Sometime back I went into a Kragen for some items that are usually found out in the store on display. A female "parts person" approached and ask if she could help me. I said "no, thanks, I'll find it myself and I enjoy browsing". This seemed to annoy her for some reason and she became insisted that she help me. I'd already told her no, so I figured since she wouldn't listen I'd put her on a mission. I told her I needed a gallon of anti freeze, some carb cleaner, and a 12 ounce can of vacuum. Well, she found the anti freeze and the carb cleaner without too much trouble, then I saw her walking up and down the aisles looking on all the shelves. She went behind the counter and began looking around back there. Finally she asked one of the guys behind the counter where the 12 ounce cans of vacuum might be. He busted out laughing. She came over and told me there was no such thing as a 12 ounce can of vacuum and left me alone the rest of the time I was in the store. :jester

 

12 ounce can of vacuum! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually, I feel real sorry for those people. For one thing, there is just so many cars and so many different parts nowadays. I remember many years ago going to the parts store for a water pump for a 302 ford and they asked me how many teeth were on the flywheel!!! WTF? Now, things are much much worse.

And another thing, they don’t pay them people anything. You're not going to find an expert on parts at one of them places because they pay what, about eight bucks an hour :nonod:


[Modified by Quasar92Blue, 3:14 PM 5/19/2002]

 

That's mean - you know that Vacuum only comes in litres!




[Modified by TravisD, 4:27 PM 5/19/2002]

 

I agree with all the above comments, but must say today they really impressed me.

Needed to remove the pulley from the power steering pump...they had a tool that you can buy and return full price (awesome deal), well they fella asked if I had power tools and I say no...then he offered to remove the pulley right then on the counter as he had a electric tool. No charge, he just said less paperwork for the both of us...I was quite happy...0930 on a sunday morning no less.

I must also mention the free performance friction brake pads they supply me with...as long as I ask for the 412Z and 413Z...no computer work needed.

:)

I keep going to same place now.

:D

 

Scrop, you and I (And several others) are now in a fairly unique position with our motor buildups...

You walk into a non descript NAPA, PepBoys, Checker, AutoZone, wherever and the pimply faced kid behind the counter asks in a cracking voice:

"What make and year mister?"

You reply:

"Well, it's funny. It STARTED OUT as a XX Corvette. But now it a different block, different intake, different fuel delivery, different ignition...um the exhaust is different, the heads are different and the rockers are different."

By now the kids curled up in a fetal position on the floor.

:reddevil :lol:

It's still pretty easy to buy oil at least... EVERYBODY'S got a Napa 1061 equivalent filter.


[Modified by RocketSled, 9:06 PM 5/19/2002]

 

How does Autozombie stay in business??? :crazy:

 

Things like this is why I goto NAPA for parts. I have had too many problems with Autozone and Kragen in trying to get parts. It took Kragen 3 attempts to get a new cat, and 4 times to get a coolant sensonor. Whenever I go to NAPA I never have problems.

 

Brian, these guys serve behind counters because concepts are not their strong suit. I know it's exasperating but I think you'll have make allowances. We have the same here too. You've done a great job so far. I've read every instalment so far, and it's almost an anticlimax now that its finished. Maybe you could post a video clip of the car running for us In Australia.

 

Ok, Matt Black

Now for the bonus question:

How many coils does a FOrd 5.4l in a 1998 Ford Expedition with air con and leather seats have?

Hint: you can use your lifelines or poll the audience.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

It only took 5 'lifetime' alternators for me to reach the same conclusion.

 

I stopped at our local Autozone to see if they had any brake pads in stock for the 84. The first question that they asked was did it have disk or drum brakes.

 

I went to AutoZone last week, got the part off the rack, brought it up to the counter and the kid asks me "Do You Want Fries With That?" :rolleyes:

I always try to go to my local parts stores. Ones that have been in town for years and years suppling Garages and Gas Stations with garages (remember those?) Usually the guys behind the counters are gearheads themselves.

