typical parts store run

grumpyvette

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
Mitch ,came over and ask me to look at his 1974 big block corvette, the brakes were not working correctly, a quick check showed very low brake fluid level in the master cylinder so I pulled the wheels and found the front pass caliper leaks fluid, brake pads soaked, so I call local NAPA, no caliper in stock, I call CONGRESS auto who assures me they have the caliper but not the pads, I tell them to put it on the counter Ill be right down, I bring the old caliper as theres always a core charge in the exchange and from experience I want to place them side- bye- side to compare them carefully and verify all the parts are included , the caliper looks nothing like mine, he verify the part number and finds that hes handed me a caliper for a 1984 corvette.
further checking shows a different branch store has the parts I need but its 10 miles away, so I need to go pick the parts up there.
I get the parts after a 20 minute drive each way added to the distance to the first store that assured me they had the part sitting on the counter,and so now I bring them back, too the shop along with the mandatory quart if brake fluid too bleed the brakes and new pads, so what should have taken 30 minutes took easily 90 minutes bye the time all the little side trips and returns were complete, but at least I got the parts, all in all about your average parts store trip, Id be amazed if I got there even once and found everything they said was waiting was correct and available.
I have them give me the wrong year parts, or try to substitute import crap if I specify a manufacturer, or swap a left for a right side parts or swap front to rear mixed up or some such mistake so frequently I now expect it!
do you guys have parts stores with employees that seem to totally incompetent a high percentage of the time?


BTW WHILE WERE TALKING BRAKES
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=380&hilit=brakes

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2018&p=5361&hilit=+brakes+adjusting#p5361
 
I quit going to AutoZone because all they had was people that could barely run the computer. I went to O'Reilly for something and got Shannon. Shannon is probably about 30ish, but he is more than willing to pull out the paper catalogs and search by just about any parameter like size, year etc. Shannon has also offered me a discount when the price seemed out of line. They also have another Young Fellow about my age 57 that I have worked with a few times, he seems like he has been in this business all his life and knows his stuff.

For now I'm an O'Reilly's guy.

 
one of my all time most memorable parts store morons, was the guy I called up, one time looking to get valve cover gaskets for a friends 1969 426 hemi road runner, at ROSE AUTO (SINCE BOUGHT OUT and NAME CHANGED TO ADVANCE AUTO) Id called about 6 stores previously and not a store had those gaskets in stock,I repeated several times STRESSING I was looking for HEMI valve cover gaskets not the more common wedge engine, type,and would he verify that he had them in stock, this jerk tells me he has the gaskets in stock and he will put them on the counter , its a 30 minute drive, but at least Ive located the parts.......i get there and he hands me valve cover gaskets for a 383....and tells me all the large Chrysler v8 engines take the same valve cover gasket, then he shows me the catalog where it says 383-413-426-440 valve cover gaskets.
I mention the fact that I repeatedly stated its a 1969 HEMI, and I get that stupid smile like IM the ignorant one, so I walk out to my car and walk back in with the valve cover and ask him if it looks like those gaskets might fit? it was one of those days when your really tight for time and this moron had effectively wasted over an hour because he was clueless


