Ford Broke My Heart Today

[MikeG]

Bring one of the old plugs in with you, or order online.

"Computer" isn't always right, even on the modern stuff. AZ gives me the wrong plugs for my Mazda 3, every time......

 

[racsan]

check ebay, some things rock auto doesnt carry- like speedometer gears.

 

[Shran]

Walk into the parts department and find someone with gray hair. If no one there is over the age of 50, go home and order online.

Some of my worst part store experiences are with older dudes. I made one guy go back four times and cut four pieces of fuel line until he got me one that said "for fuel injection use" on it like I asked for the first time. He was probably in his 60's.

Not the rule for sure and I respect my elders but damn, if you don't know car parts, can't operate a computer and can't read...how are you employed?

 

[19Walt93]

None of the manufacturers will continue to make parts for older "classic" vehicles unless they sell in numbers large enough to justify the expense. There's a common myth than manufacturers must produce parts for vehicles for 10 years, the fact is they are required to produce them for the period of the warranty. Our parts manager had it set up so that any part which sold 3 times in a 12 month period would be added to his suggested stock, then he'd review it and order what he wanted because recalls-for example- will create a surge in demand that quickly disappears and keeping only what sells in stock is critical. Unsold parts are money on the shelf that can't be used to but faster moving parts. The best we can hope for is availability of good quality repro parts for older vehicles unless the parts are still used in production vehicles.
As to the names of parts, I have never heard the rubber insulators/bushings/whatever between the body and frame called anything but body mounts but there are many parts with different names. It used to drive me nuts ordering a part by the name in the shop manual and finding out the parts system called it something else. OBD II forced common names for some parts, Ford always had either EGO or HEGO sensors, GM called them O2's and heated O2's so we had to change. Generators make DC voltage, alternators produce AC and use rectifiers to convert it to DC. OBD II calls alternators "generators". I've heard old guys(older than me) call the gas pedal the "foot feed" and one tech who grew up in North Carolina called the removable center section of a 9 inch a "hogs head", in New England it's a pumpkin.

Some of my worst part store experiences are with older dudes. I made one guy go back four times and cut four pieces of fuel line until he got me one that said "for fuel injection use" on it like I asked for the first time. He was probably in his 60's.

Not the rule for sure and I respect my elders but damn, if you don't know car parts, can't operate a computer and can't read...how are you employed?

That's what Autozone hires, they want people to follow the prompts on the screen because they don't pay enough to hire experienced counter help.

 

[19Walt93]

Also I dont wholly see the fiat merger as a problem.

Yes, its GM of Italy.

But. That gives dodge access to Ferrari, Lancia, alfa, etc.

Dodge is a successful brand. Id like to see Chrysler get more attention.

I've worked on Fiats, Lancias and Alfas, I can't think of anything they have that I would want. I've also worked on Mercedes, not a fan of those either.

 

[sgtsandman]

A lot of the counter help at auto parts stores rely completely on the computer and have minimal vehicle maintenance experience. I’ve had to bring the old part in a couple times in order to get the correct one.

I like Rock Auto but one disadvantage is that you can’t compare and verify parts before buying. You are at the mercy of the system being right.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Also I dont wholly see the fiat merger as a problem.

Yes, its GM of Italy.

But. That gives dodge access to Ferrari, Lancia, alfa, etc.

Dodge is a successful brand. Id like to see Chrysler get more attention.

My hat goes off to dodge. They are the only ones building americana with a pulse.

 

[Shran]

The Challenger is cool, the Power Wagon trucks are cool, but I just can't get excited about anything else FCA builds. Nothing they are doing is really revolutionary or groundbreaking and it seems like they've had one foot in the grave since Lee Iacocca left. I think they'd be long gone if it hadn't been for Jeep and the turbo diesel revolution in the 90's.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The Challenger is cool, the Power Wagon trucks are cool, but I just can't get excited about anything else FCA builds. Nothing they are doing is really revolutionary or groundbreaking and it seems like they've had one foot in the grave since Lee Iacocca left. I think they'd be long gone if it hadn't been for Jeep and the turbo diesel revolution in the 90's.

I would love a Power Wagon that wasn't rusting and/or had a flat cam in 5 years.

 

[sgtsandman]

I like this one. It's probably waaaaaay out of my price range.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I like this one. It's probably waaaaaay out of my price range.

They made factory crews????? Ive never seen one!

The Challenger is cool, the Power Wagon trucks are cool, but I just can't get excited about anything else FCA builds. Nothing they are doing is really revolutionary or groundbreaking and it seems like they've had one foot in the grave since Lee Iacocca left. I think they'd be long gone if it hadn't been for Jeep and the turbo diesel revolution in the 90's.

They are keeping the V8 RWD platform alive. Thats what i respect. The challenger is off the charts bad ass IMO, the charger can be a damn hot ride too.

 

[sgtsandman]

They made factory crews????? Ive never seen one!

I believe they were three door. I know a 1966 I was really wanting was a three door.

 

[Roert42]

The younger generations may want to change everything including what its called but that doesn't make it 'their baby.' On a final note, all of you missed the point of the post. It's not the part. It's the change in the automotive enthusiasts and the American legendary hobby that is the sad part; not the car part.

I am completely lost on your logic. Are you saying that because someone takes the time to learn how an automobile works and figures out a way to optimise it to preform better at a certain thing they are destroying the this hobby? So, every self build drag car that pulls nines in a quarter is an idiot that’s destroying the automotive hobby?

@PetroleumJunkie412 Is ruining wrenching for the rest of us because he is turning a rusty old pickup into a race car?

Kids dont care about cars because for their whole life cars have been nothing but souless appliances.

I resent this. There are plenty of people that think of cars as appliances from all generations, Henry Ford for example.

I have a friend who build a 600hp Acura hatch back out of a four cylinder eco box. Not nearly as easy as making 600hp out of a 351w.

 

[sgtsandman]

Before this gets out of hand. Please stop with the personal comments. Disagree all you want but no personal attacks please.

 

[MikeG]

I like this one. It's probably waaaaaay out of my price range.

If Dodge would make THAT, I'd be at the dealer tomorrow, buying one. Even if it had a 5hp Briggs and Stratton for a motor......