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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 264
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Buying parts ?
Just came from Advance Auto . Can you believe they don't have an air filter for my '69 307 ? Claimed they couldn't even get one . A few weeks ago I also struck out on a brass fuel filter . Found one at Auto Zone . Had to go to NAPA a while back for Exhaust manifold studs . Wonder if y'all have the same problems . Maybe all your engines are a newer than my 40 year old . Guess my main gripe is the only close store is an Advance . Just thought I'd share . THANKS .
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#2 |
Old Skool Club
![]() Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas"
Posts: 10,880
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Re: Buying parts ?
NAPA is my go-to for somewhat obselete parts. Many of them have been around for years....look at the outside of the building and judge for yourself. Along with that older structure, lots of times will come an older parts person. When you get a senior parts person, you also get a higher degree of knowledge about 40+ year old vehicles. Again, look at the person who is waiting on you. This doesn't mean that we won't encounter a younger person who is advanced in his "old school" automotive knowledge.
When you go to Advanced, Auto Zone, etc., you likely will encounter a person who could pass a drug test and needs a job. This doesn't take away from them or their enthusiasm, but merely is an indicator of what it takes to get hired. It's an entry-level job, with entry-level hourly schedules and your boss will be someone who may know more than the basic parts person, but he/she will also be able to handle the books and such. I got laid off from my job in '82, with the then-current downturn in the economy. After doing some looking around, I ended up working for Auto Shack, the predecessor of Auto Zone. They are part of Malone & Hyde, a company that sells groceries, pharmaceuticals and auto parts....all commodities that they deem to be somewhat recession-proof. I felt good whenever I could help someone who had an older vehicle, find what they needed. We also became pseudo-mechanics, when a customer would come in with a problem with what they had bought (carburetor, for example). Good parts people are worth their weight in gold. If you have one, your best bet is to stay in their good graces. It doesn't matter if it is an aftermarket store or a dealership. Their willingness to take the time to look up a much-needed bit of information, whether it relates to the availability of a given part or simply a part number to help you identify that mysterious piece you found, is a gift. Don't take them for granted.
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Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. |
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#3 |
Between Trucks...
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 3,830
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Re: Buying parts ?
I'd take in your old air cleaner and start opening boxes looking for a match.
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sacramento California
Posts: 194
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Re: Buying parts ?
There are very few "Auto Parts Stores" left. Ok I'm not a spring chicken , I'm more of a classic when it comes to my age so I'm going back into the late 60s and the 70s when we had real auto parts stores. The guys behind the counter were tuff, had a cigarette hanging out of there mouth and the phone wedged between their ear and shoulder. When he got off the phone he would great you by name because this was his career not a part time job, he had been doing this for twenty years. When you asked for a part he flipped through the catalogs going right to the section he needed, he'd get the part number and in a few seconds would be back with your part, a part made in the USA. Here the BIG thing, he knew what the part was, where it went and how to install it!!! I used to love the auto parts store, you could hang out and shoot the breeze about cars with these guys because they knew what it was all about.
Today you have a person making minimum wage and with NO idea what in the heck they are doing. If they are lucky enough to find the part number for what you need and if the part is in stock it's made in China. These stores are only good for a quart of oil or a bottle of wax. Hell they don't even have a decent nut and bolt section. Ok, I have gone off on a rant. I hope I didn't offend any parts people, like I said there are a few good ones. You know who you are.
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69 sweet long fleet, David |
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#5 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Buying parts ?
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#6 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Buying parts ?
Quote:
Are you from Colton?? You just described Steve from Big A Genuine auto parts to a "T". When I was growing up in the 70's, that is the only place where my dad would get parts from. In the 80's, in came Chief auto parts...and it has been a downhill slide ever since. |
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#7 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,034
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Re: Buying parts ?
I know exactly what you mean. Parts stores are definitely not what they use to be.
If I were you I would just go in with your old air filter and have them match it up.
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"Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!" |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sacramento California
Posts: 194
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Re: Buying parts ?