440vc.jpg

vlvc413.jpg

RB wedge valve cover gaskets


426vlvc.jpg

426 hemi valve cover gaskets
426vc.jpg
 
I recently ordered a set of ignition wires from the local advance auto, for my generator, which they don,t carry as a stock set, so I needed to special order them. and knowing that the chances of them supplying me with a quality set of ignition wire was very low, as they cost $49 , I called up ROCK AUTO on the internet and ordered a similar ignition wire set, for the 3.9 liter v6 that powers the generator, not all that surprisingly both sets, from both sources arrived the same day. the difference was that the bosch set from ROCK AUTO cost less than 1/3rd the price at $16 plus shipping and was FAR better quality, and had far better wires, boots, etc, the advance auto parts set was a cheap crappy set,with fiberglass and carbon conductors, the bad part was NEITHER SET was a direct replacement for the stock set as both sets had the wrong type of connectors for the distributor cap I have.
the local NAPA wants even more money for a set of ignition wires but I know from experience the ignition wire set they supply fits but is not that much better than the advance auto set in quality.
I don,t know about you guys but I darn sure miss having auto parts stores carry universal sets that you cut to fit that come with both sets of the boots for the ends
Im not returning the rock auto set Ill just use the boots and re-use the connectors on the old ignition wires transferred to the new Bosch wires , Ill try to return th advance auto set as they are not correct, but the bottom line is that unless you can look at what your buying BEFORE you buy it , dealing with guys that don,t really know anything except what a computer says is a P.i.t.a.
 
i think am pretty lucky, out of 3 part store here i can say there is 2 of them that has at least 1 guy behind the desk that really know what hes doing and are there almost all of the time. If for whatever reason they have no clue they will be glad to make calls and make sure everything is perfect. When the boss is hidden somewhere, they will tell where else i can get a better parts or a better deal o_O and often i save 10% on the marchandise :) i love my local parts store.
If the knowledgable guy is not there they will give him a call at home :)
All of the time i get the same brand part for the same price at rockauto WITH the internation express shipping..Whats better is i get it the next morning instead to wait a week.

Same go for the local yamaha dealer and rona.
And i dont talk about my old fart gunsmith he is such a nice guy.

Here we call that, working for the customer.
 
I posted this info else ware on the site but Id point out that when we bleed the brakes we made sure to remove all old brake fluid and you can usually tell the old fluid very easily because, I place a section of 1/4" I.D. clear vinyl tube over the nipple on the bleeder and old fluid tends to look yellow or brown due to rust forming due to moisture absorbed over time in the brake fluid, as old brake fluid tends to absorb water from the air,, over time, and once brakes get really heated due to hard use, in performance driving that moisture turns to STEAM, and you brakes stop working correctly, in fact if the brakes get really hot the brakes just stop working which can be a HUGE problem.
new brake fluid looks almost clear
brake-bleed-a-0407.jpg

brake-bleed-d-0407.jpg

brakefluidf.jpg

YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THESE LINKS

viewtopic.php?f=71&t=1848&p=16080&hilit=brake+fluid#p16080

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=380

I spent a good deal of time today helping my brother-in-law install new brakes on his 1974 big block corvette , he bought 4 new (rebuilt) brake calipers and brake fluid, brake pads, etc. from advanced auto parts because they said they had a life time guarantee , he also bought brake cleaner etc. we put the car up on the lift and pulled the wheels , pulled the calipers, 3 of the 4 looked like they had leaks , two of the ones that leak were obviously defective,one looked like the bleeder was loose.
further inspection showed the 3 leakers needed to be replaced, the pass side rear was the first caliper we pulled off and as we went to put on the rebuilt caliper we quickly found that the caliper re-builder had failed to notice the core they rebuilt had totally stripped threads on the hydraulic line location, I called around the area and eventually located a store with a replacement (different chain store) and while we were checking parts we found one package of brake pads, were obviously not for the corvette, so I made a trip back to exchange those, and took the old worn pads to show the parts counter guy the difference.
the end result was about 2 hours of UN-necessary running around to get replacement parts we already had to do the job, the car eventually got put back together and the brakes worked great, but I still feel that the jerks art advance auto could do a better job, after all one package of brake pads that don,t even fit the car and stripped threads on a "NEW" part are not what you should be dealing with, but Ive come to expect this, many of the local parts stores either don,t have the parts in stock and they must be ordered 24-48 hours in advance or the parts that come in are defective far too often,or the parts are just for the wrong car.
now I know its partly because they don,t give a crap, they get paid minimum wages, but it gets old fast!
I especially like the deer in the headlights stare , the parts guys give you when you point out the parts they sold you two hours earlier, are not even similar to the
 
