American performance parts?

[300bhp/ton]

Kinda curious, but how many of you guys actually source parts/performance parts from the US?

I see loads of posts about items from the UK and Europe (often at more cost, although the $/£ exchange rate doesn't help at the mo).

But very few seem to mention buying stuff from the US?

The Ls engine has been a main peroformance and tuners engine since 97 over there and the Monaro sold as the Pointiac GTO since 2004.

Ta

[stigmundfreud]

many have used parts from the US however the mods for that market are sometimes different from what this market is after.

I'd ask the question why have the US not tapped into a potentially lucrative market?

[ringram]

I have bought from SDPARTS for years. As well as Summit Racing and Thunder Racing.
All are excellent to deal with and never had any problems... except losing one dodgy small head bolt when a SD box munched up in the UPS shipment process.

[Well_Fans]

have bought from various places in US without hassle - apart from carriage and import charges. Bought 100 US$ worth of diff and gearbox oil, carriage and duty more than doubled that meaning in the end I only saved about 20 quid over what I would have paid to buy in UK. Lot of US suppliers also reluctant to ship outside the states except to US military bases so that also narrows it down a bit. Still a damn site cheaper than paying UK prices though on most items although worth checking Australia as well as current exchange rates mean its sometime cheaper to shop there.

[ringram]

I know Roger gets a big pile of parts from I think SDParts now and again, but as he buys in bulk you will probably find buying off him not too far of the pace. I know Mark does the same from Oz with engines etc as well.
So shop around and if the local guys dont have the parts try the above suppliers.

Oh SDPARTs sell well respected engines too. They have some top notch builders there. They also do custom stuff. They were my next in line for my setup, but they do more off the shelf stuff. I wanted a bit more bespoke setup.

http://www.sdparts.com/categories/lsgeniiigenivper...

http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/lsgeniiigenivperfor...

[300bhp/ton]

stigmundfreud said:

I'd ask the question why have the US not tapped into a potentially lucrative market?

I'd assume for the similar reasons to why Ford don't sell the Mustang here. They don't really need too. Also a smallish tuning shop going out to into a world market is probably not as easy.

[Global-i]

Got my TrueTrac LSD from Summit Racing (www.summitracing.com) in the states recently. They also price matched to the cheapest I could find on the web.
Obviously you will have import duty and VAT to pay when it arrives. I thought I had got away without paying the duties, but a DHL bill arrived yesterday for the VAT etc.
If you are shipping lots of items from different suppliers have a look at www.parcel2go.com/import-services.aspx. rent a USA address and consolidate the shipping.

[300bhp/ton]

If DHL released the goods without telling you there was a charge I think you have pretty good case to ignore it.

I've read on the web about DHL scaring people into paying things they shouldn't. You are also not their customer, the seller was.

They did something similar to me last year, They actually failed to deliver the goods so I went to collect them from the main depot. Signed for them and took them, no bother and nothing said. I then moved house, and 2 months later a letter caught up with me stating I must pay 'x' (around 2 or 3 times more than what the duty should have been, worked out to be around 40% the price of the goods as they had decided to add some figures they'd made up, claiming they wheren't displayed, although they were).

I sent them a letter saying I wouldn't pay and reasons as to why, I got a letter back saying no problem and that they'd close thier file on it

[MyM8V8]

I got all my parts from the states for the top end: AFR Heads etc.

Bought the cam and push rods here from Knight Racing Services as not much difference in price and also help and advice on that item. Got the intake here from another forum member who sold up.

The yanks are mostly quite clued up and generally give a good service although there are others who can't even be bothered to reply to e-mailed queries.

Here's my rec's on US suppliers so far:

AFR excellent product but appalling after sales help (non existant)via e-mail.

Texas Speed: problem with communications again not quick to respond although came through in the end with some very competitive pricing on short blocks.

Speed Inc.: Bloody brilliant advice and quick (Speak to Fraser)

Hinson Supercars: very prompt and professional in all departments, excellent backup & service from Seth. Tru trac diff

Fuddle stall convertors - failed to reply to an enquiry emailed and telephoned) which would have been an order.

Circle D Transmissions, very willing to help and give advice (telephone). Stall convertor ordered.

