Vanishing GM repair parts?!?

I noticed that many of the repair parts for the Riv (and other GM cars) are vanishing.

For instance 10482966, the slip ring end frame for the Delco alternator that fits our cars; 25322835 "ultraguard gold" UPF47 oil filters; there are others.

So I wonder am I just looking in the wrong place for these parts, and I wonder if this has been a problem for any of you?

Albertj

Are the numbers gone, or are the parts no longer available?

Planned Obsolescence.????

I think they are only required to provide parts for 10 years after manfacture.

That's what i thought also.
That's where the aftermarket comes into play.

I was talking to a parts guy at a dealership recently and he told me they are doing away with parts for some brands that are 2001-2003 models!

Could be related to the lending freeze. Banksters need prison time.

Eek! That's not cool.

Try finding parts for a 68 Buick...

They're getting rid of the PF47 Delco oil filters???


At least I use the 52's, but can they do that??

IBx1 wrote:

They're getting rid of the PF47 Delco oil filters???
At least I use the 52's, but can they do that??

Yes they can can provided none of the newer cars use that filter.
That's where the aftermarket picks up, Fram, Purolator, etc.

No, I gave the wrong impression. The standard PF47s seem to be available just fine. They used to also have a "silver' and 'gold' level filter in the PF47 size. Those are now unobtanium.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

"ultraguard gold" UPF47 oil filters

not what I read. PF47 is still around, UPF47 is missing. From the first post.

But I guess that's okay, since I never heard of a UPF47 before!!

What about the "50" series (I can' remember the exact #.), Blazer oil filter with bigger capacity that fits? This is a better choice anyway, more capacity = more filter media = better oil filter. Are those still available?

PF52 is the longer one.

Actually owning a classic is much easier than a newer car. The aftermarket for classics is enormous. You can find anything right down to correct hose clamp.
I am just saying that to me, the Riv would be a classic someday under normal circumstances, but if people are going to line up to have em' crushed, the rest of us will have no choice but to trade our Rivs in for something that you can actually find parts for.

BMD wrote:

Actually owning a classic is much easier than a newer car. The aftermarket for classics is enormous. You can find anything right down to correct hose clamp.
I am just saying that to me, the Riv would be a classic someday under normal circumstances, but if people are going to line up to have em' crushed, the rest of us will have no choice but to trade our Rivs in for something that you can actually find parts for.

Or we can fabricate a lot of what may be needed and find other cars that share the same parts. Going to have to get creative. But nothing lasts forever.

Rickw wrote:

BMD wrote:

Actually owning a classic is much easier than a newer car. The aftermarket for classics is enormous. You can find anything right down to correct hose clamp.
I am just saying that to me, the Riv would be a classic someday under normal circumstances, but if people are going to line up to have em' crushed, the rest of us will have no choice but to trade our Rivs in for something that you can actually find parts for.

Or we can fabricate a lot of what may be needed and find other cars that share the same parts. Going to have to get creative. But nothing lasts forever.

Good point. Fabricating is actually fun, I've done it before for other cars I've had, but thats pretty much what will happen.

BMD wrote:

Actually owning a classic is much easier than a newer car. The aftermarket for classics is enormous. You can find anything right down to correct hose clamp.

Ask AA about the fun he's had finding brakes for his Olds . . .

I've got a 72 Charger and I can't always find the parts I'm looking for, or they aren't very good quality. I ordered a pair of vinyl armrests because the old ones were split, and what I got looked nothing like what Chrysler made. They looked like I could make them myself and do a better job.

I don't cry too much over crushed, wrecked, or high mileage Rivs - it makes mine that much more valuable.

Have you heard of 3D printing? Jay Leno added a 3D scanning and printing rig to his garage recently. He had an article in Popular Mechanics talking about how 3D printing was revolutionizing classic car restoration. He gave an example of the handle off some old 20's or 30's car, which you could spend the rest of your life looking for and never find. With his setup, he can make a new one. If he's got a left hand one, he can scan it, mirror it, print it, and then he's got a right hand one too. IMO 3D printers will come down in price the way 2D printers, cd burners, dvd players etc. came down in price. One of these days they'll be cheap. Every house will have one. Probably you'll stop buying manufactured products. Instead you'll download a file off the internet and print the part yourself.

AA and I can both do 3D, and AA does rapid prototyping work for 3D printing as part of his job. I suspect that one of these days you will be able to get on this site and download any Riv part you're likely to need. We've already talked about printing the lousy plastic door handles in stainless. When the price comes down, I'm getting mine done.

BMD - If you plan on keeping your Riviera forever, having a parts car might not be a bad idea. It's not uncommon for a classic car owner to acquire a parts car, strip it down, and dispose of the chassis as scrap metal. That's part of the game. If you can't afford to play the game, owning a classic car might not be for you.

