Hot Rods Went to the auto supply store today OH MY!

Not sure what store you went to, but I know O'Reilly's actually carries "universal radiator drain cocks" and in numerous styles. Why this comes up as "universal" but has 1992 explorer is a mystery to me? But the drain cocks are all different sizes, and shapes.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/...fe/v/a/5254/automotive-suv-1992-ford-explorer

I also look up part numbers prior to going to the chain stores. But often I google the part name instead, and see if any of the parts are at chain parts stores. Then click on the links and once there I see multiple items usually.

 

@twenty8 funny you should mention that. I just picked up a second microfiche. The first one I got many years ago from a local Dodge dealer along with the parts catalogs that were viewed on it.

 

I buy most of my parts at the local AutoZone. Look it up online, put it in my cart and click off. In short order Autozone sends me a discount for the part in my cart. I go back, purchase it with the discount, go over and pick it up.

Easy Peasy. That I buy most of my parts there they know me. When I was building my Pontiac I needed a lower radiator hose. I wanted a molded hose. I went over and told them I could not give them a part number as I had no idea what I wanted exactly but I had a basic measurement and asked if I could just go back and go through the hoses.

Knowing me they let me. I found one I thought really close. (Lower Explorer hose) I bought it and with a small trim it looks factory. Get to know the people at the parts store.

 

My town of 25,000 doesn’t have a single store that is not a giant corporate chain.

If I’m not buying a consumable, I usually order it from RockAuto. My local Arnold Motor could get me most anything, but the base price is higher than RA, sometimes there is shipping if it needs to come from a factory (same cost as RA would charge), and the time frame is the same.

 

I'm betting all the cards were not put back in the proper order. Used to drive me mad..........
Oops, now I'm bitching about parts counter guys......

 

I’m thankful for my local parts store. But there are times that ORileys can get the parts that He can’t .

 

We are a small farming community with old ford farm trucks everywhere, lord knows I work on enough of them. Along with the fact we are less than 20 minutes from mokan raceway along with the dirt track within 35 minutes so there are plenty old ford 9" rear-ends being used in this area. Infact they are still hard to find and not cheap when you do thanks to the race cars farmers who'd rather keep the 1978 beater truck in the field and the new one for going to town.

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I’ve had counter people starting their shift tell me what I looked up isn’t there because they needed to talk about the night before with co-work in the back of the store rather than do their job. I guess they think sound doesn’t travel either.

 

Buddy , I just purchased 35 ft of Gates hose for the same project you are attacking . If you were near I’d gladly share what I have remaining . Ole Shovel takes 6 cyl Chebbie points . Go to the parts store and ask for a point and condenser !

They want to lock me up in the nut house , think I’m completely nuts . No such thing was ever made !

 

We have 3 parts stores in a town of less than 6000 people. 2 are owner operated. O`Reilys isn`t. Never go there. I was in a mechanic`s shop the other day, says he doesn`t warranty Rock Auto parts that customers bring in. He`s not fond of them. I have never bought from them. Read my quote below.

 

Thru out the 40+ years I was in the hot rod business I was fortunate to have access to small chain local parts store that was managed by some guys that gave a dam. As I needed a variety of different parts they didn't normally stock they made sure there was always one on the shelf regardless what the head office said. During that time they compiled a special sheet listing those parts. Unfortunately they both recently retired and new guys came in and everything changed. One of the last things one of the old guys did was make sure I had a copy of the sheet. As for me since I quit the chassis business I don't need the sheet nearly as much.

 

I would about as soon send my $$ to Rock as give it to Oreilly.

 

Computers don't list all the slang names for parts. What you want is listed as a differential carrier gasket. If the guy behind the counter isn't a gear head, he probably won't know that.

 

Below the equator, a petcock opens clockwise and closes counterclockwise and it sucks air in from the bottom and out the radiator cap. True dat!

 

Well they don't call them a petcock they are drain cocks. Agreed that all too many people who work in parts houses these days are clueless as to what a part even does on the car.
I've found that all too many young guys can't get past the concept that everything requires year, make model and what not to look it up even when you walk in with full info on a note pad or have the screen shot on your phone that you took off the net or off your store app on your phone.

They sure aren't hard to find in any of the big name parts houses but you have to have counter people who can think past the computer screen.

