Spare parts availability for the future years

[MATBird]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Eventually we'll all want to use this thread:
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40618

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

George, thanks for the link to that post. It should be helpful to everyone.

Jerry, rebuilt EMs are done by more than one company. Ron mentioned one, or offered to provide the name of the place he got his.

Ford licenses suppliers to produce various parts and generate their revenue through licensing fees.

As for the 'ten-year' rule,I think it's just a rule of thumb. Anyway, it's already expired
for all except the 2005s, and I think auto manufacturers just estimate how many parts of various kinds they think will be needed. Not an exact science by any means.

There have been so many sources and suppliers posted on various threads here, that along with salvage yards it would seem almost anything can be found, but it might take some searching. Not everyone enjoys 'scavenger hunts' and it can be a frustrating process when you can't just take your car to the dealer and let them find the required parts.

I still don't recall any members here who sold their T-birds only because they absolutely could NOT find a needed part.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

George, thanks for the link to that post. It should be helpful to everyone.

Jerry, rebuilt EMs are done by more than one company. Ron mentioned one, or offered to provide the name of the place he got his.

Ford licenses suppliers to produce various parts and generate their revenue through licensing fees.

As for the 'ten-year' rule,I think it's just a rule of thumb. Anyway, it's already expired
for all except the 2005s, and I think auto manufacturers just estimate how many parts of various kinds they think will be needed. Not an exact science by any means.

There have been so many sources and suppliers posted on various threads here, that along with salvage yards it would seem almost anything can be found, but it might take some searching. Not everyone enjoys 'scavenger hunts' and it can be a frustrating process when you can't just take your car to the dealer and let them find the required parts.

I still don't recall any members here who sold their T-birds only because they absolutely could NOT find a needed part.

Phil, I've done some research.

Some parts that "are available" on Ford OEM websites are really not available when you actually call the supplier and ask questions.

As far as the 2005 models, as we all know, many 2005 parts are identical to the 2002/3/4 models. If some parts aren't available for the 2002/3/4, then they aren't available for the 2005's either.

But, I really cannot blame the mfg. If the demand is low, why incur the cost to make a part that just may sit on the shelf for years, especially for low volume vehicles?

Here's a little bit of an example, not exact, but in the ballpark.

I worked for a Ford parts depot back in 1964/69. If I had space to store, and then sell, the unsold dealer returns at that time, I'd be pretty rich.

Ex: one day in the late 60's, a dealer sent back four brand new, in the box, 64 Galaxie 500XL hupcaps. Seems there was no demand. (Today, they'd bring a good buck.) Before they could be tossed in the dumpster, I salvaged them. They are still on my Galaxie today, some 45 years later.

Unsold fenders, bumpers, trim pieces, etc, sent back for credit and then trashed. Railroad cars in the depot loaded with parts that restorers would kill for today.

So, dealers and the mfg are not going to manufacture and store parts that are not considered quick turnarounds, and, again, I don't blame them. But, they do seem to be pulling the plug quicker.

(I checked out the module rebuilder mentioned. No luck. And, my Ford dealer was absolutely no help whatsoever even when considering that the labor dollars to deinstall/install would be his.)

Now, let's assme that you are looking for a module/electronic part and you find a car in a junkyard thousands of miles away, and the wrecking yard guy says "yeah, sure, I got one, cost you X dollars".

How quickly would you pull out your wallet? Even if you could get a local TBNer to go to the wrecking yard to pick up the part for you, if it's a module/electronic part, they would have no idea if the part is good or bad.

Even if there's a return policy, you'd inur the mechanic's labor cost.

Crapshoot.

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

You make some very good points Jerry.

I went to one of the sites looking for OEM seat covers, just to see if there were any available. At least one site had many listed, and in various different colors, But when I tried to add one to my 'cart' I got a message saying the part was no longer being manufactured, and obviously not in stock. So you're right about some parts being listed but not actually available. You can 'search' for anything, but whether you can actually buy it or not is another matter.

And you're right about demand and the ability for a reseller to move parts being an important factor. At this point there just isn't sufficient demand for many parts for a Ford licensee or other supplier to bother making them. I'm running into this problem with the OEM seat covers. The Ford suppliers I've spoken to want large initial orders or an 'outside' investment from a prospective retailer like me, before they'll undertake it.
So say I put up the $ 15,000-20,000 needed to get 10 or so sets of each color and style made. I'd need to sell around 100 complete sets just to get my investment back. That could take a long time based on current demand. There appear to be fewer than 10 members here who say they're ready to buy new OEM sets, and I'm not sure they would be willing to pay the $ 1,500+ price (that price is based on estimates I got from one of Ford's licensees, TMI).

The same math applies to other parts. It takes a big up-front investment to get almost any OEM part reproduced, and the return based on current demand would be pretty slow.

Eventually, when the Retros get to be as collectible and valuable as the 1955-57s (I do think that will happen, but not for another 10-20 years or more), and prices justify the investment and effort to produce reproduction parts, more will become available. Just look at all the companies that offer parts for the '55-'57. You can practically build a 'new' one starting with just a basic frame, engine and chassis and buy almost all the other parts. Not cheap, but the value of the car warrants it.

Not so with the Retros, at least not yet.

Then, as you mentioned, going the salvage yard route can be 'hit or miss.' Yeah you can find a 'part,' but for EMs, you don't know if it works until you buy it and try it. Dismantlers don't typically offer guarantees as far as I know ... what you see is what you get. If it's defective, not sure you can get a refund.