If you look at the local auto parts stores ,Ive had good, and bad results from dealing with the local auto parts stores, many seem to employ the under paid and under skilled, the days of walking into a auto parts store with a machine shop in the rear and a staff of older knowledgeable, counter guys who have years of experience seems to be a long dead but cherished memory.
NAPA,
PEPBOYS auto,
BENNETS AUTO,
congress auto
are my local auto parts stores and most are staffed with kids that are lost without a computer to look up parts and application info, and most of those guys would not know a 426 hemi from a 289 ford or 409 chevy by looks alone.
most have zero idea what to do if the applications not listed in a computer screen, walk in and say you need a water pump for a 392 dodge hemi your installing in a 1957 chevy and you get a deer in the head lights stare!
many have never rebuilt brakes, or removed a water pump, or tuned a carburetor, many of the counter guys have little or no time getting greasy hands or actually doing repairs.
and darn few spend a great deal of time after work building and repairing cars like the teenagers in my day considered almost a right of passage into male adulthood.
,AND as a result , and depending on what I need , I tend to deal in mail order when I CAN,
ROCK AUTO
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

SUMMIT
http://www.summitracing.com/search?keyw ... take&dds=1


JEGS
http://www.jegs.com/


DOUG HERBERT
http://www.dougherbert.com/

dart
http://www.dartheads.com/

crane
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=techarti ... bf6533501b

CROWER
http://www.crower.com/

ERSON
http://www.pbm-erson.com/index.php

BRODIX
http://www.brodix.com/heads/heads.php



mail order
 
I have had problems with a local bearing supplier recent.
Tracking down barrel roller bearings and a special tapered roller bearing for the 1948 Chevrolet 1 ton rear differential I am overhauling.
Wrote down all individual part numbers off of the original bearings removed.
The young counter guy asked what the bearings were for.
I told him for an antique truck rearend I am overhauling.
Response back was, since this is automotive....I can not help you. I am a Timken bearing dealer, Timken was never used OEM in cars and trucks.
Did not even bother typing in the part numbers.
Of course I was mad.
Only purchasing bearings there for the last 25 years.
Timken tapered roller bearings for the differentials I have overhauled in the past.
Still searching for the bearings required.

Brian
 

I'm sure this is nothing new for you Brian, but for others I would wait a week and go back hoping to get someone else. Or try calling the next day and see what kind of response you get. After 25 years do you know someone on a first name basis that could help?

 
Indycars said:

I'm sure this is nothing new for you Brian, but for others I would wait a week and go back hoping to get someone else. Or try calling the next day and see what kind of response you get. After 25 years do you know someone on a first name basis that could help?
Click to expand...

Maybe Rick.
I cant write here on Grumpys forum what flew out of my mouth......
I was just furious.
What I need is vintage bearing catalogs.
They should have them.
I get mad like Grumpy, you and others here.
Frustrating.

I am beat up tired from work last 2 days.
I will post part numbers of bearings I after on my 1948 truck rearend thread.
Get my Kodak digital camera out too.
Unique bearings.
Unlike what I am accustomed to seeing.

Good thing for Grumpys forum.
Help each other out when needed.
 
