEM accuracey and quality are my only concerns.

Car is a Los Angeles built CA car, 340 3 speed 1971 Duster


Gas tank
Sending Unit
Gas tank straps & hardware
Front suspension kit
Shocks
Brake Lines
Fuel Lines
Rubber seals, gaskets, etc.
Flexible brake lines
Leaf Spring rebuild kits (I hear there is a new source with REAL zinc interliners, not just plated steel?)
Body Side Stripes & Transverse Stripes (I have NOS but may not install them)
Bumper bolts
Trunk matt
U-Joints
Battery
Engine bay hoses
Rallye wheel center caps (4.0 SBP)
Trunk spare tire cardboard cover
Door glass mechanism hardware and bushings
Body plug kit
Seat belt restoration (I have nice originals but not quite nice enough)
Exhaust system (will use ECS when they come to market but may also buy a non OE appearing setup with electric dumps for fun)


* I plan on using Dante for door panels and seat covers
* I plan on using DMT for seals throughout
* I plan on using ECS for glass & misc stickers and decals
* I plan on using Resto Rick for undercoating

Hi Scott,

I went with Accurate Exhaust for my 72 Runner's system. The original headpipes were stll there for the first 12 inches or so and then a replacement system was welded on from that point on. The original headpipe part looked the same as Accurate's. I found a set of NOS tailpipes a few months after and they looked the same as the ones from Accurate.

I realize we're comparing apples to oranges but I would expect their quality to be comparable for A-body systems.

Take care,

Mike.

Gas tank - Look for a Spectra Vender and get your best deal. Last one I bought came from Frank M (about $200 for tank and straps )

Sending Unit - Look for NOS

Gas tank straps & hardware - above

Front suspension kit - moog parts

Shocks - Monroe gas - painted black to replicate OE

Brake Lines - Fine Lines

Fuel Lines - Fine Lines

Rubber seals, gaskets, etc. - Metro Supersoft

Flexible brake lines - Fine lines

Leaf Spring rebuild kits (I hear there is a new source with REAL zinc interliners, not just plated steel?) Can't answer this one

Body Side Stripes & Transverse Stripes (I have NOS but may not install them) ?

Bumper bolts - call me

Trunk matt - REM products - Pick your vender

U-Joints - the only correct ones is NOS

Battery- Reproduction battery in Cincinnatti Oh

Engine bay hoses - you already know the only source

Rallye wheel center caps (4.0 SBP) ? redone originals ?

Trunk spare tire cardboard cover - REM

Door glass mechanism hardware and bushings - afaik, not avail

Body plug kit - you already know the only source

Seat belt restoration (I have nice originals but not quite nice enough) ???

Exhaust system (will use ECS when they come to market but may also buy a non OE appearing setup with electric dumps for fun)
I'm using Dons Exhaust , but I don't know if he does A-body pipes

Gas tank , WARNING ... WARNING ... Scott , the repop gas tanks don't look correct , we know how ... uuummm ... picky ... ya , that's it ... you are about correctness , the bottom of the tank is made to fit both the 67 mounting configuration and the 68 up so it has a channel for the 67 strap running side to side .

Start looking for an NOS tank ...

GTX6970, thanks for the nice reply. Please humor me on the sources "I already know", as far as the NOS stripes not being used, I may reserve them for another #s matching car I have my eye on. Seat belts and center caps, I need better examples, too many flaws to use with a clean up.

John, thanks for the tank heads up, I haven't looked at one yet. I have been searching for NOS (anything and everything) for the car for many years now, to date I haven't found one or I'd own it.

Sending unit: If 3/8", buy from Dixie - they stock this size. Dixie had one 5/16" re-built original unit for sale at Carlisle in July. Dixie doesn't stock 5/16" for some reason.

Front suspension kit: Moog, but don't assume your old parts are bad until you read the factory service manual and measure the slop on a work bench, unless you just want the insurance of everything new. I'd buy only what's actually worn out, like boots, not a whole kit. For an A body with 160,000 miles on it, I bought a whole front end kit, and then discovered few of the parts were worn out.