Another option would be for someone to stockpile a number of 'parts cars' with the idea of supplying Retro owners exclusively. Again, a substantial up-front investment is needed, and removing the parts, packing and shipping them is a business in itself. And you need a place to store the cars, preferably indoors, or the cars and parts will deteriorate. So someone buys say 5-6 Retros at say $ 5,000 each: $ 25-30K. You need employees to remove parts, clean, inspect and test them, pack and ship them, process orders, and you're still competing with other companies, salvage yards, parts suppliers, etc. on price. It would be a great resource for Retro owners ... not such a great business for the company selling the parts. That could change, but it will likely be years from now.

[MATBird]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

George, thanks for the link to that post. It should be helpful to everyone.

Jerry, rebuilt EMs are done by more than one company. Ron mentioned one, or offered to provide the name of the place he got his.

Ford licenses suppliers to produce various parts and generate their revenue through licensing fees.

As for the 'ten-year' rule,I think it's just a rule of thumb. Anyway, it's already expired
for all except the 2005s, and I think auto manufacturers just estimate how many parts of various kinds they think will be needed. Not an exact science by any means.

There have been so many sources and suppliers posted on various threads here, that along with salvage yards it would seem almost anything can be found, but it might take some searching. Not everyone enjoys 'scavenger hunts' and it can be a frustrating process when you can't just take your car to the dealer and let them find the required parts.

I still don't recall any members here who sold their T-birds only because they absolutely could NOT find a needed part.

You're correct Phil. As you can see, by looking through some of the sites I found; there are parts out there. Of course some of these, like Salisbury Salvage are in New England.
That tells me that other members should do a salvage search in their part of the Country, like lower Eastern seacoast, Central, Western, etc.
If they find something, then post the sites found on this thread, http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40618 for others to see. - Remember, there are two posts that make up everything I found, post numbers 1 & 2.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

You're correct Phil. As you can see, by looking through some of the sites I found; there are parts out there. Of course some of these, like Salisbury Salvage are in New England.
That tells me that other members should do a salvage search in their part of the Country, like lower Eastern seacoast, Central, Western, etc.
If they find something, then post the sites found on this thread, http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40618 for others to see. - Remember, there are two posts that make up everything I found, post numbers 1 & 2.

Imagine if you were hunting for an electronic part instead of OEM seatcovers.

Worst case, a shop makes up new seatcovers, not exact, but good enough that most folks couldn't tell the difference.

Not so with an electrical part that affects how the car runs.

There's no fighting father time. If we intend to keep these cars, we will all experience parts issues with Tbirds (and many other cars as they age), except that with the TBird, we owners most likely want to keep the car and then hand it off to the kids.

Many other cars are most likely disposable.

Anyway, that's why I'm in the "concerned" group.

[MATBird]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Jerry:
What started me looking for sites was a thread that Argon posted looking for a specific part number. Although it was not electronic, it was important to him.-
I found that part number for him. http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40604

If we get enough sites to choose from we may be able to find those electronic parts as well.
In fact maybe one of the sites I found may have them

Edit; I just went back to http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40618 post number one and checked Commerce, CA has ignition parts and sensors for 2002. Also there for other years
Edit' They even have ECM's listed

[Cashr22]

If you are looking for any part for any type of car try http://www.car-part.com it is the page that puts ALL wrecking yards in the USA , so you can look for anything. I have had good luck looking for parts for all types of cars and trucks

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Thanks for that Ross.

It would be nice if all the various sources and suppliers could be listed in one place for easier reference. Searching all the threads and posts to find them is time consuming and you might miss one or more.

[MATBird]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Thanks Ross, I added that site to my list of sites on http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=40618

[Brad]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

The only challenge right now is because we are going from Ford having parts available so there isn't the motivation for people to be in the business.

With items like the rear and forward electronics module there are 2 issues, one is getting someone to repair your bad board and then you need someone who can program it for you, right now it's mainly the dealerships, but people do have the programmers. It may take a few years for companies to be out there as a one stop shop where you ship them your bad component and they ship you a "re-manufactured" board programmed for your car.

I know guys that I can ship a totally acid damaged computer board from a pinball machine from the 1980's and I can have it repaired and reprogrammed with updated code and returned in a matter of days so I'm confident that you will soon see these people for electronics for the Tbird.

I had a seat heater switch light that went out, I gave it to a friend of mine and he had it fixed in less time than it took me to remove it.

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Good point Brad. As demand increases, more options for repair, refurbishment and replacement should become available.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

HAILBIRD is holding up much better than I am.
I'm more worried about replacement parts for my body than for the Bird!
I think the car will outlast me!

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Good point Brad. As demand increases, more options for repair, refurbishment and replacement should become available.

True, Phil, but we're already starting with a vehicle with a relatively low ownership base. So, as things wear out, there's still not much of an incentive to manufacture a replacement.

Factor that in with the odds that a certain electronic part might, or might not ever, go bad, and the incentive just isn't there.

The only bright light is that the LS shares many TBird parts, but the LS wasn't a big seller, either.

[MATBird]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Jerry may be onto something here. I believe there were about 63000 Retro birds along with the LS's which makes the number higher
The Early Birds, '55,'56, '57 produced about 53,166 and shared parts with other models.....AND those parts are still available from many sources