Hot Rods V belts are obsolete?

Yesterday I was running around in my '39 Chev coupe and noticed the belt squealing whenever I gave the car some throttle off idle. So when I got home I discovered my alternator bracket was broken, and took it off to weld it up. The V belt was worn from the alternator being at a slight angle, so I went to the Autozone a few blocks from my house, and took my old A53 Gates belt with me. Told two young guys not to try to enter make, model, etc., as it wont work; just cross reference it. They couldn't figure that out, so we went to the belts to match it up.
Now here's where it got bad. All their belts are in cubby holes, not hanging, so had to pull out each one to try and find the correct one. That didn't take long as they had maybe 10 v belts, and the rest were flat serpentine belts. I asked why so few V belts, and was told they're too old, and they don't sell enough to keep much stock. And you can't order one in unless it can be ordered for the specific car, make and model!
Had to go online and buy one from Amazon to finally get the correct replacement.

 

At least you had the number to go by. Getting tough to just walk in and buy parts anymore.(For our stuff). In a pinch, go to hardware store and get the size you need from the electric motor stuff(water pump, table saws etc). They tend to stretch as they are not engineered for automotive, but will get you going, if stuck for one.

 

hmmm....I've been able to get V belts from chain parts stores pretty easily, they've always had the size I need in stock. I guess that could be changing. Thanks for the heads up.

As far as matching them up, I'm pretty good at understanding the numbers, so that's not a big problem. Most use a standard number system, which is the width (in 1/16ths or 1/32nds) followed by the length in 1/10ths.

so a 7540 or a 15540 would be a normal narrow belt that's 54.0 inches long

 

That sucks.. Same issues when you’re running an old flathead. I try to keep backup replacement items if not in the trunk, in the garage.

 

Shit, my local O'reilly's only had one muffler in stock, total, when I went there and looked. All mufflers except one glass pack were special order items. I can order shit myself, and if I'm going to have to wait for a couple days, I may as well get the much cheaper online price.

And yet, the same place stocked the right torque converter bolts I needed for my '57, and a bushing kit for shifter linkage that fit my girlfriend's Gremlin. I have no idea how they decide what they'll stock.

 

Few things to consider. Most parts chains pay for vehicle registry every year to know the vehicle demographic in every given area, apply that and regular sales reports to account for stocking parts. Obviously v belts sell less and vehicles registered that use them are little compared to whats on the road these days.

Shouldn't be that hard to cross a part number, but consider autozones main belt line is continental. They use some differing numbering system than gates and for some I guess can be hard to cross over. Compared to Napa or Oreilly that use gates numbering system.

Lastly I think its more them not knowing how to really do their job. Here I could get that belt from autozone today. Its stocked at their Dayton hub and Columbus warehouse. All i did was interchange the part number. Oreilly has it at the Dayton hub and Napa has one stocked in the local store.

Heres Napa's DC inventory for Gates A53 Excluding the local and neighboring states that is used to service Ohio.

NAPA OKLAHOMA CITY DC - Order cutoff: 3:55 PM 5
NAPA Portland DC - Order cutoff: 7:00 PM 3
MAI DC - Order cutoff: 3:30 PM 3
ALB DC - Order cutoff: 3:30 PM 3
OWA DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 6
HOU DC - Order cutoff: 4:30 PM 18
ALQ DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 2
NJ DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 2
NAPA ANCHORAGE DC - Order cutoff: 6:00 PM 5
GATES - Order cutoff: 3:00 PM 99+
SP DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 5
NAPA CHARLOTTE DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 3
NAPA SEATTLE DC - Order cutoff: 7:15 PM 2
DAL DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 42
DEN DC - Order cutoff: 6:00 PM 1
Des Moines DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 8
MEM DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 7
LA DC - Order cutoff: 6:55 PM 1
CHI DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 1
BOS DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 1
NAPA MINNEAPOLIS DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 5
NTN DC - Order cutoff: 4:55 PM 6
NAPA BILLINGS DC - Order cutoff: 6:00 PM 1
KC DC - Order cutoff: 4:30 PM 9
SLC DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 2
SPO - NAPA Spokane DC - Order cutoff: 7:00 PM 3
ATL DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 12
MIA DC - Order cutoff: 3:30 PM 1
WAS DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 4
BUF DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 3
OMA DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 21
JAC DC - Order cutoff: 5:00 PM 12
NAPA SACRAMENTO DC - Order cutoff: 7:00 PM 1
RIC DC - Order cutoff: 4:00 PM 2
SA DC - Order cutoff: 4:30 PM 5
CON DC - Order cutoff: 3:30 PM 3
NAPA PHOENIX DC - Order cutoff: 6:00 PM 1

 

I order industrial belts with the correct profile width for the application. Specify by length (measured around the outer face).

