I'm looking for a book that has Olds parts numbers, specifically '68 - '72 A bodies. I'd like to be able to reference parts when I find them at swap meets and such. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!
-Mike

 

You want the Olds factory parts book. Just do not waste your time with the one that was printed in Aug 1983, since by then virtually all of the early part numbers were purged from the system. Pay for an original that is as close to 1972 printing as possible.

 

You may want to give a call to Bishko before purchasing (see URL below), but I just received a parts list from them and it is a copy of the original 52-58 Olds parts document. A bit pricey but worth it to me.

http://www.autobooksbishko.com/search.cgi?year=1972&make=Oldsmobile&category=Part s+Book

 

Also try to get a book that is one or two years newer so that it will have any part number changes pertaining to the year that you are actually working on...

 

There is a risk in that. Part numbers that were superseded will be all that is listed in the newer book. That makes it not very useful if you are trying to find out what was originally installed on a particular model and year. I have three copies of parts books, on printed in 1969, one in 1974, and one in 1983. The latter is worthless for anything in the 1960s and 70s, despite the fact that it supposedly covers 65-75, as there was little left in the parts system for those cars by 1983. Even the 69 and 74 printings differ. One of the best examples is the listing for A-body motor mounts. The later book shows that the 1970-up SBO mounts with the interlocking feature are also listed as the correct part for the early cars that did not have the interlocking. While they work, they are not the correct part number.

 

I'll post more later on what part books are out there. Not only look at the years covered, but the issue date.

Mike, the ideal one for you is the "Models though 1972", issued June '72. Tends to be pricey though, when you can find it.

 

What about the Oldsmobile muscle cars. Interchangeable parts buyers guide.By Robert Sexton. Its listed as the Salvage Yard Buyers Guide.
Are these part #s any good??

 

The Master Parts List produced by Oldsmobile that I recently purchased (Effective January 1, 1958, PA 94-Body & PA 95-Chassis), does not have every conceivable part made and listed for my 57 Olds. At the time of purchase, this was an false expectation that I had in the parts book arena. However, the lists are close to having all the parts. I guess that when you write a document like a Master Parts List, which spans a number of years, through the revisions made to the document as well as the deletions or retirement of older parts, you can expect some gaps.

 

I'm not sure, but I believe that is the same thing that was later called a "catalog". That list was not created to list every part on the car. It was made to list the parts that were *available* as of January 1, 1958.

 

Okay, here are parts catalogs I have. Every one listed is Oldsmobile issue, and worded pretty much exactly as on the covers.

1. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Chassis Edition, Models through 1965, Effective April 1969
2. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Body Edition, Models through 1965, Effective April 1969
3. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Body Edition, 1949 through 1965 Models, Effective January 1967
4. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Illustrations, Effective February 1967 (mostly 66 and 67)
5. 1965 Model, Parts and Accessories Catalog, Effective September 24th, 1964
6. Parts and Accessories Catalog For 1966 Models, Body and Chassis Edition, Effective February 1966
7. Parts and Accessories Catalog For 1966 Models, Body and Chassis Edition, Effective June 1966
8. Parts and Accessories Catalog For 1966-1967 Models, Body and Chassis Edition, Effective June 1967
9. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Chassis Section, 1966 Thru 1969 Models, Effective December 1968
10. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Models through 1972, Chassis Section, Effective June 1972
11. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Models through 1972, Body Section, Effective June 1972
12. Parts and Accessories Illustrations, Models through 1974, Effective Sept 1973
13. Parts and Accessories Catalog, Models through 1974, Effective June 1974
14. Chassis and Body Parts Catalog, Models through 1975, Effective April 1976
15. Models thru 1975, Chassis and Body, Parts Catalog, Effective April 1983
16. Models thru 1975, Chassis and Body, Illustrations Catalog, Effective April 1983

I may have others stashed somewhere, but these are all ones I can put my hands on. I know I have a few more that are older and newer than the ones listed.

 

Interesting comment per the above by wmachine.

The Master Parts List states upfront the following: "The Oldsmobile Master Parts List of Body Parts is a CATALOG of the repair parts available for all Oldsmobile models".

However, since the requirement to repair the car may require any part that originated with it, why would this document not include the part?

 

Repair as opposed to totally rebuilding. Repair does not include every part. Notice it says "repair parts available", not "all repair parts needed". Think back in that era. Quite frankly, if the car needed to be totally rebuilt, it wouldn't pay to do it. Buy a new car.
These were the parts that GM (not me!) decided to offer. And as soon as they were out, it was no longer listed, either.

 

Good point wmachine! Also availability may also mean that it isn't cost effective to produce a particular part. This may explain why I can't find the plastic 3 way tee part I've been looking for at the local salvage yards and with on-line parts houses all over the country.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Don't forget about checking the appropriate Delco catalogs for some of the "consumable" parts like fuel pumps, carbs, radiators, plugs/wires, distributors, etc. They may list something you were looking for that is not in the GM parts catalog.

