I like your path of the swap meet route. Is there a guarantee from Rare Parts that everything is made in the U.S.? Their lit and video says they manufacture 3400 items in house, but don't claim that it's all USA made or made there. I do prefer to purchase U.S. made parts and search for them first. But 3x the price on the spring perch? the Idler arm kit is only 50% more than the one sold at Classic, but a strut rod or the strut rod nut is nearly 3x as much as at a place like Classic. When I called, I learned the spring perch was made in house, the strut rod and nut was U.S.A. made, but the HD strut rod bushing kit, the one discontinued by Moog, was being obtained by Real Parts through manufacturer Delphi. Delphi has manufacturing sites in 46 countries, so no guarantee they're made in the U.S., but no guarantee the Moog ones were, either. Just an update on the nature of the game.
If you insist on NOS or U.S. made parts, a stock front end can be pretty pricey, even more than an aftermarket upgrade. How times have changed.