 

I have said this before on other threads, chain stores are there to make money. Most everyday cars use serpentine belts so that is what they stock because that is what sells most frequently. Old vehicles are a niche hobby, they do not cater to us, they have no financial incentive to do so.

 

It’s a new game out there. There was a member that reversed looked up part to vehicle via RockAuto. I tried but no success. Maybe someone can chime in on how it’s done.

As for vehicle only look up only, no, they can do part #. Corporate doesn’t want them doing it that way.

 

It’s not obvious as the bit you need to click just looks like normal text, someone had to show me too.

Put the part number in the search field and click search. When you get the part up click on the part number (circled)


And a list of vehicles it’s used on will pop up

 

Neat! Funny thing, a few belts show up but the number A53 can not give vehicle but the other belts will. There are numerous vehicles that use that belt.

Let’s see if OP will play along?

 

If they increased inventory for more v-belts and mufflers they would need to reduce the rubber floor mats, license plate frames and other doodaw trinkets.

 

We have a parts store here in town that use to be locally owned/operated for many years that was bought out by a chain store. This store was the place to go for decades if you had an older vehicle of any type (including tractors) and you needed something and it wasn't in stock, they could find it and order it for you, even after the chain store took over. They do not even carry V belts in the store or warehouse any longer. It isn't based on demographics of this area either. There are plenty of "hobby" car owners in this area, a popular paved circle track less than 15 miles away, and a drag strip less than 10 miles away. They are definitely not running Hyundai's and Subaru's on either track... Just sayin.

 

Hardware store? Now those are obsolete!!

 

There's a Napa, National, O'Reilly and an AutoZone all within five minutes of my house. Of those AutoZone is the worst at having, finding or getting parts I need.
I'm sure it has a lot to do with who's behind the counter. What experience and training they've had has a lot to do with it but the issue is deeper than that, they just don't seem to cater to the old car hobbyist like the others.
For belts though, when I need something specific or unusual, like multiple belts with sequential serial numbers for a multiple V belt blower drive I go to Williams Oil Filter Service in Tacoma. They can usually come up with the odd shaped radiator hose or make any brake line I need too.

 

Vehicle Demographic is one of many sources used in determining stocking. Sounds to me more like poor management. Typically a chain comes in, they send a remodeling team. This team is going to change the parts over, store design, cataloging system, etc. Train employees on the new systems and rules, what not. Usually most the good people or owners that knew what they needed to keep around are gone at this point.

Any manager should have the power to add inventory to their store. I use to be able to login into my stores inventory listing and increase unit value, which I could keep non- inventory parts instock for 2 months compared to the usual 3 day return period before the distribution center called for them back. If the items sell you can request adding it to normal inventory stocking. Could do that without increasing unit value, but obviously showing sale movement then corporate would typically approve and finalize the change.




Every chain should have a lost sale report. This goes back to what Paul was talking about, it depends who is behind the counter. If you're by a race track, or anything automotive related if the employees aren't doing their job reporting lost sales or the need for inventory increases on parts then it won't get changed.

 

I swear this is the first corner the bean counters cut. Outside the hobby I deal with belts somewhat regularly (industrial, both v and toothed) and I can more easily read the labels on 30 year old belts than 5 year old belts. It’s a pain in the butt to have to measure things, or trust the parts guy 2 time zones away, when all it took was not half-assing the markings at the factory.

 

But not the air freshners and zip ties! Roadkill has to have those for their roadtrips!

 

Farm supply stores usually have a huge selection.

