Spare Parts and Useful Accessories - which?

[ed1948]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a very good 86 SS. Due to the fact it's 30+ years old and summer driven frequently, what basic repair parts and accessories should I stock up on and carry on board should the chance to buy occur? I'm thinking the basics---
-small rectangular headlights
-misc spare bulbs
-belts, hoses

How about scarce parts/accessories?

 

[clean8485]

I think you've covered the basics Ed. I'm sure others will chime in. Are there any other items that you're concerned about?

 

[lilbowtie]

You could turn into a hoarder and fill your trunk with parts. Quite honestly I carry a small tool kit, old coolant hoses, old belts, old cap & rotor and a module.

 

[ck80]

Well, part of it depends on the option on your car, assuming you do buy it.

If you have a power antenna keep an eye out for either a spare or at least the service mast and cable assembly for if/when yours went bad.

There is a dumb little plastic part up behind the glove box that connects the wire cable from the climate mode slider to the blend door on the ac box. It is discontinued and not reproduced. A heavy hand on the controls one time when they're bound up and it breaks.

If you have cruise control check into availability on solenoids and switches. Most of my "keeper" cars are 1983s, and the vacuum solonoid for the cruise is unavailable new, rebuilt, or reproduction.

Given you sound like an originality guy, wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out for and buy spares of the metal emissions tube and check valves. Even aftermarket is discontinuing these by the day and it's not likely to be the sort of thing anyone will want to reproduce for restorations.

I'm a bit of a parts hoarder, but I try to keep a stash of just in case parts for if something bad happens to a car - nice emblems and ornaments that aren't faded, plastic lenses, small trim. Even a factory radio or two of the style in case one develops a glitch.

I might pick up a spare correct casting rebuildable carb to squirrel away, and if you can find one (or a couple) real nice factory rims to hide in case one gets curbed trying to avoid an accident... things that over time get harder to find in nice shape, that should be your stash.

The other piece of advice I'd have is look at the parts people with similarly equipped cars are removing/tossing when doing mods. Those are the parts that will be harder to find on future parts cars because previous owners would have ditched them. (Perfet, yet odd, example: there is high demand for core factory cat converter hangers on turbo Buick's because so many cut and discarded them through the years.)

 

[pontiacgp]

Have your AAA card with you just in case...and if a minor thing like a faulty fuel gauge leaves you stranded they'll be there to help you out

 

[85442/86buick]

and of course a good spare tire , a few spare lug nuts and solid 4 way tire wrench.....not something that will bend when you jump on it.

and a good jack ......flashlight too.


you may need a trailer at this rate

 

[ARLawrence]

I keep a jug of oil, a jug of antifreeze, roll of duct tape, and 4 belts. All in a milk crate in the back. Think I have some bulbs in the glove box.

 

[85442/86buick]

Have your AAA card with you just in case...and if a minor thing like a faulty fuel gauge leaves you stranded they'll be there to help you out

X2 and spend the extra for the premier membership........gets you something like up to 4 tows for a total of 250 km and 1 time tow up to 350 km.
and they will dispatch a flat bed without a fight , plus other stuff . all for under $200 a year

 

[axisg]

on-board - I used to keep a small tool kit, spare distributor rotor & cap ( easier than swapping parts ), empty 1/2 gallon fuel can, alternator belt, couple plug wires, 1 of each bulb, and a full size spare. Now with cell phones and no longer commuting in a Gbody I have a phone number to a local towing company I use for work ( cheaper than CAA ) 🙂 And I haven't carried a spare in 3 years

currently hoarding in the shed - spare interior and exterior trim, anything OEM I remove, spare OEM body panels, 4x q-jets, 3x sets of seatbelt clips that attach to the seat, and anything in good shape that I come across. Oh and underhood lights

Future Hoarding - always on the lookout for SS specific intake air ducting, year matching gauge surrounds and gauges, year matching interior colour, 8.5 rear

 

[ed1948]

Geez, has anyone mentioned fuses? I also like to carry a small electric air pump...better than changing a tire beside a live lane.
-fire extinguisher - I've never used mine....but.....now I'm jinxed.
-safety vest - just because they're cool to wear.