 

I've read this string and while I've had my good and bad experiences with Autozone / Pep Boys / NAPA et all, they generally fill the bill. Sure, at $8 an hour, they can't hire mechanical guru's and thier computer systems do frustrate knowlegeable buyers (ie 3/4" heater hose story), but c'mon, they are there at all hours and generally fill the purpose. Cire96 :smash: :)

 

Most people walking in an Autozone really, really dont have a clue. Autozone makes money not by helping out someone fixing their toy BUT helping a guy or gal fix their daily driver. Be it a F150 or a Toyota Camary. There IS Eckler's, Mid America and a few more great places for Vett Parts. Need a common part its there need a fifteen year old gasket get real! Pay the extra bucks and get the service from a Vette part company. Or waste the gas and time by playing with the person behind the counter.

Chances are the kids studying for an exam and really needs more information than a egr tube for a 88 Vette, or coil. Hell my wifes car has 8 coils. The guy was one year off on the 1996 vette!

Maybe I've got stock in the Company so I'm biased. But they are a strong company which I'm glad they are there to provide a service. I'll pick up some syntec for the SS and talk with the manager today, bout my 85 and his T-type. Hell most times you guys are going there, WHEN you are stuck and need a part! Lighten up!

Leave the wining under the hood.. ;-) aka a blower.... for you guys that do'nt know what that is lol....

Phil

So lighten up, give the guy a brake... An maybe they'll get you the right brake(s)...

:troll :troll :troll :nopity :flag

 

Oh come on now. It isn't like EGR systems are something new and exciting on the Corvettes. They didn't even have a clue as to what the heck an EGR was let alone the difference between a tube and a valve.

 

I would if they didn't sell crap quality products.

I spent 6 hours laying on the cold concrete, with the garage door open because I couldn't jack up the car and close the door at the same time. It's 38 degrees in there, and I can't get the new motor mount to line up. Why? It's a crap product, built to crap tolerances.

I went through 4 alternators in 2 years. Returned with tools to install the 5th in the parking lot. It failed within a block. Returning, the manager said "You must have a big problem with your electrical system!", I had them put their remaining alternator on the test bench...DOA. I said "I must have one helluva electrical problem to affect an alternator from THE PARKINGLOT!". He said "We only have a 2% failure rate." Yeah right. And there's NOTHING they can do to 'make it right'.

If I'm going to make the effort to work on a car, and invest the time, tools, pain, and research to do so. I'm not gonna be happy when I'm cold, half the day's wasted, and my source sells me seomthing that won't work, and I can't GET it to work. Call me crazy. :crazy:

 

What Autozone, Scorp.... Check on there web page it should be listed there.
I had a hell of a time ordering TPIS headers for my 85 from TPIS years back 'cause of the EGR tube'. I've had trouble with tech support from Accell, Summit, and Chevy dealers of all places. The service manager did'nt know what a Aurborn Diff. was... "Duh" we paid 8 bills for the option.

If an NSX came in and needed a part what would you do? Not everyone drives a Vett??

How many times do you see pic's posted on this forum about what something is/was?

:reddevil

 

TPIS lists exactly what EGR tube to get on the website. In fact it looks like the 86/87 model from the connector on them.

 

I did'nt need one on a 85 ;-)

 

It's just another symptom of the "insert discount superstore name here" syndrome.
Some accountant says "Why pay someone that has the knowledge $XX dollars an hour who can help 99.99% of our customers, when we can hire a rube for $Y dollars an hour, give him 30 seconds of training at a computer terminal, and can help 60% of our customers? Throw in all the overhead, average profit per hour, etc. and you come out ahead on paper."
A lot of ideas look good on paper, but don't translate well into reality. AutoZone, Kragen, Checkers, Pep Boys are all the same, go with the local guys who know what they're doing and you'll be much better off. The money you spend there will more likely stay in your community, not go off to some greedy bozos in the corporate office.