Well, I am not sure if I was here on Grumpy's forum when I had a ice storm accident with the 04 Dodge Ram pickup I had. Anyway, hit a patch of ice and hit a guard rail, got a knot on my forehead hitting the steering wheel, badly bruised ego, and wiped out truck. Insurance totaled it, so I was in search for a new truck, got my 07 Chevy, and just to be safe I changed the oil, tranny fluid, plugs, and all the filters, and serpentine belt. Along with all the filters, I get a fuel filter, so I go to changing plugs, oil, tranny fluid, all the filters, and save the fuel filter for last. Thinking its one of those easy pull out the little tab on both ends and pop the new filter in and we're off to the races. Wrong, My 07 Silverado doesn't have a inline fuel filter, it has a filter in the gas tank that is replaced with the fuel pump. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 18 year old girl "Kaitlyn" that sold me all the parts, one look in her eyes and you see only one thing. Lights are on but nobody is home!
Anyway, I go back two days later, Kaitlyn is no where to be found, get this guy(also clueless) and tell him the story. He goes to his computer and says, "Yes, your truck has a inline fuel filter!" I am getting kinda angry, say to him, "Go out there and crawl under my truck and point out where the son of a **** is and I will change it!" To that I get, "Well, my computer says you have one, I can't return it and give you your money back!" By this time I am about to boil over!
I went home cooled off, the next day I went by the Chevy Dealership here in town and found out I was right! They started putting the filters in the gas tank in the fall of 05 in the new 06s. So I go to the parts store again, thank goodness they are a few miles from my place and about an mile from the dealership. Guess who is there at the counter again, "Mister My Computer Says You Have One!" So very politely I handed him a business card from the parts manager at the dealership and asked him to call the number. I say, " Ask this man where I might find my inline fuel filter on my 07 Chevy Truck!" So I wonder off and look at some silicon and gasket spray, and he summons me back to the counter and has my $12.50 in his hand, and begs my forgiveness for his behavior the previous day. I am like giving him one of those decision making looks tapping my finger on my chin and said,
" NO, I am a customer and not someone you call a blatant liar! Grovel your way elsewhere, I will not be treated that way!" Since then, a friend of mine Steve, I have known for years was transferred to that Orielly store and deal only with him. Steve has been a parts house salesman for going on 25 years, and is willing to go that extra mile to get you the parts you need, or will order them and call when they arrive.
 
busterrm said:
Well, I am not sure if I was here on Grumpy's forum when I had a ice storm accident with the 04 Dodge Ram pickup I had. Anyway, hit a patch of ice and hit a guard rail, got a knot on my forehead hitting the steering wheel, badly bruised ego, and wiped out truck. Insurance totaled it, so I was in search for a new truck, got my 07 Chevy, and just to be safe I changed the oil, tranny fluid, plugs, and all the filters, and serpentine belt. Along with all the filters, I get a fuel filter, so I go to changing plugs, oil, tranny fluid, all the filters, and save the fuel filter for last. Thinking its one of those easy pull out the little tab on both ends and pop the new filter in and we're off to the races. Wrong, My 07 Silverado doesn't have a inline fuel filter, it has a filter in the gas tank that is replaced with the fuel pump. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 18 year old girl "Kaitlyn" that sold me all the parts, one look in her eyes and you see only one thing. Lights are on but nobody is home!
Anyway, I go back two days later, Kaitlyn is no where to be found, get this guy(also clueless) and tell him the story. He goes to his computer and says, "Yes, your truck has a inline fuel filter!" I am getting kinda angry, say to him, "Go out there and crawl under my truck and point out where the son of a **** is and I will change it!" To that I get, "Well, my computer says you have one, I can't return it and give you your money back!" By this time I am about to boil over!
I went home cooled off, the next day I went by the Chevy Dealership here in town and found out I was right! They started putting the filters in the gas tank in the fall of 05 in the new 06s. So I go to the parts store again, thank goodness they are a few miles from my place and about an mile from the dealership. Guess who is there at the counter again, "Mister My Computer Says You Have One!" So very politely I handed him a business card from the parts manager at the dealership and asked him to call the number. I say, " Ask this man where I might find my inline fuel filter on my 07 Chevy Truck!" So I wonder off and look at some silicon and gasket spray, and he summons me back to the counter and has my $12.50 in his hand, and begs my forgiveness for his behavior the previous day. I am like giving him one of those decision making looks tapping my finger on my chin and said,
" NO, I am a customer and not someone you call a blatant liar! Grovel your way elsewhere, I will not be treated that way!" Since then, a friend of mine Steve, I have known for years was transferred to that Orielly store and deal only with him. Steve has been a parts house salesman for going on 25 years, and is willing to go that extra mile to get you the parts you need, or will order them and call when they arrive.
Click to expand...

