Guide Rating And Review: Mopar Parts Locating Guide

Have you been working on a restoration project and going crazy looking for the parts you need? Or maybe you have a car you want to trick out? I know parts for older cars can be hard to find and you can spend hours and days on the phone tracking down the things you need and want. But now there is an easy solution; The Garden Of Speedin' Parts Locating Guides.

There are parts locating guides for:

• Ford Truck/Ranchero
• Mustang/Cougar
• Ford Lincoln/Mercury
• Full Size Chevy
• Camero
• Chevelle/El Camino
• Nove/Monte Carlo
• Chevy/GMC Truck
• Pontiac
• Buick
• Cadillac
• Oldsmobile
• Mopar

When I got this guide I was pleasantly surprised at how large it was. It is over 137 pages full of resources for new and used parts. It is not a catalog selling parts, but rather a directory of where you can find the parts. This guide covers Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Desoto and Mopar light trucks and vans from 1920 to the present. There are several sections covering everything from Performance parts to body parts to Clubs and web sites. You can find places that have everything from OEM nuts and bolts to wiring and, well, you name it, it's in here.

I called several places in there looking for parts to restore a 1931 DeSoto CK Sedan. No, I don't really have one, just wanted to see how easy or hard it was to find parts for. The first thing I looked for was an engine. On my fourth call I found one. Well, not a complete engine, but a short block; crankshaft and pistons. It took another four calls to find a cylinder head, intake manifold complete with carburetor and exhaust manifold. So using this Guide, in the space of less than an hour and eight phone calls, I found a complete engine for my 1931 Desoto.

If it was that easy to find engine parts for so obscure a vehicle, imagine how much easier it would be to find parts for more commonplace vehicles. I was very impressed.

Now you might expect a valuable resource like this is going to be expensive. If you do you'd be wrong. All of the Parts Locating Guides are only $24.95 each. Add four bucks if you want it on CD. I prefered the book because I can make notes and highlight the entries as I go along. I don't have the CD version so I don't know if it has the option of recording notes and such.

Okay, so now you have the parts you need for your project. Now wouldn't it be nice to have a factory service manual to help you install those parts the right way the first time? Well the Garden Of Speeding' also has them as well. They have manuals on CD for most domestic makes and models from 1932 to 1972.

This Giude is a major resource for anyone doing a project vehicle and would make a great gift that will be used all year long.

Garden of Speedin'
4645 Ruffner Street, Suite Q,
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: 1-800-MOTORHEAD (668-6743)