rob75383

I got my new mid-america catalog in the mail today, and I thought I had found another typo...
About 2 yrs ago, when I was shopping for u-joints, they had individual ones for 19.99 each, a set of 4 for 89.99 each.
I called them and told them that their math is all wrong, we should get a DISCOUNT for buying a set of 4, not get charged 10 bucks more!!!

Anyway, I called thier cust. service department, and told them I think they've got a typo or a mislabeled part.
I gave her the part # 603-785 which is a 63-81 auto and manual rubber trans mount. She verified the price was indeed $159.99 :eek: . She then looked up Mid-america's cost for buying these and said that they pay well over $100 bucks to have them made.
I told her that the price is outrageous, and they'll be lucky to sell any of 'em.
She responded by saying," I don't agree sir, we've sold a ton of them already"

I'd like to believe that GM can make a better part, but how can they justify charging soo much for a simple rubber trans mount without a safety lock inside????

I already have poly mounts with safety locks all over, so its not an issue for me.
I have order a couple of thousand dollars worth of stuff from them over the years, and I thought that I'd help them out by telling them about this "typo".

Guess I was wrong?

Tom454

Just pulled this off napaonline.com for a 1970 Corvette...

Balkamp Transmission Mount
Usually ships in 24 hours. BK
6201024 $ 4.99
w/ Manual Transmission

Balkamp Transmission Mount
Usually ships in 24 hours. BK
6201031 $ 5.99
Transmission=TH400, 3 Speed, Automatic Transmission

jbroughton

$4.49 at Auto Zone!

I'll make Mid-America a deal - I'll let them have all of these they want for only $75 each!

:lol:

markdtn

Unless you need NCRS correct and those are such, that is an outrageous price :eek: That is an extremely common mount, it fits a lot of other GM cars besides Corvette. I thnk any decent auto parts place will sell you a lifetime mount for less than $10 or certainly $20.

Fevre

I'd like to meet the idiots errrr I mean people who paid $150+ for trans mount, I have lots of stuff they can buy from me.

lil ski

I got mine at auto zone and it didnt fit the bolt holes are off by a 1/2 inch. The counter guy got me another one from another store still the same thing I had to get one from a local corvette store I dont recall the price but it wasnt over 10 bucks. Just my 2cents.

:flag

Bobchad

Just bought it at The Last Detail for $10.

rob75383

I dunno, maybe I shoulda spoke to one of their technicians instead of the customer service lady.
Don't flame me for assuming that a woman automatically doesn't know diddly about cars, but this one sure didn't. She WOULD not believe me when I told her that this part is WAAAAY overpriced.
I've had good experiences with ordering from mid-america, although there are some parts they mark up considerably... for example the K&N short oil filter is $12.99 when you can get one from jegs for $8.99-- the accel super coil... $79.99, at jeg's its only $49.99 -hypertech power coil and cap $99.99, at jeg's $69.99.
Now, the corvette only stuff they have is competitively priced, but if yer looking for plain chevy enigine mods, or such, they are inflating the prices.

I also just found another funny thing...
Mid America sells urethane mounts in the same catalog for only $24.99, plus it comes with bolts washers and nuts.
I wont stop ordering from them, but I'm definately gonna shop around to see if their price is fair.

LiveandLetDrive

Same deal for the differential crossmember bushings. I can understand a little expense as they are a little more complicated than something like a spring bolt cushion, but GM rubber replacements are $150!! EACH! '80 and later lucked out, only about $25 I think.

Anybody know where to get these in poly, or just cheaper? As long as I'm going after my rear suspension, I'd hate to leave these untouched, but $300 isn't going to happen.

-Chris

rob75383

RUXperienced,
have you considered getting a set of the x-member bushing isolators from VB&P??
They are pretty reasonably priced, and effectively secure the bushings so that they wont separate from the diff. x-member.
You probably will experience a notable stiffening of the rear end once you install one of these kits.
... just a thought.

LiveandLetDrive

I was going to do that, but I don't want to tear up the bushings in the process of taking off the crossmember to put those in, and end up havinging to buy them. I do want to put them in someday.

-Chris

rob75383

RUXperienced:
Don't sweat it...
This is one of the easiest installs there is.
You remove the bolt that goes through the bushing into the frame.
Then you put in the supplied stud.
Then you use a lock washer and nut to support the bushing.
Then you put the isolator plate onto the stud.
Then you put the final lock washer and nut.
That's it!
No need to remove the x-member!
Besides, if you were to remove it, just use some silicone spray and soak the bastard for a couple of days, and then gently pry her out. I don't THINK it'll tear up the bushing, but then again, I might've been lucky.

LiveandLetDrive

Really?? Darn, I already sent my order in to VanSteel. I'm buying the rear composite spring later on, I guess I'll tack that on that order :yesnod:

Thanks for the info!

-Chris