Been working towards getting the Cat ready to drive. Shes still gonna be a bit abused looking but we are real close to getting mobile. However it needs a centerlink real bad and when I priced it out at 2 local parts stores they both came in at over $215 dollars. The second one wanted $265:shock: . Is it me or does that seem a little steep for a centerlink?. I just cant afford that right now and of all the things I thought I would have to "save for" to get done to this car I never thought a centerlink would be one of them. Okay getting off of soapbox now. Dan
It's the same for the Rivieras too. I'm afraid they have us over a barrell on centerlinks. :moonu: Those places you got quotes from are most likely getting them from a company named Rare Parts. I got lucky, as a couple of years ago there was a guy on eBay selling a bunch of Moog centerlinks. I waited a few auction cycles for demand to drop a little and managed to get one for under $100.00.
Yeah, seems a lil steep. You might check this thread out... http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=138838 hope it helps!
Yeah, but that's for an A-Body. These full sized cars are a different animal when it comes to finding suspension parts such as centerlinks, idler arms etc.
Called Kanters today.... they sell complete front end kits for the same price as a centerlink.... thought maybe I could save some money. 195 for the centerlink and with shipping ............................$215 :spank: I told them specifically that I didnt want the gold plated one ... just the regular one would be fine, but apparently they want the gold plated price Back to the drawing board... I am determined to get this peice for a reasonable ($50-75) price. So all I can say to Kanters, Advance auto and Mondaes (A local parts store ) is I hope you really like your 68 Buick centerlinks cause as far as Im concerned at those prices youll have em forever. Dan
I know these are sent out to be rebuilt. Question is, who does rebuilding? It would be great opportunity if one ahd the equipment & know how to do it, and then sell them for less than what these outfits want. I'm with you Dan. If I hadn't gotten lucky in finding what I did, I would still be holding out. Oh, and Rare Parts only sells to dealers, not the public. :blast: http://www.rareparts.com/
For $50-$75.00 you'll never drive your car safely. Problem is, we have NO CHOICE!!!! It's spend the $$$$$ or walk. You might get lucky & find a good used one for the $$$ your willing to pay, but don't forget they are all approaching 40+ yrs. old.
I google'd "centerlink rebuild" and found a link on "fullsizepontiacs.com" to: Front suspension center link rebuilding Randy Rymal 301 Stickney Ridge Drive Grand Haven, Michigan 49417 616-846-6030
Joe- Randy Rymal has a bad rap. If you do a search here on the board, you can read up. He was supposedly bannd from the ROA. Dale- I should of grabbed one of those centerlinks off Ebay:spank: . I think his supply must of dried up. I dont see him on Ebay anymore. Was the TRW # DS785?
True, when it comes to being safe, we shouldn't be cheap. But, it is a chunk of change when on a tight budget. Mine was a bit loose, but I wouldn't say it was dangerously worn, so I could hold out. I still have it hanging in the garage because, well, I have a hard time throwing things away sometimes. :laugh: I don't recall the number exactly, but that sounds familiar. I wish I could remember his eBay user name, because you never know he may be helpful in tracking one down. I looked back into my feedback history, but it didn't jog my memory. :idea2:
Thanks for the reminder Jason! You know, whenever I see a name or company I'm not familiar with I always search the board for "references". This time I didn't. Good luck finding a safe deal Dale! Somebody probably has a case of them sitting around somewhere.
... I cant ever remember a centerlink, for ANY car I've had to do one on, being inexpensive. Last one I did was for my '95 RoadMonster Estate Wagon and it too was north of $200
The ones for the 68-72 A bodies are dirt cheap. I remember buying Riviera centerlinks for around 60 bucks new
This might be the guy - I too got one from ebay for my 68 full size: "part number 1350788. thompson type.i do not know what that means but it is writen on the tag. i bought out a shop that was full of nos buick stuff.most of the boxes are labled so i am listing them according to what it says on the box and what i researched on the web.so please look at the pictures well to make sure it is what you want.please ask questions if you have any. all the nos parts that i am listing are new in box.some do not have boxes but if it has a box it will be in the pictures. all items are mint new with whatever shelf wear they have.i will note anything i notice wrong with any item. you will not be disapointed. please keep an eye on my listings." bigdirtybox is the seller. - Bill
You know, you guys got me all fired up today on centerlinks!! :spank: :laugh: I started making some calls around town. I called an older auto parts store in my area called Colvin in Merrick, NY. Just for s**ts and giggles, I asked the guy if he had a TRW DS785 in stock. Comes back to the phone in a minute and says "yes, I have one in stock. Its 95.00". What? really?? I shot right over there and picked it up. Looks like its been sitting on the shelf for 100 years. But the box did its job as there was a brandy new centerlink in there. When i got down there he said it was 88.00:shock: . I told him that he said 95 on the phone. He told me he wrote me up on a wholesale ticket. I guess he saw my Snap On uniform! I was shaking as I gave him the money:laugh: Read it and weep! unbelievable! Dont bother calling, it was the last one they had:bla: Probably the last one they'll ever have! Just goes to show you that these things are still out there. I'm sure there are more just sitting on a shelf in some dusty old auto parts store somewhere...
Yea Mondaes are the ones who wanted $265. By the way does your car (Skylark) have or had a black hood on it a few months ago? Saw a car just like yours going up to my old High School off of crane ave. a while back and I was just wondering if it was yours. Dan
Hey folks , Here is an ignorant question ; Would a 68' Impala C/Link fit ? GM Full Size , right ? (B-Body ??) Steve
