Thank you AC Delco

[Mike Cobine]

If you go to the AC Delco site and do a search on automotive parts, you may find it interesting.

http://www.acdelco.com/html/catalog/index.htm

Select Application - Car/Light Truck
Select Year - 1965 (the oldest you can get)
Select Make - DODGE (that's right, Dodge. There isn't any other. You like this GM company supporting other companies further back than the GM group?)

Of course, I went to check prices. - forget that.

I ended up here after I discovered you can't find any AC plugs at Pep Boys, Advance Auto Parts, Car Quest, and NAPA. Now I know they sell the plugs, but none list them or prices.

BTW, AC Delco lists the R44TS for the 454 / 425 hp engine for the '71 Corvette also.




try to get a '65 Chevy part

[Dave Suesz]

Depends on your point of view...

...They have not bothered to extend the list earlier than 1965, even though they still offer parts for pre-65 applications. This completely shuts out any chance of finding C1 parts. For instance, GM offers standard and gas shocks for C1's, but you gotta find a dealer who knows how to look up the old parts just to buy them, or go to mail-order companies who charge more than dealer retail, just because they know the part numbers. Last I checked with ACDelco, they have no intention of expanding to earlier listings.

[Dave Suesz]

Depends on your point of view...

...They have not bothered to extend the list earlier than 1965, even though they still offer parts for pre-65 applications. This completely shuts out any chance of finding C1 parts. For instance, GM offers standard and gas shocks for C1's, but you gotta find a dealer who knows how to look up the old parts just to buy them, or go to mail-order companies who charge more than dealer retail, just because they know the part numbers. Last I checked with ACDelco, they have no intention of expanding to earlier listings.

[Mike Cobine]

My view is quite pointed

It was quite the sarcastic "thank you".

So many parts suppliers, whether AC Delco, Pep Boys, AutoZone, or a host of others, do not list any parts for many of the '60s and older cars now. In the case of many cars, a large number of parts are functionally correct over a wide range of years.

Like the spark plugs. If they work in the '66 Chevy that is listed on the AC Delco site, they will work in '65, '64, '63, and so on. But they don't bother to list them.

When I was getting brake spring hardware for my '63, I had to jump to several cars to get kits that fit. Yet the same brakes are used on '61(?) to '70 Chevy full size, '60s half ton pickup trucks with drum brakes, and some Pontiacs. Yet using the store's computer, I had to get front from a '65 Chevy and rear from a '68 Chevy, if I remember correctly. They didn't even list the same car with both front and back, hence ordering for two cars!

But they don't list them for Corvette (even though they stock the part), and they don't list them for some years without any rythme or reason.

I know someone for the company will cite "wastes time" to list all those parts, but I cost that clerk over an hour to find those hardware kits because I would pick a car, look up the parts, then have to pick another car when they were not found, until we finally got a part number. I cost them about 45 minutes just on brake hoses. It doesn't take too many customers wasting an hour here or there to be costing them more than the data entry time on the main database.

[Mike Cobine]

My view is quite pointed

It was quite the sarcastic "thank you".

So many parts suppliers, whether AC Delco, Pep Boys, AutoZone, or a host of others, do not list any parts for many of the '60s and older cars now. In the case of many cars, a large number of parts are functionally correct over a wide range of years.

Like the spark plugs. If they work in the '66 Chevy that is listed on the AC Delco site, they will work in '65, '64, '63, and so on. But they don't bother to list them.

When I was getting brake spring hardware for my '63, I had to jump to several cars to get kits that fit. Yet the same brakes are used on '61(?) to '70 Chevy full size, '60s half ton pickup trucks with drum brakes, and some Pontiacs. Yet using the store's computer, I had to get front from a '65 Chevy and rear from a '68 Chevy, if I remember correctly. They didn't even list the same car with both front and back, hence ordering for two cars!

But they don't list them for Corvette (even though they stock the part), and they don't list them for some years without any rythme or reason.

I know someone for the company will cite "wastes time" to list all those parts, but I cost that clerk over an hour to find those hardware kits because I would pick a car, look up the parts, then have to pick another car when they were not found, until we finally got a part number. I cost them about 45 minutes just on brake hoses. It doesn't take too many customers wasting an hour here or there to be costing them more than the data entry time on the main database.

[Christopher R.]

Re: My view is quite pointed

I do that all the time. Don't like to, but the kid behind the counter insists on it. They can only look up make, year, and model in their computer. They understand nothing else. Nor do they want to. Never heard of a small block Chevy motor. They only want to plug data in a field, and let the computer do the rest. Even when they get questionable information, they don't question it.

I try to fool the computer to look up stuff I know will fit my '62. I've been to the AC Delco site and looked up stuff for later 60s cars.

