Truck Expert"ess" has spoken
 

I was duley informed today that Chevorlet did not make a 402 BB.
The little missy at the Auto Zone was quick to turn the computer monitor my way and prove it to me !
If my tires had 1/2 the holes that that girl had in her eyebrows, I'd be walkin' home !!

Not knocking girls in general, BUT ....

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'70 jimmy 4x4
'98 chevy zr2 (the misses' transpo)
'65 stang
'81 shovelhead
contact me: email--showme219@aol.com

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I can't wait to see the replies to this post!

That reminds me of every time I've ever gotten in an argument with parts people. It's not worth it. Let them have their ignorance some times and just go "yeah, you must be right", and leave.

There's a gal at the local NAPA that's the same way. What makes it worse is that she's bitter too. I think she likes the env. and has been there for years, but you try to even be nice and she growles at you. She's also wrong about 50% of the time.

Good luck with your "Chevrolet never made one of these" 402 BB!

hehe

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'69 3/4 ton C20 2wd w/ 350ci/400THM and a wood bed!
'69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd w/ ORIGINAL 350ci/4sp Manual and a wood bed (parts beast).
Seattle, WA.

*See pics of my trucks and project at www.webshots.com!

ttt

Hey!!!!
I'm not defending anyone but, I said this same thing about 16 yrs ago, when it was my first Auto Parts job...BECAUSE, most parts catalogs DO NOT list a 402...they list a 396 only...I think GM just considered a 402 an overbored 396, so it was never listed... I believe everything is the same, (except some internal parts) so now today, I just "AMUSE" parts buyers and lookup the 396 engine and sell them that part...The only book that consistently lists 402 is the Filter book...
You know? now, good Parts People have used there intelligence to go get better paying jobs, in other careers...because of all the Autozones, Pep Boys, Checkers, etc... they are making profits so low that Parts Stores like NAPA that sell quality parts, can't afford to pay thier employee's...
OK, Sorry... but I got into this business to help people and make a living doing what I liked,...only to be making $3.00 more today than I was making back in the good days of the Auto Parts businesses of the late 80's...First job in business was Aug. '86 $9.50/hr...that gal you are talkin' about probably is making alot less than YOU THINK she should be...
So, Yes, I changed jobs...I don't sell parts directly to the public anymore, there is no profit there to pay me what my automotive experience is worth...........

OK,OK......I'M DONE NOW...I'M SITTING DOWN.
Bryan in So.Dak

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Bryan in South Dakota
-67 CST originally a 327-4bbl(missing)...w/TH400 w/AC,PS,PB,3pc bucket seat,small window,LWB. orig. drk blue w/blue interior. needs serious restoration
-67 CST(plain janer) 283/MT LWB
-2000 Silverado 1/2ton 2wd x-cab w/4th door
***future projects***
A 67/68 CST,SWB,350/TH350,Lowered 5/7, rollin' on 17's, not air bagged.using above listed 67 CST (janer)




[This message has been edited by 67 cst swb (edited March 25, 2002).]

Bryan,
My hat comes off to those who know. Actually, she KNOWS now ! I POLITELY educated her. But I'm not quite sure she bought my story ! lol
I'm not the kind that gets pissed and leaves, just find it humorous!

I usually pull the manager a side and let him know that if they don't get a real parts person behind the counter, they don't get my money. Tell her to go back to flipping burgers

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71 basic C-10 350. The only option is the rust.No nothing on it, but thats all about to change. <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410

" TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410

</A>

I had a guy at Jokeyzone tell me I didn't have a Chevy 302 in my 69 Z-28. Chevy never an 302 he said and then proceeded to call me a moron. Easiest $50 bucks I ever made of that bet.

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'67 Chevy SWB 454/400 under construction covers one city block!

