I am wanting to build another project, I like the process of building one. I have this 70 Sattelite in mind that would make a nice resto mod car.
What I'm afraid of is the availability of parts. For instance I went on AMD and all the body parts for this car is back ordered, I'm afraid it could be a long time if ever.
For those who are in the process of how are you finding the wait times. I hear Legendary Interiors is almost a year wait and you must pay now.
Wanting your comments or experience. Like I said I am not sure too many people are starting a new project nowadays, which makes me wonder if these companies will ever get a new batch of parts.

Even if you do not need a part right now- you MUST purchase it if they have it because the reality is - once that item is sold there will be no restocking. Adds pressure to your build.

Since many Satellite parts are the same as a Road Runner would definitely be a plus on the aftermarket stuff. As mentioned above, the time to buy parts is when you see them.

I bought my Sport Satellite and then collected the parts, for next 10 years, before starting the restoration (this was 2002??) . . . was amazed back then, coming from C body world, that you could get anything for a B body !!! . . . not sure what things are like now, as others have said, if you can find parts you would need, get them while you can.

Don't forget, 1970 was 53 years ago !! . . . how many cars are left out there to be restored ?? Or, what about - heaven forbid, restored car gets hit ?? Are there parts to repair it ?? Or is it just going to be written off due to lack of parts . . . so perhaps even "stocking up" on things like fenders, doors, etc, "just in case"???

Interesting to hear what everyone is looking at . . .

Mark

Make a physical backorder personally, on AMDs website direct from them, and when the part is available you'll get it and will eat the expensive shipping too.

If you don't do that, then you can:

1. Backorder through a dealer, who may or may not enter your order when you give it to them

2. Wait until someone has it in stock and buy at that time

I chose the first option back in '20, I ordered the parts months before I actually was ready for them, I paid way too much for shipping but I got my parts and it worked out well.
First order was one quarter and the dutchman, second order was the other quarter and the roof skin. The wheelhouses, trunk floor and extensions were mixed in there.

Certain other things like the door skins were different. I found a blem on Jeg's site for a good price that needed 5 minutes with a hammer and dolly to make it perfect again, and found the other side
locally at Roseville Moparts, and it was on sale too.

Good rule of thumb is the right quarter panel always sells more than the left. Very common to find left ones in stock and right ones a couple months away.

I've stopped building project cars because the cost is super high, parts are hard to find and most important, a LOT of reproduction parts are useless garbage.

I just got sick of paying top dollar and waiting for weeks for parts that were total garbage when they showed up. I'd say that roughly 90% of the reproduction stuff made in China is garbage. On my last project I threw a lot of parts straight in the trash rather than even trying to put it on the car.

I am starting to lean towards the same conclusion. I hear others complaining on other sites also. I was comparing some parts I had bought in my last resto which was about 6 yrs ago, some were out of stock, and prices were up 30-40%.
I think I'm going to think about this a little before I jump in, I also find the cost of projects rediculously high. With the amount of out of stock parts at AMD you got to wonder if they will ever make some of those again on spec

I have shelves and shelves of 'new parts' that are not usable that have accumulated over the last 20 years or so. Between the lack of (quality) parts, lack of solid cars worthy of the time and money, and (dare I say it?) my age, I don't guess there are any more projects in my future either.

Now I have to figure out what to do with this stash of parts. The Cuda shouldn't be a problem when it's time comes.

Geez: if it comes to having to stock/have many spare parts, better just to have a 2nd one on hand.
If the hobby comes to that: you won't be seeing people driving their cars anymore. Sad

For decades my motto has been "one on the car, one on the shelf". You never know when some 20 year old texting her BFF is going to rear end you. I'm tired of walking the face of the earth for parts, I want to go back to my stash and just pull a part out.

i have a quantity of parts backordered from ledgendary, needed in a restoration of a 1973 dodge dart sport. time out is roughly 8 months plus.
these are door panels and seat covers.
the headliner was a 4 month [or so] wait from acme, as they are the only one who reproduces the cardboard headliner, and it isn't even cardboard, rather ABS plastic. [and i will NEVER do another one of these ! ]

i'm also one who likes to have spares on the shelf for my charger. [especially tin.]
i kind'a go by the "if i have it, i won't need it" ASSumption.......................

I have NOS spare parts for '79 Power Wagon and '89 Diplomat Police. I always knew nothing beats NOS but that's become more true than ever lately.

I wonder if COVID is still slowing the flow of parts? Manufacturers and shippers still unable to reach full staffing? Slackers enjoying unemployment or working only part time? Even if things ramped back up the quality of repro parts is pathetic.

i don't know how it is around you Larry, but the outfit i retired from [it was Rockwell International when i started there in 1973] after 45 years as a master machinist and shift supervisor, is, and has been begging for workers in all positions and shifts for years, and can't get workers.
even after raising starting wages to $15.50 per hour ! it took me 15 years to get to that wage, and when i retired, i was only making $19.90 per hour !
my position pays $38.60 per hour now, after the latest company buy out. [] i asked my old boss for a company t-shirt, and he told me i don't work there anymore, so i was SOL.

You mention the word "hobby" in your reply and that is fine but the whole BJ/Mecum auction crap has turned a hobby into a greedy scam that has ruined the "hobby" for the most of us

Gus

I think the internet has too. Feebay and such.

Same around here. Signs everywhere advertising for employees needed. Many are low paying laborer jobs but I see them all over! What's really frustrating is that I see panhandlers at major 4-way intersections standing in the heat for hours with their signs while two businesses at opposing corners have "Help Wanted" on their signs.

Restoration parts? Hell, what about service parts? And I'm not talkin' our 50 yr old cars, I mean anything built in the last 10-15 yrs. And if you do find it, its crap.

absolutely !
just look at MOOG, the suspension go to we all used for everything for every year and model vehicle, classic or every day driver, as [at one time, now in the DISTANT past] they were the BEST bar none. now, they are junk and who does one go to now ?

It would appear that Parts Suppliers, like Car Makers, don't want to be bothered with stocking stuff past 10 years or so.
If it wasn't for the reproduction market these days, really doubt any cars past 20-25 years could be restored.
Use to be able to buy at least used parts for these older cars, but that's even drying up recently.
More people restoring certain cars these days, which would have been parts-cars some years ago.

So true. So many company's products that you never had to second guess for quality are no longer quality. Moog is one for sure and I've been hearing negative about Milodon and Felpro now too. Non-automotive is Sony.

As far as a replacement for Moog; I've been hearing good stuff about Mivotech suspension parts. Have not had opportunity to try them myself but next time I do front end on my '89 Diplomat that's what I'm going to try if I can't find NOS.