Advance Auto Parts: Car, Engine, Batteries, Brakes, Replacement, Performance & Accessories
Radiator Drain Plug - Find the Right Part at the Right Price | AutoZone

1957 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 Ton Truck Radiator Drain Cock | NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)

 

I doubt the guy behind the counter would even know what a differential carrier gasket is either.....

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Which probably won't help much anymore. Years ago I did an engine swap and wrote down the part numbers for the 'off application' bits I used. One was the molded-curve top radiator hose that I selected off their rack by comparing 'shape' to the wire guide I made. By trimming about 3" off one end, it fit perfectly. Fast forward to now.... I see a request here for the same style hose and think 'I've got that'. Dig out the number and check at the same vendors on-line catalog to see if the number is still good. Well, it wasn't. The number is in their system, but it's not a radiator hose that comes up now. Now I probably should have found and written down the OEM application also, but given the pre-computer-era when I bought it it's likely it's for a too-old car that isn't listed anymore either.

 

Probably not but he will be able to find the listing for it and that is the goal, isn't it?

 

True this^^^^^ Thought I would be smart and attempt to find an old catalogue at the local Napa today..... Did succeed, but the oldest was 2009. It did cover from 64 to present. The kicker= all the numbers are superseded in one way or another.No cross reference online, nor, even shown. I was after the measurements and pictures.........
Don't get me started on Vatozone! Chick throwing F-bombs, full neck tats, and shitty demeanor....... Then- What'cha want!

 

My friend owns the local Napa store in town, his family has owned it for 50 plus years, it has been an auto parts store since 1946! My retirement gig is running it for him on Sundays. It gives me fun money,10% over cost discount, access to the machine shop and paint mixing room. We have catalogs dating back to the 30's. A couple of us that are still there have 40 to 50 years of automotive experience. But now a days that don't mean jack shit. None of those old part numbers cross over to anything now days because corporate boss is not going to waste time and money into putting that info into the computer data banks. They research sales history and what sells in each market area. It is becoming next to impossible to get parts for 20-year-old cars and trucks let alone. 40 50- or 60-year-old stuff! And that only gets you back to 1963. And as far as the young guys relying on the computer, or not knowing what you need, it is not their job to know what and what won't fit your car, that's your job. I get sick and tired of people coming in and giving the guys behind the counter grief when they want for example an auto trans filter kit and they ask what trans they have, and the response is "I just told you it was an automatic!". Believe me after 50 years in the automotive field., there is a lot more idiots in front of the counter than behind it.

 

I find a lot of littles like that on Amazon

 

I hope you guys are sitting down.

I went to a parts place a couple of weeks ago to get a couple of exhaust hangers for my 23 year old daily. This particular store does not have them hanging on display so I asked a fellow and told him what I wanted and that they were kind of egg shaped. He ushered me to the storage shelves out back and said, "Well, they're all here" as he waved his arm like a girl displaying prizes on a TV game show. Within seconds I spotted what I wanted in one of the bins, he turned it over and yep, that was it. He seemed as pleased as me. I took two.

That hasn't happened to me since a guy did a similar thing when I asked about radiator hoses in a kind of 's' shape. About 30 years ago!

Anyway, miracles do happen.

 

Goes back to when I was in the Army, "correct noun nomenclature".

 

Nah, down here the petcock siezes up. It was last turned 60 years ago by some GM Holden technician responsible for filling new radiators on the assembly line. It don't get cold here, so no-one drains their radiator.

Five decades of corrosion, grease, dirt and heat cycles means the little brass stamped handle snaps off. You then use a pair of multigrips, pipe wrench or similar butcher's tool to get the remains out of the block.

After fighting it for an hour, you take the mangled lump of brass and snapped handle to the autoparts store and ask for a petcock. The counterman, whose parents were not born when that petcock was last turned, wonders if you are either nuts or being crude when you ask for one.

Cheers,
Harv

 

I have no doubt that this very true. In my younger years I had a few jobs working with the public. On most occasions it was not a fun time.

 

After snapping off the mild steel handle on a few old ones, I just replace them with a 1/4 BSP plug. If I am feeling energetic I will put some anti-seize on it.
Just don't ask for a petcock if the person at the counter has a rainbow coloured T-shirt on.

 

We don’t warranty any parts that the customer supplies.

 

^^^ simple just google what you want. take that Dorman number to Napa or wherever and have them cross it, not it's for a gm radiator in a 36 Dodge! The Napa store I work at use to have drawers full of all different styles, but a lot have been discontinued. Larry