I have been a parts guy 20 yrs and I started with catalogs and still think they are the way to go. I worked For Shucks and Al's auto supply they both use the same software. Here is a good example of the great ECAT I dabbled a while in VW diesels looking tune up parts on these and selecting diesel i got caps rotors and spark plugs. LOL These punks in the store today depend on the comp. way to much. Its a good tool but not cut in stone,If its not right these clowns need to finish school and learn to read the book. Instead of taking the ECAT as gospel.Its only as good as the kid they paid Min wage to key the info In..........Again My $.02 Jack

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68 c20 in progress 327 TH400 tach dash Disc Brakes and soon 3.90 rear gears.. have many new parts now just need the time..... Sound Familar

I think they "accidentally forget" to enter the older models and less common stuff in the fancy little computers at the parts stores, I walk into napa and the guys at the counter don't even bother with the computer until it's time to print the reciept. They know me very well!! On the 402 thing, I was very surprised to know that my dad, who was working in a Chevy dealership between the years of 70 and 75 had never heard of the 402, I took him to a friends house and showed him the first one he's ever seen. Evidently they were a good enough engine to not spend much time in the shop.

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'72 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 shortbox stepside 350/350auto on '84
ralleys and 31/10.5s

67 Cutlass convertible
330, 3spd stick

90 GMC Jimmy
350/auto
Chad Stephens
Orleans,NE

My local parts store has a sign; "Arguing with a parts man is like wrestling a pig in mud; after a while you realize he likes it. "

LOL, i won 50 cents off a bet on if there really was a 302 Chevy or not when i was 14 or so. Very few people know that that engine ever existed. Same with the 402, and the 400 BB....

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Lucas

drop_shift@hotmail.com

My Daily-Driver: '72 Chevy LWB Custom/10. Rebuilt 350, 300 HP thanks to a few go-fast goodies. Ochre with a white top. Future plans include a frame off restoration, and maybe a blown 383.

From what I understand the 402's were 396's that were bored at the factory because of some problem with the blocks. {have heard several different stories on what the problem was} But if you look back when these motors came out our trucks were the only vechicles that they came in that they were not called 396. {they also came in camaros and chevelles and had a huge 396 sticker on the air breather.} Most part books do not list a 402,about the only books that do is when you start trying to buy pistons or rings.

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS



[This message has been edited by tom hand (edited March 26, 2002).]

The reason that Autozone girl prob couldn't find the correct info for your truck was that she was looking under 4-door instead of 2-door! I asked him 'are you serious' & then turned & ran when the parts guy asked me that ? about my 93 x-hwypatrol Mustang.

What I like is the questions you get asked. So you go in and tell them "I need a set of rear brakes" They ask questions like "Does it have air conditioning?", "Does it have cuise?", "Does it have a power antenea?"
I guess there are reasons to ask these seemingly unrealated questions, but I can't figure it out.



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Scrub
70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles
72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

You know, I had an anoying experience with that gal I mentioned earlier at the NAPA store. I came in with my old alternator and power steering belts, and one of my old plugs off my '69 Chevy C20. I told her I needed a new set of belts and new plugs.

She asked for what year, make and model of vehicle. Since my engine compartment isn't anywhere near stock, I told her that wouldn't help her. I told her she'll just have to match the numbers on the belts and the plugs. She got mad at me and said she couldn't help me if she didn't know what year, make and model of vehicle it was. God, that pissed me off. I figured she'd come out with the wrong stuff, and then I'd show her what I meant when they were obviously wrong.

When she brought out the wrong belts (they obviously weren't the right size like I thought) she just stood there puzzled, and I proceeded to tell her why. She IGNORES me, and went to get her boss instead. He comes over, and the first thing he does is look at the numbers on the belts, and says to ME (not her) "well...these numbers tell you what belt to use, not the year of the vehicle...next time just tell us that...". I almost completely lost it.



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'69 3/4 ton C20 2wd w/ 350ci/400THM and a wood bed!
'69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd w/ ORIGINAL 350ci/4sp Manual and a wood bed (parts beast).
Seattle, WA.

