How to find discontinued car restoration parts
OEM factory parts for older or rare vehicles are often discontinued, leaving restorers unable to find essential items like engine components and custom hoses. This makes long-term maintenance nearly impossible and can turn a complete engine rebuild into a dead end.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to find discontinued car restoration parts
- 1Checking basic catalogs like Autodoc and AlvadiDid this help you?
- 2Searching for cross-compatible substitute parts from other manufacturersDid this help you?
- 3Looking for European breaker yards or dismantler networksDid this help you?
- 4Taking lines to a hydraulic shop to have them rebuilt or modified with new hose and clamps.Did this help you?
- 5Trying to tap new threads into a damaged drain plug holeDid this help you?
- 6Calling local shops, salvage yards, and searching online marketplaces like eBayDid this help you?
- 7Welding a pipe nipple and cap onto the oil panDid this help you?
- 8Using plunger-style temporary drain plugsDid this help you?
- 9Trying to repair lines using custom press tools and ferrule sleevesDid this help you?
- 10Silver soldering new connectorsDid this help you?
- 11Using universal AC kits with barbed connectors and hose clampsDid this help you?
- 12Reusing old torque-to-yield bolts with threadlockerDid this help you?
- 13Searching international websites for remaining stockDid this help you?
- 14Looking for compatible aftermarket alternatives from other brands or specialty manufacturers like ARPDid this help you?
- 15Sourcing generic hardware matching the thread pitch and length through suppliers like FastenalDid this help you?
- 16Calling multiple auto shops for quotesDid this help you?
- 17Searching online auto parts retailers like RockAutoDid this help you?
- 18Considering alternative modifications such as coiloversDid this help you?
- 19Sourcing parts individually through a shop at a high costDid this help you?
- 20Looking up parts for sister vehicles like the Lexus ES300Did this help you?
- 21Searching junkyardsDid this help you?
- 22Calling around to more rural shopsDid this help you?
- 23digging one out of a junkyardDid this help you?
- 24buying connections and hose separately to fabricate a replacement partDid this help you?
- 25using kits to make new lines by handDid this help you?
- 26Calling the dealership parts departmentDid this help you?
- 27Bypassing the hard section with high pressure transmission hose and clampsDid this help you?
- 28Sourcing a used replacement partDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My truck is 12 years old, and unfortunately the fuel line went. But in my research it seems the part is discontinued. What's the appropriate next step then? Outside of trying to dig one out of a junkyard.”source ↗
“We cant find a replacement for my 1992 cadillac fleetwood trans cooler hose.”source ↗
“Now my hose had a leak where this weird crimp looking thing was and the hydraulic shop said we have to cut it off.”source ↗
“GM discontinued the pan, the Dorman aftermarket pan is unsourceable, and the Duralast pan is 3.5 inches too wide so it won't fit.”source ↗
“I've looked on ebay and called every salvage yard within 300 miles of me and not a single person has an oil pan.”source ↗
“ive got some clunking in the rear end so I was going to replace a couple bushings but I have to remove two torque to yield bolts holding the control arms together to get at the bushings, and the bolts are discontinued, I literally cant find a single one on the interent.”source ↗
“im just nervous to take them out if they snap during re-instalation or God forbid after...”source ↗
“1994 Camry LE V6 coupe. Can’t find front struts anywhere. I’ve checked rock auto, every car part retail chain, and even local junkyard.”source ↗
“This shop willing to source the parts individually but was not expecting to pay that much for new struts.”source ↗
“All 85117206 listings show it as out of stock or discontinued.”source ↗
“I can’t find this line”source ↗
“I can’t seem to find a replacement part anywhere”source ↗
“However, I’m hitting a wall sourcing specific parts. The biggest hurdle is that I need to do a full engine rebuild (it has the 0.8L ED-series engine). Since OEM factory parts are largely discontinued, I’m a bit worried that rebuilding it will be a dead end if I can't find reliable parts to maintain it long-term.”source ↗
“Turns out, front strut assemblies don’t exist anymore for my car. Called everywhere asking for quotes saying they can’t find parts.”source ↗
“I’ve looked EVERYWHERE, I can only find rear struts and can’t find anything for the sister 1994 Lexus es300 either.”source ↗
“I just can’t find the part available online”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 16Where to find cheap parts for an older car
- 44How to find replacement parts for discontinued hardware
- 3Where to find specific replacement parts for broken fixtures
- 3Where is the best place to get a replacement engine or transmission?
- 4Mechanics won't quote a difficult car part replacement
- 3How to know exactly which car parts to buy