[ringram]

300bhp/ton said:

If DHL released the goods without telling you there was a charge I think you have pretty good case to ignore it.

I've read on the web about DHL scaring people into paying things they shouldn't. You are also not their customer, the seller was.

They did something similar to me last year, They actually failed to deliver the goods so I went to collect them from the main depot. Signed for them and took them, no bother and nothing said. I then moved house, and 2 months later a letter caught up with me stating I must pay 'x' (around 2 or 3 times more than what the duty should have been, worked out to be around 40% the price of the goods as they had decided to add some figures they'd made up, claiming they wheren't displayed, although they were).

I sent them a letter saying I wouldn't pay and reasons as to why, I got a letter back saying no problem and that they'd close thier file on it

Cant try that with Fedex, they would kill me with all the widebands and stuff I bring in from Innovate. I think they would probably say signing for the item accepts all costs etc. To be honest for delivery to the door the price is pretty good. Most of the cost is VAT which I can claim back.

Im getting tempted to get a slighty bigger cam 235/251 .621/.624 113LSA or 239/255 .624/.624 114LSA
So Ill be testing out someone's shipping services again.

Edited by ringram on Tuesday 24th March 14:31

[Boosted LS1]

All my stuff comes from the US and always has done. I have access to parts at very short notice and there's probably a bigger parts pool/availability in the US. I've never been unable to get something so am quite happy.

[MyM8V8]

ringram said:

[

Im getting tempted to get a slighty bigger cam 235/251 .621/.624 113LSA or 239/255 .624/.624 114LSA

Edited by ringram on Tuesday 24th March 14:31

1. You haven't got your existing one dialled in yet. (Or have you?)

2. You've been telling us all that these big cams won't pass emissions.

(Mind you there aren't many 440's around to use them either)

[LawrenceF]

ringram said:

Cant try that with Fedex, they would kill me with all the widebands and stuff I bring in from Innovate.

Hey ringram, are you an Innovate dealer? Wondered if you have had a go of an LM2? Is it worth chopping in my LM1 for?

[Drew SS]

ringram said:

300bhp/ton said:

If DHL released the goods without telling you there was a charge I think you have pretty good case to ignore it.

I've read on the web about DHL scaring people into paying things they shouldn't. You are also not their customer, the seller was.

They did something similar to me last year, They actually failed to deliver the goods so I went to collect them from the main depot. Signed for them and took them, no bother and nothing said. I then moved house, and 2 months later a letter caught up with me stating I must pay 'x' (around 2 or 3 times more than what the duty should have been, worked out to be around 40% the price of the goods as they had decided to add some figures they'd made up, claiming they wheren't displayed, although they were).

I sent them a letter saying I wouldn't pay and reasons as to why, I got a letter back saying no problem and that they'd close thier file on it

Cant try that with Fedex, they would kill me with all the widebands and stuff I bring in from Innovate. I think they would probably say signing for the item accepts all costs etc. To be honest for delivery to the door the price is pretty good. Most of the cost is VAT which I can claim back.

Im getting tempted to get a slighty bigger cam 235/251 .621/.624 113LSA or 239/255 .624/.624 114LSA
So Ill be testing out someone's shipping services again.

Edited by ringram on Tuesday 24th March 14:31

ringram ive been getting parts delivered to work and i dont seem to be getting taxed would the company i work for be and just dont no it

[Well_Fans]

someone somewheres getting the bill unless you're very very lucky at getting stuff past customs checks.

[Boosted LS1]

^ Agreed, or the parts could be low value.

[ringram]

LawrenceF said:

ringram said:

Cant try that with Fedex, they would kill me with all the widebands and stuff I bring in from Innovate.

Hey ringram, are you an Innovate dealer? Wondered if you have had a go of an LM2? Is it worth chopping in my LM1 for?

Hi mate, yeah, distro, Ive got them but use the LC-1 myself Of course Im going to say you should chop it. Depends what you want it for. The obd2 functions can be a little fiddly presently, more firmware has been released for them, but WB02 works fine etc.

[LawrenceF]

I was thinking of using it with dual widebands on my '55, and using the narrowband outputs to feed the factory computer (It's an LT1). I have a single wideband in an X pipe on there currently. I hate the X pipe sound, enough to spend money on getting rid of it