*See pics of my trucks and project at www.webshots.com!

When you get to calling Wagner, Raybestos, and other brake suppliers directly... including these guys that say they can get anything... and telling them there own part numbers because they dont know how to look them up...or they're off there current software.

Ya gotta wonder....

The 305 V6 or 351 V6 is probably good for a few bucks in a bet too.lol

No sh*t on that one Rod, I tried getting parts for a 63 GMC 305 V-6 and only one guy in all the ones I talked to in Tucson knew what I was talking about, most said, that's a V-8. Then I found a guy at the Checker warehouse who hooked me up with all sorts of goodies and they even had the goliath 2-quart oil filter in stock for the beast.

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68 Chevy CST (327,TH400) 3/5 drop
71 Suburban 4x4 (350,TH350) 33's
Check out my web site!!! http://www.geocities.com/cst68chevy/

yes I argee with what most of you are saying. I also work at a parts store but not behide the counter. I deliver the parts to the garages. Anyway when I do need something for one of my trucks I have them look it up and stand there and watch them (so I can learn as much as I can from them) and at least at are NAPA store I'm pretty sure that the computer said 402....... so I guess it just depends on the store and the person behide the counter! + most the time when I ask for stuff (like a front pipe for the burb) the look in the books.......... because the people I work with actually seem to know what there doing. But I can relate to the dumba$$'s that don't know know anything about looking up parts (been there done that). Oh and if any of you have a hard time getting something e-mail me and I'll see what I can do for ya (I have some connections).

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71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's

72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!)

68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi

Same here guys...
If your having troubles getting parts at ANY parts store, just E-mail me @ BN332000@aol.com I still work at a Automotive Wholesale (to the parts stores) warehouse and can get you the info, you can then take the part# I give you to your parts store and have them interchange it...I can probably even give you NAPA #'s....Let me know...
Also,
just think of the time you'd have getting rear wheel cylinders for a 9" ford, installed in our trucks... I found for a guy today...thank god he had his old ones, even though the casting #'s didn't interchange. I found them by measuring the bore and matching them up...(2nd box I tried)...I LOVE WHAT I DO..... Bryan in So.Dak

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Bryan in South Dakota
-67 CST originally a 327-4bbl(missing)...w/TH400 w/AC,PS,PB,3pc bucket seat,small window,LWB. orig. drk blue w/blue interior. needs serious restoration
-67 CST(plain janer) 283/MT LWB
-2000 Silverado 1/2ton 2wd x-cab w/4th door
***future projects***
A 67/68 CST,SWB,350/TH350,Lowered 5/7, rollin' on 17's, not air bagged.using above listed 67 CST (janer)




[This message has been edited by 67 cst swb (edited March 27, 2002).]

OK. I'm GLAD I don't work in the parts biz anymore. I started at NAPA - and we didn't even have a computer catalog. All books. Then when I moved, I worked at Checker for a while. They had a computer catalog, but it was wrong so many times and didn't have very many vehicles listed in it, I used the book most of the time anyway. The things I hate is when some dolt would come in and ask for something for a "Ford Jeep" (seriously, people have). I can't tell you how many times a day I would have to go out to the parking lot to figure out what the heck someone had. Some people wouldn't even know the make of their car.

Of course, we would crank-call Autozone and ask for a cap and rotor for Mercedez turbo-diesels. The funniest thing is that they would find them.

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Bowen
'68 K20 fleet
'69 K10 swb fleet
'72 C10 lwb step

Just to give you a hard time about ford Jeep there was one it was the 41-42 gord GPW it looks just like a willys. I owned 1 it was a kick to tell people it was a Ford. had the script on back and all

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68 c20 in progress 327 TH400 tach dash Disc Brakes and soon 3.90 rear gears.. have many new parts now just need the time..... Sound Familar
Tacoma Wa. The Rain capitol of the USA