:D

What a wonderfull parts store story current day Bob... ;)

It has to be the educational system these kids GO through today. Lost without a COMPUTER.
 
87vette81big said:
busterrm said:
Well, I am not sure if I was here on Grumpy's forum when I had a ice storm accident with the 04 Dodge Ram pickup I had. Anyway, hit a patch of ice and hit a guard rail, got a knot on my forehead hitting the steering wheel, badly bruised ego, and wiped out truck. Insurance totaled it, so I was in search for a new truck, got my 07 Chevy, and just to be safe I changed the oil, tranny fluid, plugs, and all the filters, and serpentine belt. Along with all the filters, I get a fuel filter, so I go to changing plugs, oil, tranny fluid, all the filters, and save the fuel filter for last. Thinking its one of those easy pull out the little tab on both ends and pop the new filter in and we're off to the races. Wrong, My 07 Silverado doesn't have a inline fuel filter, it has a filter in the gas tank that is replaced with the fuel pump. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 18 year old girl "Kaitlyn" that sold me all the parts, one look in her eyes and you see only one thing. Lights are on but nobody is home!
Anyway, I go back two days later, Kaitlyn is no where to be found, get this guy(also clueless) and tell him the story. He goes to his computer and says, "Yes, your truck has a inline fuel filter!" I am getting kinda angry, say to him, "Go out there and crawl under my truck and point out where the son of a **** is and I will change it!" To that I get, "Well, my computer says you have one, I can't return it and give you your money back!" By this time I am about to boil over!
I went home cooled off, the next day I went by the Chevy Dealership here in town and found out I was right! They started putting the filters in the gas tank in the fall of 05 in the new 06s. So I go to the parts store again, thank goodness they are a few miles from my place and about an mile from the dealership. Guess who is there at the counter again, "Mister My Computer Says You Have One!" So very politely I handed him a business card from the parts manager at the dealership and asked him to call the number. I say, " Ask this man where I might find my inline fuel filter on my 07 Chevy Truck!" So I wonder off and look at some silicon and gasket spray, and he summons me back to the counter and has my $12.50 in his hand, and begs my forgiveness for his behavior the previous day. I am like giving him one of those decision making looks tapping my finger on my chin and said,
" NO, I am a customer and not someone you call a blatant liar! Grovel your way elsewhere, I will not be treated that way!" Since then, a friend of mine Steve, I have known for years was transferred to that Orielly store and deal only with him. Steve has been a parts house salesman for going on 25 years, and is willing to go that extra mile to get you the parts you need, or will order them and call when they arrive.
Click to expand...

:D

What a wonderfull parts store story current day Bob... ;)

Its got to be the educational system these kids GO through today. Lost without a COMPUTER.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I work with a few youngsters at the shop that on break, you guessed it they are glued to their smartphone. Mindless turds they are without a cellphone.
 
Its really a sad situation.
Nationwide problem.
Political problem(s).
:(
 
87vette81big said:
Its really a sad situation.
Nationwide problem.
Political problem(s).
:(
Click to expand...
I got my education the hard way, I worked my way through college, and went to school of hard knocks also.
 
BTW, its a real good idea when you buy replacement parts locally , like brakes, belts or hoses, spark plugs, freeze plugs, wheel studs, etc. to bring the old pads or shoes , belts or hoses to the store so you can visually compare the parts the guys selling you , I don,t know why but I have seen several times where the package of brake pads or brake shoes,hoses, plugs etc. or belts bare little or no resemblance to the old ones, your replacing.
if you are buying bearings or bearing seals , or suspension components , wheel bearings and a dozen other components having a caliper handy to measure and actually comparing the parts side bye side is a good idea also,
its also a good idea to clean the older parts in a good solvent and brush and dry them so you can look for part numbers or brand names.
Feeler-Gauge.jpg

calipersaa.jpg



CLEAN PARTS AND LOOK FOR NUMBERS, BEARINGS AND SEAL USUALLY HAVE THEM
bnu1.jpg

bnu2.JPG

bnu3.jpg

bse4.jpg
 
87vette81big said:
Indycars said:

I'm sure this is nothing new for you Brian, but for others I would wait a week and go back hoping to get someone else. Or try calling the next day and see what kind of response you get. After 25 years do you know someone on a first name basis that could help?
Click to expand...

