We are lucky enough to have an early Ford parts dealer here in east Tennessee. He has been peddling parts for ages and has anything I have ever needed. Gene at Gene's Hot Rod parts ( www.geneshotrodparts.com ) is a great guy and a trip to his shop is always entertaining and educational. From vintage quick changes to early Mor-drop axles, he has it all. Walking into the shop is like going back in time and its inventory constantly changing. This is isn't meant to be a big ol' SPAM sammich. I just went to pick up a few parts today and was thinking on the way home "I could have ordered some of this stuff from a catalog" but the customer service and fun I had just hanging out for a few hours wouldn't have come with it. Maybe we can pick up a pair of brake drums cheaper at the swap - maybe we can't. A lot of what these little shops offer could be ordered from a catalog - but even more couldn't. If you have a shop like this near you and the owner is an honest business man count your blessings. A select few make a living hunting this kind of stuff down and offering it to us. I'm glad one of them is just down the road...... JH
Gene is a well known old Ford parts guy and like Harrison says.........he is good to deal with. I have bought a good bit of stuff from him. Some in Riceville TN (his home base) and some at the flea markets. here is a link to him...... http://www.geneshotrodparts.com/updates&cars.htm
back home id get pretty much everything at my local speed shop.. "gotelli's speed shop" in south san francisco. family owned and run since the 50s(?)... the older heads were always helpful and nice when i asked stupid questions.
That's what this world needs.......... more store shoppers. They are trying to make a living and you matter to them unlike the catalogs where you are just a number.
that's all well and good..now go find me a good local shop around here (ohio) and i'll support em to no end
....I've done business with Gene for years.......He has driven flathead hot rods to the salt flats many times and his old yellow 5-window 32 w/t small block chevy is on the cover of Peter Vincents hardbound book....HOT ROD,,an American original.......just like Gene. HRP
Jim, have been sneaking down to Genes without me again? My boy misses working there, learning from an OLE MASTER him self. If he don't have the part he can tell you where to get and from. I need to make a trip down and hang out with Gene, he's got one of the best old Hotrod picture collection I've ever seen.
Finding a speed shop in Pittsburgh would be nice, actually finding someone near me into rods would be nice.
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