Tried to go to the dealer for parts

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CudaChris67

CudaChris67

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The guy at the counter says the computer will not let him look up anything before 1984!

Does this guy not know what he is doing or is this the norm?

Why I went there:
I was looking for a lower balljoint to spindle bolt (unique head/length not available at hardware store) I was able to look up a diplomat to find the bolt only to find out it was no longer available. Interesting to me was the bolt was used in the 50s on up to 1989.
 
They should have had a book or two, at least my local dealer does. They refer to it on the occasion I need something there.
 
CudaChris67 said:
The guy at the counter says the computer will not let him look up anything before 1984!

Does this guy not know what he is doing or is this the norm?

Why I went there:
I was looking for a lower balljoint to spindle bolt (unique head/length not available at hardware store) I was able to look up a diplomat to find the bolt only to find out it was no longer available. Interesting to me was the bolt was used in the 50s on up to 1989.
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Some don't have "the books",and most "countermen" you get today,probably never even messed with a carb so...

When I worked at Hinckley, we had some books clear back to the late 50's.....if I remember correctly.
Some were even under very watchful eyes of the "senior" countermen......because his car was that particular year LOL
 
Before computers they used paper catalogs and microfiche. The chance of them having a bolt like that isn't very good. Junk yard may be your best bet.
 
When I worked for Toromont Industries(CAT dealer) we had a catalog for looking up bolts of all kinds/sizes. Ya may have to go to Fastenal/Brafasco for the bolt
 
I guess it all depends on the level of service they want to give their customers. I forgot about the microfiche, they use that at my dealer as well.

I have picked up new trans bolts, new door locks for an old vehicle etc.
 
4spdragtop said:
When I worked for Toromont Industries(CAT dealer) we had a catalog for looking up bolts of all kinds/sizes. Ya may have to go to Fastenal/Brafasco for the bolt
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luckily the record for the bolt shows the exact dimensions, so if it exist in a bolt catalog I'll find it.

Since this bolt looks to be the same for A-B-F-J-M I'm sure I can find one in the bone yard.
 
My Mazda Dealership looked up my part and said outright, "try NAPA". then I went over to the Ford dealership and asked them, "We dont have the fiche for the Courier anymore, try the Ford dealership 20 miles down the road..." F them, I got it off a junker today, purrs like a jap cat now. My license plate frame will say "bought this MAZDA / to build my MOPAR"
 
CudaChris67 said:
The guy at the counter says the computer will not let him look up anything before 1984!

Does this guy not know what he is doing or is this the norm?

Why I went there:
I was looking for a lower balljoint to spindle bolt (unique head/length not available at hardware store) I was able to look up a diplomat to find the bolt only to find out it was no longer available. Interesting to me was the bolt was used in the 50s on up to 1989.
Click to expand...

It's not the guy at the counter's fault. 1989 was 25 years ago.

If you could find a part number for it, you might get lucky and be able to track one down through the parts network but realistically no dealer is going to stock something like that in 2014. It would be really surprising if you were able to find one. The truth is that no one in their right mind brings a car to a dealer that's been out of warranty for over 20 years so there's no sane reason for them to stock that item.

There used to be a list floating around of parts still available for our cars at the dealer but it's doubtful that bolt would come up.

Best bet is the junkyard, here, Ebay etc.
 
rmchrgr said:
It's not the guy at the counter's fault. 1989 was 25 years ago.

If you could find a part number for it, you might get lucky and be able to track one down through the parts network but realistically no dealer is going to stock something like that in 2014. It would be really surprising if you were able to find one. The truth is that no one in their right mind brings a car to a dealer that's been out of warranty for over 20 years so there's no sane reason for them to stock that item.

There used to be a list floating around of parts still available for our cars at the dealer but it's doubtful that bolt would come up.

Best bet is the junkyard, here, Ebay etc.
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I completely understand the parts availability issue for vehicles over 40 years old that are not part of the mopar performance catalog, I was just surprised that there was not a way to even look it up.
 
1984??? Hell I'm surprised they go back that far!!!
 
I have the 72 parts book on cd. All I ever do is look up the part number there and give the local dealer parts counter the part number. He looks it up and you would be really surprised what they still have floating around. I have got a few calls from him to see if I have a part number when somebody else asks him for something. Works good, I now get a nice discount there.