 

Luckily, We do have a NAPA that can still carry older parts on the shelf and order for you if needed. That is where I usually have to go.
Believe me... I understand that stores cannot carry every part, for every make, model, year etc. due to space and demand. I also understand that most vehicles on the road built over the last 30 years use a serpentine belt. But a lot of vehicles and industrial/farm equipment still uses V belts.

 

Local NAPA only stocks one 2" muffler clamp.

 

BJR, it is for a 2012 Honda Civic!

 

Its all a joke any more ,,,
The ones that are 50ish plus should have been harder on there kids & took them behind the wood shed more often

 

I went to 3 different auto parts stores to find a belt for my project. I took an old belt, cut it and had it ziptied back together to get a length. 2 wouldn't even try. The kid at the 3rd place actually tried to read the number of the cut belt.. Figured I would stop at the Auto zone being I had to pass right by it. Asked the older gentleman at the counter and he blankly stared at me and this 20 something year old girl, full of piercings and tattoos, popped out from the back with a belt gauge and even showed the older guy how to use it. walked over to the wall grabbed what I needed and I was on my way. Restored my hope for the future.

 

I can explain part of the issue that was the initial part of this discussion. I know several parts store managers. They have explained to me one of the primary issues with us not being able to get the correct part, or part numbers being difficult to trace comes from parts suppliers buying each other out.
Parts supplier A is bought out by supplier B. Supplier B goes through their "new inventory and weeds out same parts they originally parts supplier A was carrying. Eventually after several years supplier B is bought out by C, D , E etc. All doing the same thing. (We've seen this in the aftermarket suppliers too) Now the problem now comes from the bean counter at supplier Z. He/she wants to know ( for example) why the company carries 12 different fuel pumps for the SBC 1955-85. Their parts book, that has been a conglomeration of the previous bought out suppliers, shows 6 of those 12 fuel pumps are interchangeable? Get rid of 5, and only carry 7 fuel pumps. The bean counter that has never worked on a car, doesn't realize that certain years/chassis used that specific pump and the one they claim is interchangeable doesn't fit/work for your application.

 

Actually they see that they sell one of those pumps every 6 months at best and realize that it is costing them more in shelf space than they are making on the part.

There seems to be a lot of people who don't understand that keeping inventory that doesn't turn costs a business money so by the time they sell something that has been sitting there for months on end it's actually costing the business money not making it any. They are not in business as a convenience for people with old cars.

 

Just 2 days ago I was indirectly criticized by a neighbor for buying parts online. In this case I ordered from Amazon, and I hate Amazon. But they are the ones who got me the parts. Both local parts stores tried.

 

when I was replacing wheel studs on my truck i was replacing all of them but when i contacted napa, autozone and advance auto they each had only 1 in stock. Ended up going to orielly's they at least had 2 full boxes of them so i only had to make 1 stop.

 

"There seems to be a lot of people who don't understand that keeping inventory that doesn't turn costs a business money so by the time they sell something that has been sitting there for months on end it's actually costing the business money not making it any."

my dad started stocking parts for our equipment because no one wanted to keep parts on hand because like mentioned it cost them money but it also cost us money if we have to shut a machine down for a week until we get the part in. so anything that we consider wear parts we stock at our shop just in case. my dad had a fit the first time this happened. shut down a rig that makes $6,000 a day for a week because the part house won't carry $100 seal kit. So now when it goes out, we can bring it to our shop and we can have it back out on the job the next day already, back to making money. we carry more certain parts than the part houses and we have at times our competition calling us when the parthouse/warehouses cannot get their parts right away asking if we have any in stock. bad enough when they tell you a week for certain parts but now they tell you 30 or 60 days is nuts on certain parts. that could put a small companies out of business waiting to get their machine fixed.

it is really getting bad out there now that so many industries got rid of their warehouses and now make the parts on demand after they are ordered. no more having warehouses full of them ahead of time waiting to go out, that costs them storage money.

 

One thing Would help is when there is over 30 Autozones in 10 mile radius
(( & other big box stores )) why each locations could have a inventory of stock with different parts in each store ,
There are So many people not thinking ahead ,,, you keep order thing off line when wright down @ store ,,, To impatient and use self check out,
Mobile ordering food,
Donot care about there Job ,,, Are just going to put there self & others out of a job