Nope, I've been in Sacramento since I started driving. I'm talking about Foothill Auto Supply and Superior both on Auburn Blvd. In my rant I kept saying guys but Superior was run by an old German woman with a strong accent and dirty hands just like any of the other parts guys.
One other thing, Both of these parts stores had MACHINE SHOPS!
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69 sweet long fleet, David |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Buying parts ?
look on the old air filter, on the rubber piece there should be a number. Call NAPA with that number, they don't even need to know what it came out of.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 264
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Re: Buying parts ?
I had the Fram part number . Young fella didn't want it . On his behalf , he did offer to match it up . Told him I'd just wait and check out Auto Zone or NAPA . THANKS for all the replies .
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#11 | |
Nothing to see here.....
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Shawnee, KS
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Buying parts ?
Quote:
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Doug ![]() ![]() The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson Last edited by tcb-1; 01-24-2009 at 04:15 PM. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pasadena,Tx /Pto Pta DR
Posts: 5,415
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Re: Buying parts ?
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: colorado springs colorado
Posts: 737
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Re: Buying parts ?
Same situation around here there used to be a couple good parts stores here. Well probably closer to 4 or 5.
Didn't matter what you needed they could either go pull it off the shelf or knew exactly where to order it from and how long it would take to get it, off the top of their heads. They knew what interchanged with what and what would work in a pinch. We had one shop that also did alot of performance carb stuff. Didn't matter when you went in J.C. would be somewhere with a cigarette burning and a carb torn apart, ussually smoothing the venturis or drilling jets. The owner(worked the store everyday aswell) had an all steel, 10 second 55 bel air. I believe the store had been started by his father and passed on. With all the new cars they just didn't seem to incorporate the old and new. The owner now runs a parts department at a dealership. Frank
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70 chevy lwb c10 454/th400 and a 9" rearend suicide doors, marker light fuel fill, 4" cowl , mini tub Last edited by sick69; 01-24-2009 at 04:48 PM. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Amarillo, TX
Posts: 190
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Re: Buying parts ?
I know what you are going through I work for Auto Zone as a manager, but most of the guys they hire cant find their but with both hands, I am no expert but I can use the computer and when the stupid thing isnt programmed right I will go to the book for the parts. By the way the air filter is a ca192-fram or sa192-stp. I wish they would hire guys that know something because it makes all of us look bad and retarded.
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#15 |
Gone to greener pastures
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Gateway to the Delta
Posts: 7,354
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Re: Buying parts ?
This thread is exactly why I almost exclusively get my parts from CarQuest, or NAPA.
The local CarQuest is a family operation. They bought the store from the PO about 18 years ago. When I go in there, I'm greeted by name; if they don't have what I need, they tell me when it will come in. They were heavily involved in racing locally, Walt built & drove the cars & his bride wasn't/isn't beneath getting her hands dirty; so the pretty much know their ahhhhhhh, poop. I've had a problem, or 2, that I couldn't figure out & Walt has said, "Let's go look at it. But you have to bring me back to the store." You just can't get that kind of service from the big chains. And, I'll admit, I'm proud to call those folks my friends. I don't get near that service at the NAPA store, but they have a well qualified staff; and the owner, whom I've known for years, and I always have a friendly back & forth friendly banter. I avoid the chain stores, except when nothing else is available & I need something NOW! Generally, the only things I buy there are oil, antifreeze, and various "chemicals"; stuff they can't screw up. And, all y'all are now proud possessors of my .02.
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'69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 264
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Re: Buying parts ?
Fram CA 192 sounds right . THANKS again for all the replies .
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#17 |
I am a Referee of life.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Greensboro N.C.
Posts: 13,993
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Re: Buying parts ?
My local NAPA is like a chain store.My local Advance has some pretty sharp guys in it.They are easier to deal with also.They actually told me when I went for brake line adapters.The bottom shelf on the back wall has a couple prts bins with them in it."Go look".I only deal with Derrick and Manuel because they play with cars and know their poop.They aren't big into the classics though they like them they just can't afford one on a parts guy salary.
I too miss the guy who didn't look in the book, just went in back after your SBC points.
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The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" Last edited by PanelDeland; 01-24-2009 at 07:53 PM. |
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