Two sides but...local parts stores are dying for a reason

[racsan]

generally if I need a part “right now” I go to town, If I want the best stuff I go to napa, if it doesn’t matter I go to autozone. I usually dont bother with oreilys or advance auto unless those other 2 dont have it. If is a part that can wait a week or two I will use rock auto, but never use usps for delivery. One time I didn’t & by the time the part came it was too late to send back if I had needed to. Consumables like oil & filters I get at meijers, tractor oil comes from wherever I can find shell rotella t4 15-40. usually rural king has it. Thermostats are a real issue, doesn’t seem to matter where you source them- test before installing!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

RA shipping costs have pretty much killed them for me.

Parts stores for me if it is something I may have to warranty (alternator, starter etc)

Otherwise Summit, Amazon, Speedway, ebay etc for me.

 

[pacstud]

One thing I try to do on RA, is "throw in" maintenance items with the truck symbol. So if I get a bigger ticket item, I try to throw in filters or any other odd ball thing I know I'll need later.

I average around 12-13 per shipping order. I had one with rotors that was a little steeper, I think about 25 for a whole pad/rotor kit. But even those, I've gotten closer to 15.

My main complaint is that the local chains are generally providing really low end parts, generally, with such a big mark up. Shopping for a motor mount for my daughter's focus, NAPA carries one that is really just the same Pioneer on RA, for 5x the price. Makes no sense other than their primary market is people who can afford not to shop.

I don't mind paying triple or quadruple for Motorcraft OE, when I can find it, but not for low end stuff.

Ebay is actually pretty good too, just have to really research your supplier. I buy a lot of plastic on ebay, trim pieces etc.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The parts stores anymore really seem to cater largely to commercial customers (shops) who dont really care about price cause they just want it done quick and the customer is paying for it anyways.

About 90% of my parts these days come from rock auto...i havent had a quality issue. That said if its something with a core charge i buy locally.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The parts stores anymore really seem to cater largely to commercial customers (shops) who dont really care about price cause they just want it done quick and the customer is paying for it anyways.

About 90% of my parts these days come from rock auto...i havent had a quality issue. That said if its something with a core charge i buy locally.

Pretty much anything I need for my Ranger I have to order from the store. It took me almost a week of screwing around before they could get me the correct fuel pump and I had to drop the tank and compare before I knew they had screwed it up..

This is why I parts stores don't do much for me. If I gotta look it up for them, force feed them part numbers and they have to order it I might as well cut the middle man out...

Post in thread ''85 Ranger Restomod'

Apr 7, 2025

Fun fun...



Gold star for Oreilly's! New on left, old on right.



I can kinda see why the sender was flaky. As far as cleaning it the contact board is like part of the plastic as in I can't actually feel the metal. Pump is shot anyway and the contact assembly looked a lot better on the wrong pump.



Went back into town and it was the same crap I get to deal...

• 85_Ranger4x4

• 

It is the warranty drawing me in, if a starter or something quits on the road it isn't hard to find an O'Reilly to swap it out... although anymore as my build ages them odds of them keeping that 90's-early 00's stuff on hand is probably becoming moot as well.

 

[pacstud]

Even if I order from <chain store parts> I just assume I'll have to make sure it's the right part. I can't trust whoever is working, who is going off their database anyway.

"I need a ____"

"What do you drive?"

"Can I just tell you the part #?"

"What do you drive?"

"No, I know, I just already know what you have and what I need, can I just tell you what to get?"

"What do you drive?"

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Even if I order from <chain store parts> I just assume I'll have to make sure it's the right part. I can't trust whoever is working, who is going off their database anyway.

"I need a ____"

"What do you drive?"

"Can I just tell you the part #?"

"What do you drive?"

"No, I know, I just already know what you have and what I need, can I just tell you what to get?"

"What do you drive?"

This is also part of why I stopped dealing with the front counter. Commercial department doesn’t care if you rattle off part numbers or not.

I used to get irritated with the front counter and rattle off something like well, it’s a 1989 Bronco II 2wd with a 1991 Ranger 4.0 harness with a 199x motor and 1993 Explorer front axle plus a 2000 Ranger rear axle and shocks out of I don’t know what. Does that all fit in your box or would you like the part number now?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is also part of why I stopped dealing with the front counter. Commercial department doesn’t care if you rattle off part numbers or not.

Its all the same circus here, you get who is free.

 

[SenorNoob]

I did the same a couple times before they just expected me to have part numbers when I walk in. Usually written numbers with their line code and quantities.