If you're only planning to operate your 200,000+ mile Riv a few more years, I bet you've got a good idea of what you'll need to replace in that time frame, and it isn't too much to go ahead and grab.

Jack the R wrote:

BMD wrote:

Actually owning a classic is much easier than a newer car. The aftermarket for classics is enormous. You can find anything right down to correct hose clamp.

Ask AA about the fun he's had finding brakes for his Olds . . .

I've got a 72 Charger and I can't always find the parts I'm looking for, or they aren't very good quality. I ordered a pair of vinyl armrests because the old ones were split, and what I got looked nothing like what Chrysler made. They looked like I could make them myself and do a better job.

I don't cry too much over crushed, wrecked, or high mileage Rivs - it makes mine that much more valuable.

Have you heard of 3D printing? Jay Leno added a 3D scanning and printing rig to his garage recently. He had an article in Popular Mechanics talking about how 3D printing was revolutionizing classic car restoration. He gave an example of the handle off some old 20's or 30's car, which you could spend the rest of your life looking for and never find. With his setup, he can make a new one. If he's got a left hand one, he can scan it, mirror it, print it, and then he's got a right hand one too. IMO 3D printers will come down in price the way 2D printers, cd burners, dvd players etc. came down in price. One of these days they'll be cheap. Every house will have one. Probably you'll stop buying manufactured products. Instead you'll download a file off the internet and print the part yourself.

AA and I can both do 3D, and AA does rapid prototyping work for 3D printing as part of his job. I suspect that one of these days you will be able to get on this site and download any Riv part you're likely to need. We've already talked about printing the lousy plastic door handles in stainless. When the price comes down, I'm getting mine done.

I am sure there are a few parts that they do not reproduce yet, but I have catalogues from a few different companies that I can buy my entire interior from aswell as complete motors and almost every exterior panel. But sometimes you have to get out to those swap meets for those harder to find items. I just don't think you'll see a lot of Riv parts at those swap meets. As far as the 3D printing goes, it sounds pretty damn cool!! I used to do 3D modelling for the entertainmnet indutrsy. Hey man if those 3D printers becomes affordable, there will definately be one in my home!

BMD wrote:

I am sure there are a few parts that they do not reproduce yet, but I have catalogues from a few different companies that I can buy my entire interior from aswell as complete motors and almost every exterior panel.

Could you possibly list the catalog's you are referring to.? And how to get copies of them.
Thanks

SMS Auto Classics, Layson's Restorations, Year One, Classic Industries, The Paddock, National Moparts and even GM has a line of restoration parts you can order from any dealership. These are just off the top of my head. Google them and you will find their website aswell as many others!

Shapeways.com has made the stainless printing they've been developing available -

Link

Cost - $10/cubic centimeter

Strength -

Quote :

The UTS (Ultimate Tensile Strength) is 99 KSI / 682 MPa.

If you compare this with other materials the tensile strength of our Stainless Steel material is: higher than aluminum, higher than structural steel(as in the steel used in buildings in the US), much higher than cast iron but lower than titanium and regular stainless steel.

The yield: 66 KSI (455 MPa)

The modulus(Poisson Factor/material constant): 21.4 MPSI (147 GPa)

Elongation: 2.30%

Hardness: 25 HRc


As far as post processing the 3D prints are concerned you can weld it, machine it and drill it. If you do want to drill it, we'd advise you to use carbide drill bits.

If anyone's got a broken door handle they'll send me, I'd like to make a 3D model of it and put it up on Shapeways. The price is high, for now, but it will come down in time.

Maybe could do the center caps too - I'm not sure if the plastic materials are appropriate, and they'd have to be chromed afterwards.

Perhaps we should have a Rivi 3D printing thread?

Rickw - Pick up any old car magazine and you'll see ads for all the restoration businesses.

After the first rapid prototype part for the Riviera, we can start a thread about it.

Keep in mind, nearly all of these machines produce build lines, making the part weaker in one direction than the other. This must be taken into consideration when designing the part, even if it's metal. Also, these build lines are typically .006" thick, so are visible as steps in the surface. This means all parts must be sanded before finishing - this is where most of the time and money is spent. It's not the same as mass produced parts, which are often ready as soon as they pop out of the mold. As consumers, we are spoiled by the fact that parts can be made in the millions for pennies each, then marked up to a few dollars and still be a value to buy. Prototyping costs are coming down, but still expect to spend $50-100 each for a functioning part the size of a door handle. Who knows, when there are no more Riviera door handles, we might be willing pay that much.

You're expertise will be invaluable

The door handles are $32 on Rock Auto - I'm surprised they're that cheap.