That is absolutely right. And at any of the chain stores, it is simply unreasonable to expect the counter person to know everything about every make and model in the computer system. So when they ask for information that may sound silly to you, hold back your comments and give them the information they seek.

That being said, as someone with fairly extensive parts experience, I do get upset when that counter person can't open a book.


Lawrenceville, GA

Guys:

Keep in mind that not all parts counter folks are mechanics.  Many are hired because they accept low beginning wages and are computer savvy.  The question about AC plug wires is probably because the computer program is set up to ask that question about any engine part, because it often does matter, like when buying belts and hoses.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Daniel, I ordered a tube of cam grease, primary wire, and new cam gear from Mac's today.  Also have the primary wire on order at NAPA (and the only problem was a grumble about the wire not being in the computer).  Needed two anyway.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

Here in NC Pep Boys is the place to go to be waited on by the village idiot. I went there some time ago and asked for some plug wires and afetr a few minutes the guy aske me if the engine had air conditioning. Things are different now than when Dad had his parts store.

55Birdman  Hickory NC

Good luck finding distributor cam grease at NAPA. I guess tiny capsule/packets do come with the points they sell now, but when I tried to buy a tube, NO ONE in any of the three nearest stores knew what the hell I was talking about!

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

The old school/new school explanation doesnt or shouldnt hold up here.  Even though the Medford Grants Pass area is small compared to big cities, there are old car and trucks all over.  Slick Sixty pickups are quite common.  Bob Drake Co., producer of Ford reproduction parts, is in Grants Pass.  It will be interesting when I take the same distributor in today and provide the same information.

I did discover that the C5JF dist. takes a larger gromet than the earlier models. 

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

We have quite a few of those primary wires in old Eclin boxes still on the shelf at our shop, too bad the old man would just run you off if you asked for one.  "we're just a machine shop now, go to NAPA"

He sold the NAPA franchise 12 years back and doesn't like the new store in town so he takes it out on the customers, He's 90. We used to have parts men that you could put your old part on the counter (it's well worn wood with cash drawers and no registers, change was made in the mind ), the counter man would go in back, come out in a few minutes with what you want no questions asked.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Then there was the time I went into Autozone, gave the kid the part number I wanted, he walked up to his computer and asked, "what's it for?".

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Points became a thing of the past in the early 70's. That's about 40 years ago. How many parts men do you see that were even born 40 years ago? We are lucky to have a Carquest here that is owned by a guy in his 70's. His best counter man is a guy that drives a mid 60's Fairlane that looks like new. Carquest goes back to about 62 in the computer, but they still have books and the stuff is still available. I still remember when the owner bought a new 56 Ford. I drooled over it for about 5 years until I was able to buy a used 56 Ford for $300.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

What year did most manufacturers stop using conventional distributors?Likely the guy at Napa had never seen one and didn't know what it was maybe.Anyway I find the Napaonline website  very handy for looking up my own part#'s as Daniel mentions.