 

Thanks Kurt, very helpful as usual, and Dan's link to Bishko too. So in the case of a stock 455 intake manifold there would be a part number and a casting number and both would identify the part correctly?

 

Is this one any good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...SS%3AUS%3A1123

 

I can't quite make out the printing date in the photo, but it LOOKS like 1983, in which case, RUN AWAY!

 

X2. Yes, April 1983. That is probably the worst one out there. More useful for the illustrations. Look at it this way: It is current for just for vehicles no newer that 8 years prior to the publish date.
To me the only time I find myself looking there is for possibly superseded numbers. Not very often at all.

 

I can find more numbers in my Poncho parts catalogs.

The pics are nice in those '83 catalogs.
You can find a lot of numbers in the assembly manual too, still nothing like the catalogs.
Excellent reading, not very good as coloring books, don't ask me how I know. Assembly manual page copies are great for coloring.

On chilly winter evenings after dining I remove my Tuxedo jacket (of course, I'm not a caveman) and change into my silk smoking jacket then saunter to the rumpus room to retire with the catalogage' du jour. I settle into my overstuffed antique leather chair by the warmth of the hearth, oaken logs emitting a soft glow to light the pages, faithful hunting Labradoodles at my feet.

 

You sure that's not a porcelain "chair"?

 

How about this one? Is it any good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...SS%3AUS%3A1123

 

The Master Parts List on the ebay link Jamesbo provided is dated December 1970. I would follow Yellowstatue's advise. Get a List that is two years newer than the year of the car your working on.

 

That is a GM Canada publication. I'm not sure if it is as complete as a US version is. He says " This catalog is more comprehensive than the original printing. I've added more illustrations from factory 1968 and 1973 printing GM PARTS CATALOGS. Seems every catalog has it's own varity of illustrations but I've been scrounging and combined them into this one. That's a plus. It is publish date of 1970 which is a plus. My only hesitation is about how complete it is vs the US version. And the price. I'd consider buying it to supplement my group if it weren't so expensive.

 

There are Pros *and* cons to getting newer versions. YS pointed out that the "pro" that there could be superseded numbers. But you could also lose what the original part number could have been. And you'd lose any parts that became unavailable. So it depends what you want the numbers for. Its not like you need something current to go to the dealer to buy parts from!

Being the data junkie I am, I'd get both...all, whatever...........

 

Can't refute what you stated. I think it is correct in trying to get all pubs possible to make a Parts List as complete as possible, but I also believe it depends on how far into it you are. I too am a perfectionist, and am crazy about data - but I need to be careful about the dollars and cents of my decisions, especially at $179. However, there is the reality that one Master List by GM or Oldsmobile (or other) may not be enough for every situation. Guess I'll have to wait and see if I need to purchase more documents for future car project work.

 

Excellent point. What you're using them for makes a difference.
If you a (typical?) on car owner and are (only?) interested in reference material for restoration and/or upkeep of your car, a parts book is what I think to be 4th in line behind a Chassis Service Manual, a Body Manual, and an Product Information Manual (assembly manual) (if available). If a PIM is not available, and Parts "llustration" Catalog is more important.

 

____________________
Good advise Kurt. I appreciate that recommendation above, as the parts catalog that I have mentioned was not as helpful as expected. I will be on the look out for a Chassis/Body Service Manual, or PIM, should I end up needing one or the other(if available, going back to the 50's).
Thanks, Dan

 

Another little thing to consider here--just because the publication date is given on the cover, that does not mean all the pages in a given book are from that date. It is likely that some in fact are not, since many or most dealerships subscribed to the catalog update service, through which they got regular updates to the Parts and Illustrations catalogs. When the updates came out (around monthly, I think), the changed sections or pages were just removed and replaced with the new ones.

I guess a really **** service department might have saved all the superceded pages, but having used a similar service in a different field many years ago, I can tell you the instructions always said to throw away the old pages to avoid confusion, and that is exactly what everyone I knew did.

 

Good point, but I don't believe there were any updates to the official parts books. I've never ever seen any evidence of there being such a thing.

 

Page 2 of my January 1975 catalog has information about the revision service. I've got order blanks from other years that mention it. The illustrations from my catalog are dated October 1976, but they left some earlier ones in as well that seem to be revision pages from an earlier catalog, although hard to prove.

Bottom line: GM offered it. I don't know the specifics of how they labelled their revision pages, so it may be hard to prove, but I wouldn't discount it.

 

Thanks, Cameo, I'll check it out!

 

Hey Kurt,
Ill try to dig out one of the old order forms this weekend. I don't know if I can scan/upload it (assuming I find it), but I am sure I can copy it and send it to you. I have a reasonably good idea where I may have filed it away.
Eric