I went to Schucks Auto today to get some 6V tailight bulbs for my Model A. Should be simple enough. I look and look and cannot find anything other than 12V, so asked the parts guy if he had anything. He said they did not carry 6V bulbs anylonger. Says they are "obsolete". I couldn't belive it!!! A parts house not stocking a 6V light bulb! They must think everyone drives a new Focus or something. Then he tells me that most cars were factory 12V after the war (I am assuming he meant WWII) so they are really uncommon. I told him most cars were 6V until around the mid 50's, depending on brand and a lot of guys out there still drive these types of cars and truck. So my question to you is....what does your local parts store NOT STOCK that you think they should???
ahh yes amc stuff. you name it and its fairly unlikely the parts store will have it. Its great when im trying to get my gremlin together. definitly is easier doing it my way instead of full on original restore.
Is shuck's like a kragen or autozone? If so that's the problem, if it doesn't show on the their computer they tell you that's it's obsolete, they are good for armorall and neon lights. Go to a mom and pop's auto parts store and you will have better luck. i have some at my store pm me if you want part number
Autozone should locate in Walmart. Pretty similar. I went to look for a tube of Lubriplate Engine Assembly Grease last night no luck. Today I'm going to NAPA to buy some.
We still have two parts shops that are aligned with a big name company but are still independant. I needed a standard headlight for my motorcycle. They had it. I needed a muffler for my 54, they had it. I needed 6 volt tailights, they had a box full of them. The counter guy a couple times mentioned "yeah, and we have more at the wharehouse". I'd love to see this wharehouse.
Autozone told me one time that they dont make 6 volt bulbs any more. the guy said I should look in Hemmings. I just said, OK Thaniks for the tip! No body stocks Ford F1 brake drums either.
really miss the parts stores of the old days... we haven't had a NAPA store in town for years,but we've got Advance and Autozone...come to think of it,we've lost several in the last 10 years...and most of them were pretty good stores,with older stock still on the shelves..
my local napa has always been a succesful trip for me. and my local kragen is cool, because i know the manager, and get a 10% discount. and OSH for hardware. i bounce between those parts stores. i will NEVER go to pep girls again. i needed 2 tires swapped off of wheels, and they were close so i went there. they wanted $48 to swap 'em! i took my tires back and got them done from a guy down the road for $15!!!
Most of the parts stores here including big ones like Napa don't stock countermen that have a clue. Don't matter what's on the shelf if they don't know what is is. Awhile back I when to Checker (a Sunday), asked for an alternator for my 73 IH Scout, had the core in my hand. Counter guy said they don't carry IH parts, so I ask for a 73 Chevy PU alternator. The guy argued with me, didn't recognize a Delco internal reg. alternator is what I had.
Our local NAPA is awesome but you pay for it $$$, Advance has the stuff, just get a PN off of the website for when the counter monkeys "cant find it." I like to support NAPA and I appreciate the sevice, but if I don't have the cash, I don't have the cash.
If a parts house will sell you a 6 volt battery why wouldn't they sell you a 6 volt light bulb???? NAPA had everything on hand when I rebuilt the stock front brakes on my '58 Ford F100 a few years back.
Bumper bolts, none in town. I was told at one place I bought the last ones thay had. One place said, "bumpers don't have bolts." Had a flat the other day, something stuck in the side of the tire. Tire shop said 18.50 to repair sidewall. Tire tread was 3/4 gone so I thought, Well just buy a new set. So how much for a set 15 inch black wall? He says, I can order you a set, we don't stock 15's any more. Did I mention I was at a TIRE SHOP.
wtf are you doing going to autozone/shucks? you don't actually expect them to have parts for anything more than 10 years old, do you? "A" movers only....
Good old Dorman Boxes stacked high along a wall in the counter area. Filled with every fastener, including many style of large and small stainless-jacketed head bumper bolts, axle keys, crank keys, and all kinds of other goodies, priced right too! (Dorman was acquired by the "help" people several years ago). A complete full size Weatherhead display with all the brass and steel fittings known to man for automotive use. Most stores now have fitting selection in boxes the size of a briefcase, whaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I went to autozone to save some time cuz its 2 blocks from my house but I could understand why they didn't have the rare white elephant exhuast gaskets for that off brand 350 chevy! You can't expect them to have stuff like that. Its Summit or Speedway dfrom now on. No tax and fast ship. And I look up the part.
I can't fault a parts store for not having 50 year old parts in stock. I do expect them to try to find it for me. If they have lots of money tied up in slow moving parts, they probably won't be there the next time I need something or be able to take care of a warranty issue should one arise.
Chris...have you ever been in to Hagen's Auto Parts in Puyallup on River Road??? If not, you'd really dig it....they specialize in old cars and usually have a few T and A motors, along with flatheads, Packards, and Chevy sixes, on pallets by the front counter.... one whole wall is covered in old Ford parts....
Well they look at me like I was an idiot pretty much every time I want to get something for my cars. I have to order SAE bolts from the US. They've never heard of sealed beams. They don't stock and have never seen 215/75 R14 tires. There's only one type 6-volt battery that is cube shaped and people stare like a stupid monkey when I tell them I need a long and narrow one. And so on...
I miss the whole experience........ the parts, the knowledge, the service, the dark dusty shelves, and that old car greasy smell. I really do miss all that stuff! I have no interest in the sterile modern parts stores staffed with 3 idiots and no books!
If I want it they have to order it!,,,they do a good job but most of the stuff I need is not on their shelf.HRP
You could ask for a set of plugs for a 65 Chrysler Hemi and the first words out of their mouth would be " 6 or V-8?" God forbid they should have to get the old parts books out instead of using the computer too
The problem with most of the newer parts stores are thery only want to hire cheap labor and that's what you get when you go asking for something that is 1980 or older. If they can;t look it up on a computer then they're lost. I needed a trans mount for a turbo 400 when I was on the road one time so I stopped at one of the "national" chains and when they asked what vehicle it was in. I couldn't refuse and told them my 48 Chevy pickup. The ass tried looking it up on the computer then was stumped and didn't know what to do, but call the manager who was smart enough to say that they don't carry anything for 1948 vehicles. Anyway, I ended up convincing the manager to let me look in a book (you would've thought I had three heads when I asked that), but found what I needed from a 74 impala, got it and went on my way. Your best bet is if you can form a friendship with someone at either a NAPA or a Carquest (maybe one of the other chains too), and ask if they or even you could look in some of the older books for what you need. A little book reasearch will often find what you need......if not have a little more info on sizes or dimensions of what you need and maybe you can match something that way (60 Lark wheel cylinders are the same dimensions as a 64 through 66 mustang...if you want a rebuild kit for $6 rather then ordering $45 cylinders and waiting for them) OK I rambled long enough...bottom line is go well prepared and willing to do a little digging
It may be a Southern thing ... but both NAPA and Car Quest stock F-1 and F-100 brake drums, shoes and wheel cylinders. I do live in a area where there are a lot of old Ford pickups still on the road ...
That sums up the average "parts store" experience for me. That's why I go to NAPA or the local Lee Auto Parts. I get what I need without the mental "Vacancy" sign flashing at me...
I called five different parts stores looking for a set of engine main bolts for a Ford 302. Not ONLY did I not get a part number, I actually had one guy ask me "what size is it?" When I said I wasn't positive, but it's about a 1/2 thread and roughly 4" long, he put me on Hold, went to the bolt bin, came back to the phone and said, "sorry, the longest one I have is three inches." It is downright scary how stupid everyone has become.
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