Maybe Rick.
I cant write here on Grumpys forum what flew out of my mouth......
I was just furious.
What I need is vintage bearing catalogs.
They should have them.
I get mad like Grumpy, you and others here.
Frustrating.

I am beat up tired from work last 2 days.
I will post part numbers of bearings I after on my 1948 truck rearend thread.
Get my Kodak digital camera out too.
Unique bearings.
Unlike what I am accustomed to seeing.

Good thing for Grumpys forum.
Help each other out when needed.
Click to expand...
We are all here cuz we love to work on cars, trucks, hotrods, t buckets, etc..... I love helping someone else work on their project.
 
busterrm said:
87vette81big said:
Indycars said:

I'm sure this is nothing new for you Brian, but for others I would wait a week and go back hoping to get someone else. Or try calling the next day and see what kind of response you get. After 25 years do you know someone on a first name basis that could help?
Click to expand...

Maybe Rick.
I cant write here on Grumpys forum what flew out of my mouth......
I was just furious.
What I need is vintage bearing catalogs.
They should have them.
I get mad like Grumpy, you and others here.
Frustrating.

I am beat up tired from work last 2 days.
I will post part numbers of bearings I after on my 1948 truck rearend thread.
Get my Kodak digital camera out too.
Unique bearings.
Unlike what I am accustomed to seeing.

Good thing for Grumpys forum.
Help each other out when needed.
Click to expand...
We are all here cuz we love to work on cars, trucks, hotrods, t buckets, etc..... I love helping someone else work on their project.
Click to expand...

I found the individual bearings to Rebuild the 1948 Chevrolet 1 ton single speed 5.14 geared rear Differential.
There is GOD indeed Bob.
He is looking out for all of us here on Grumpy's Forum.
Times are tough for most all of us.
Have to help each other out.
Favor is returned eventual.

$1200 in bearings & seals....owner paid for. Shipped to his house & he will drive them over to me.
It is what it is.
A rare & unique Chevy differential.
Update you when parts are in & get that thread going again I started.

BR
 
I had a Friend stop over who had persistent problems with BOTH front disc brakes locking up and failing to release, backing off the master cylinder hydraulic line connection cause BOTH calipers to release.
thus it was rather obvious the valving in part of the master cylinder was defective in the old master cylinder, so we ordered a replacement and installed it only to find that one of the thread holes for the connection lines was a bit tighter than expected and one of the existing brake line hydraulic flare fittings was previously buggered up by some previous repairs, done at who knows what time or place as the cars decades old.
we decided to remove the brake line and take it to a local napa to find a matching replacement part.
any time your trying to match older parts taking the old part with you to the parts store with you when you can helps reduce mistakes by comparing old with new, before making several trips.
I removed the brake line so we could take it to the local napa store to compare with what was available, but we could not find a really close replacement line with the correct fittings in the generic rack, If I could find something similar with-in 8"-12 inches in length I could make the required adjustments to get it to fit,
the obvious procedure would be to cut the old flare off and install a new fitting and re-flare the steel brake line.
the problem with that route was the local carts stores didn,t have the correct replacement fittings in stock.
and having been that route several times in the past I didn,t cut off the old fitting or flare on the steel tube until I found the correct replacement fitting, so once it was obvious that we were not going to get that fitting..
I eventually use a jewelers/needle file to carefully straiten up the damage threads.
the end result was we replaced the defective master cylinder and re-used the existing lines and fittings, once we bled the brakes the cars problem vamnished

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-p ... -4614.html

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=1030&p=35905&hilit=flare+fittings#p35905

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Resul ... N-0/Nao-10
 
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