The kid thinks you're a jerk anyway because you're over 40. Now you tell him you're looking for parts that probably aren't in his computer, he knows you're a jerk. Then when you start giving him different cars to look up ("OK, try a '71 wagon."*), you've confirmed it, and pissed him off.

*'71 (and more) Chevy wagon rear drums will fit both the front and rear of C1s.

[Christopher R.]

Re: My view is quite pointed

I do that all the time. Don't like to, but the kid behind the counter insists on it. They can only look up make, year, and model in their computer. They understand nothing else. Nor do they want to. Never heard of a small block Chevy motor. They only want to plug data in a field, and let the computer do the rest. Even when they get questionable information, they don't question it.

I try to fool the computer to look up stuff I know will fit my '62. I've been to the AC Delco site and looked up stuff for later 60s cars.

The kid thinks you're a jerk anyway because you're over 40. Now you tell him you're looking for parts that probably aren't in his computer, he knows you're a jerk. Then when you start giving him different cars to look up ("OK, try a '71 wagon."*), you've confirmed it, and pissed him off.

*'71 (and more) Chevy wagon rear drums will fit both the front and rear of C1s.

[Mike Cobine]

Just had the fun an hour ago

I had to stop at Advance Auto Parts to pick up a couple of bleeder screws. While at the counter, on a whim, I asked if they had AC 44 plugs. It took several tries to get him to look for AC 44, not AC R44 or AC R44T or any others. The other guy insisted the number had to have an R in front and a T in the back.

And I understand why the computer jocks in the parts stores are the way they are. These guys had to physically walk back and look. For all the great computer networking and database, they could not look up their AC plugs. They didn't show for a '63 Corvette (only autolite and NGK) so they had to walk back and look.

They didn't have any way to type in a part and see if they had it.

The system can barcode scan a part if you have it there, but they can't seem to type in a number and go.

It is all designed for the "I have a '93 Chevy Impala with blue interior and the FM radio and an engine and the VIN is on my insurance card here" people. The "Joe Lucia" types are not welcomed at the parts counter computer, obviously.

The best part? They came back, said they had some R43 plugs and that is a replacement. They were trying to remember if they were hotter or colder when one of them said "I used to work 10 years in a GM garage, I should remember that."

wouldn't you like to have that guy doing your warranty work?

[Mike Cobine]

Just had the fun an hour ago

I had to stop at Advance Auto Parts to pick up a couple of bleeder screws. While at the counter, on a whim, I asked if they had AC 44 plugs. It took several tries to get him to look for AC 44, not AC R44 or AC R44T or any others. The other guy insisted the number had to have an R in front and a T in the back.

And I understand why the computer jocks in the parts stores are the way they are. These guys had to physically walk back and look. For all the great computer networking and database, they could not look up their AC plugs. They didn't show for a '63 Corvette (only autolite and NGK) so they had to walk back and look.

They didn't have any way to type in a part and see if they had it.

The system can barcode scan a part if you have it there, but they can't seem to type in a number and go.

It is all designed for the "I have a '93 Chevy Impala with blue interior and the FM radio and an engine and the VIN is on my insurance card here" people. The "Joe Lucia" types are not welcomed at the parts counter computer, obviously.

The best part? They came back, said they had some R43 plugs and that is a replacement. They were trying to remember if they were hotter or colder when one of them said "I used to work 10 years in a GM garage, I should remember that."

wouldn't you like to have that guy doing your warranty work?

[Kevin M.]

Re: Just had the fun an hour ago

Well I no that 67 speedo gears are still in the GM system, but my local Chevy parts dept. couldn't or wouldn't find it.

Kevin Muldoon

[Kevin M.]

Re: Just had the fun an hour ago

Well I no that 67 speedo gears are still in the GM system, but my local Chevy parts dept. couldn't or wouldn't find it.

Kevin Muldoon

[Mike M.]

Re: Just had the fun an hour ago

All the above problems are the reason I have dealt with the same small auto parts dealer. He gave up a long time ago trying to cross reference or find parts for me. So he lets me go through his books. I have to buy what I order, but overall it is a lot easier. But the dealer or OEM part situation is the same for all manufacturers. I have been spent 3 months trying to get a transmission mount for a 1990 Mazda 626. Have received 4 incorrect mounts, even after giving them a written list of the particulars and VIN.
All companies make a big point of how good their service and quality are these days, I don't know when I will see it.
Mike

[Mike M.]

Re: Just had the fun an hour ago

All the above problems are the reason I have dealt with the same small auto parts dealer. He gave up a long time ago trying to cross reference or find parts for me. So he lets me go through his books. I have to buy what I order, but overall it is a lot easier. But the dealer or OEM part situation is the same for all manufacturers. I have been spent 3 months trying to get a transmission mount for a 1990 Mazda 626. Have received 4 incorrect mounts, even after giving them a written list of the particulars and VIN.
All companies make a big point of how good their service and quality are these days, I don't know when I will see it.
Mike