Jack
 
It's sad how much things have changed, and I'm not that old yet and see the differences. Back in '96, when my Scamp was 25 years old, I could find new parts easy for it. A-bodies were a common car with other lines sharing many of the same parts. Of course dealers around here back then still used the books. And most of those are closed now with new dealerships replacing them, or have relocated and updated along the way.
 
Coyote Jack said:
I have the 72 parts book on cd. All I ever do is look up the part number there and give the local dealer parts counter the part number. He looks it up and you would be really surprised what they still have floating around. I have got a few calls from him to see if I have a part number when somebody else asks him for something. Works good, I now get a nice discount there.

Jack
Click to expand...

Yeah that's your best bet there. You do the research and just give them the part number. I need to get a 71 parts book but I want a hardcopy (original or repro I don't care) but I've not made room in my budget to spend what they ask for one. Even repro they are pricey.
 
Sort of off subject but back in the late 80's early 90's my dad was the parts manager at the local Mopar dealer. That's actually where I got my first job ( washing cars, changing oil, delivering parts, selling parts, and occasionally light mechanic work) Try doing that now days when you are 14 years old... Anyway my dad had done this pretty much his entire life and knew those books like the back of his hands. When they first started trying to change over to computers he could always find the part quicker in the books and hated using the computers and was basically " forced" to retire in favor of the younger guys.. They have NO idea the knowledge they lost when he left.. Fast forward to 2014 when I dig through some of my old books for reference he still knows every section like it was yesterday. He's 74 years young and has not done that job for many years. This brings back some great memories...
 
I used to pay my counter men 35-40K a year back in the 80's and 90's .These guys were usually in their 40's and 50's. We had the computers then also, but I insisted that we retain the catalog racks. I'm proud to say that you could walk into one of our stores and ask any question, pretty much about any car, and get the right answer. Ya just cant find that kind of expertise any more in parts stores.
 
It is sad but most dealers have just through away all old parts books. I'm parts manager of a 15 yr old dealer with no books and we just bought another dealer that was around since the 30's. Before I got involved someone through out service manuals from the 40' through 90's..I cringed when I found out. I have grabbed all the parts books left. 1964-78. Some odd hardware is still available. Even if parts are canceled having the numbers is great for cross referencing.
 
My local dealer still has a book that covers my '75. The 'old timer' there keeps it way up on top of the shelves. He rolls the metal steps over and climbs up for it. Has looked for a number of parts for me and every once in a while the computer says something is still available...
 
I have to say that I've had REALLY poor luck with dealers anything, "back in the day." We never spoke the same language. This was years before I sold parts. Mopar calls the clutch gear / input shaft in a 4 speed a pinion, example. When you've been reading GM / Borg Warner / Ferd catalogs, this makes no sense when somebody throws that at you. "No, I'm not working on the rear axle!!!!"

And, When I had that 70, EVERYTHING seemed to be "in a different language." It didn't matter whether I told them I had a Dana or Spicer, nothing seemed to compute. It took me a long time to figure out that it also was the same thing as a "9 3/4" I was on Mars, they were on Venus. The car could be parked right there in front of their great big window, it didn't matter. Hell they could be LOOKING at it. Some of those guys acted like, not only had they not only had not every HEARD of a Road Runner, but that they WISHED they COULD NOT have NOT EVER heard of one, or maybe wished it had been made by someone else. It was as if the damn thing was a dirty word to some of them. It was unbelieveable.
 
I worked as a plymouth dealer in the 90s. We still had the books and I was taught how to use them. I doubt, unless a guy has a little knowledge or a lot of motivation, that they'll be able to efficiently use them any more. I always used catalogs in my parts days. Dealer and jobber store. Back then the computer records were terrible and incomplete. They have come a long way, but again, you have to know how to use them, and be motivated to do so. Most "counter guys" these days are not, especially at retail-based parts stores.
 
In the 1990s I walked into a Plymouth dealer for kicks for some simple little item.

The guy behind the counter said..."Gee, I didn't know Chrysler ever made rear wheel drive cars."

I laughed and walked back out.

Paul
 
It wasn't where I worked...lol. We got back into stocking MP product and they helped me start my car club.
 
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