Leaf spring rebuild kits: Buy the YearOne kit to get the straps and plastic interliners when it is on sale for 30% off, throw away the galvanized steel sheets, and send me an oder for the real zinc interleaves. I'll post an ad on Moparts tonight.

Seat belts: Ssnake-Oyl is tops.

original bumper bolts were stainless capped and are easily polished/restored.
can't get any more correct than that.

Many of my bumper bolts are dented up pretty good, and some bolts are pretty rusty as well

*Kent, yes I'll take a set of your zinc units...You'd really reccomend Year One? Seems like they sell what everyone else sells beings they don't make anything, just resell it. 30% off or not, I've seen some pretty good deals on ebay, same stuff?

I've bought bits and pieces from YearOne, but only with 30% off codes that you get about every national holiday or so, if you register with them online. I've been satisfied, or if not, they have a good return policy. I'll buy again from them at 30% off, and they have a really nice catalog that's a help for restorers as a base line for comparing to others. I'm much happier with YearOne than with ebay sellers.

I bought YearOne's rear spring kit, and it's a good buy at 30% off, even not counting their galvanized steel sheet interleaves. The only problem is, if your springs have an extra leaf, one pair of clamps will fit, but the other pair is too small. Not sure if ebay stuff is the same. There is a Moparts member, sunroofcuda, who said he supplies parts for this kit - see:

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post7028398

You can get the correct bumper bolts from AuVeCo or Dorman. No, YO doesn't make anything, they sell what others make; sometimes it appears they have an exclusive deal, other times not. Restorations Specialties is a good source for rubber & fasteners. I'd also check with Dante's, he'll answer the phone or return your call & work with you.

Just ordered all my needed interior stuff from Dante

Also mailed of payment for the zinc interleaves

Scott cool thread

Quote:

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Front suspension kit: Moog, but don't assume your old parts are bad until you read the factory service manual and measure the slop on a work bench, unless you just want the insurance of everything new. I'd buy only what's actually worn out, like boots, not a whole kit. For an A body with 160,000 miles on it, I bought a whole front end kit, and then discovered few of the parts were worn out.

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kentj340, do you have a good source for factory replacement suspension boots? Thanks

"You already know" doesnt help any that isnt Scott and it doesnt seem he knows who your talking about either.

Ive been looking for all the parts to rebuild my window tracks with no luck. Ive had no luck getting through to R/T Spec.

Well so far I've come up with a short list of "Uh oh, I'm hosed" parts.

Can't find an NOS or mint used 70 and later gas tank, as mentioned reproductions are all wrong (and people on Moparts wonder why I rag on reproduction companies for getting the details right!)

Also can't find internal door hardware/wear items, bushings, etc. My doors are completely gutted so everything will be like new (replated mechanisms, etc.). Old bushings are junk...now what do I do?

My suspension parts have already been replaced once, all junk with ill fitting boots. What's the best soloution that looks the most correct and have boots that actually stay in place?

*Add to my list: Best reproduction window sweeps/cat wiskers.

I believe that Roger Gibson/Frank Badalson either have a supply of the original suspension boots and/or offer authentic reproductions.

For the window stuff, if R/T Specialties doesn't carry them or he isn't available - try Partsvoice for a national search.

Alternatively perhaps some of the members from the rust belt could help you out with some good used ones. While our climate sucks for sheetmetal, things like the rubber & plastic bushings tend to have a greater survival rate.

Also contact Nigel (Furyman) at National Moparts www.nationalmoparts.com as he may be able to help with some of the items or point you in the right direction

TopCat for window sweeps/catwhiskers

And lastly, on the fuel tank - there's got to be some '70-up A-body sitting in a west coast desert with a nice, dry, fuel tank that can be spruced up (wool buffing pad at low speed).

I hope that this helps

Hey Scott, do you have your chrome plated Duster emblems for inside the doors? You know, the ones where the chrome wore off the after the 1st year?

I have NOS replacements and nice originals, why do you ask?