I dont know what it is but I am just baffled. These local part houses they carry parts but yet the parts are not correctly built for the application they are listed for. Then they carry some parts used to service a more complex part but yet they dont carry the complex part. Examples are below.

Distributor, the local part houses carry spark plugs, spark plug wires, cap and rotor for a 1956 Y-8 powered Ford. But they do not carry the distributor. Napa carries a distributor but its for a I-6. I think to myself why sell the service parts if you wont even sell the dist. I mean its not like they are selling overhaul parts to overhaul said dist but yet they sell tune up parts for it.

Fuel pump, the local part houses carry the double action fuel pumps for the same vehicle, problem is though they all lack the glass sediment bowl and filter which means this stock replacement part which in my eyes isnt a stock replacement since its not like the orignal doesnt filter the fuel like the orignal so you have to modify your system and install a fuel filter. But get this they sell the fuel filter and the glass bowls and the gaskets for the glass bowls for these fuel pumps but yet they dont sell overhaul kits for the fuel pumps and the only ones they are selling are the new replacement type without the filters. I dont see the logic in this. Why sell the glass bowls and filters when all your putting on the market now are the replacements without the filter. Those orignals are becoming harder and harder to find so why are they even still making the filters and glass bowls for pumps that are going the way of the dinosaurs.

I just dont understand it. I had to ask one of the companies making the fuel pump listed at Advance and at Napa why they werent making them like the orignals which the orignals for a 56 had a filter in the pump. I have heard how they were afraid they would break, well no they said that wasnt the reason the manufactuer got away from that design and replaced it because the cork gasket wouldnt seal with age and would leak. Well I am pretty sure we got better gasket technologies now than in 1956, but it still doesnt explain how these companies are making money producing filters for the 1956 ford fuel pumps if you cant buy new/remanufactured fuel pumps that uses a filter.

Its one of those things that just gets on my nerves that you can buy some things from a parts house but yet what the part goes with you cant get. My 78 I can get a heater water valve but the only one they have listed for mine is threaded which mine isnt I had to get one from a caddy that worked the same way and opened with vacuum.

Another example was brake shoes for a 89 E-150 van, they were too large for the van but they were listed for it. I had to remove the adjuster just to get the drum to go on. I had to take them back and went somewheres else same problem, third store I went to they fit.

 

The thing to remember with things like spark plugs, wires caps and rotors is that they might fight a wide range of engines and distributors, but the distributor might only fit that particular model engine. So I can understand why they keep the other stuff in stock. You also have to look at cost and popularity of certain parts. Some local supply stores around me also specialize in certain things that the other stores might not. So the store that specializes might have it on hand or have it next day.

As for the fuel pumps, overhauling something like that might not be feasible (I have never rebuilt a pump, always replace them) I can see having filters and bowls for them. Glass breaks and I'm sure people drop them from time to time. And stock replacement just means that you can use that part and it will fit in the stock location. It doesnt mean that it is the same as OEM.

The brake situation, had that happen to me before, thats why with drum brakes I usually take the old set with me to verify the size. The set I bought was in the wrong box. Now having that happen 2 times is wierd, but if from same company might have been from the same lot#. Could have also been a manufacturing issue as well.

But the other thing to consider is I have run into similar problems with dealerships as well. One dealership had my hub assembly in stock for my 02 F250, but the one near me had to order it in if I went thru them. One dealership has the exhaust manifold gaskets in stock, others dont. I knew a parts manager at one ford dealership years ago. You can never have everything you need on hand to fix any vehicle (even dealer specific brands) The dealership would go bust on what they would have sitting collecting dust.

I also run it this with tractors and small engines to.

 

Thats the thing, what is a person supposed to do if their dist goes out. They dont carry it so you can replace it. They dont carry an overhaul kit for it but yet they carry the small ford cap and rotor which isnt interchangeable as far as I know with any other ford engine.

I finally found a fairly priced dist, atleast I think it is i tmight just be the vacuum advance unit for the dist priced at $150 but I still need to get the correct dist. I know the dist isnt right since it has the single vacuum can on it which means it has mechanical advance which wasnt around in 56. That is my next big hurdle is finding the correct Dist which would be cheaper if I could get it from a parts house locally it would be cheaper, the thing that will cost me is the dual vacuum can for the dist.

The brake shoes were from two different stores, the first one was an Oreilly house brand, the other one was a Napa house brand. THe one that worked was from Advance.

 

Most parts stores already have at least a million dollars worth of parts on the shelf, and it is impossible to have EVERY part needed to services EVERY vehicle. You unfortunately are wanting a part that is very limited in demand, so it isn't sensible to keep in stock if one gets sold every few years. If they were regularly sold, it would be different. What annoys me is the parts that should be in stock, as they are for more current vehicles that have regular failure rates, but yet they don't. But to have all vehicle repair parts in stock, the inventory would triple, the building size would need to be larger, and you would have to pay more to cover the cost of the additional inventory maintenance. When you walk into one of the parts store, look behind the counter and imagine the millions of parts, and the cost of each of them, just sitting right there... That is why the next day, or next few days has come into being, it just isn't cost effective to have everything on hand t]like it used to be.


Something else to think about: how many manufacturers were there back when your truck was needing the regular service parts commonly, vs how many manufacturers there are now, and how many models that each offer? There are way too many to keep up with. Then the counter person is expected to know everything about each it seems...

 

Its not that I am complaining that they dont have them in the store, its that im complaining that they dont make them. Its strange to sell the glass bowl and the filter for the fuel pump for example but yet when those old fuel pumps finally start to leak and go bad you cant buy a rebuild kit to rebuild them because no one reproduces them. Only option is to buy a new fuel pump which the new ones dont have the filter. This here should follow as you say and how i feel which means they shouldnt be offer them because they will be getting smaller and smaller and fall out of demand.

Its not making sense to me because I can understand not carrying all in a store but to offer service parts in the form of filters and glass bowls for fuel pumps that are going the way of the dinosaur because the new replacements are copied off the modified part ford started selling for these cars in the 1960`s.

I still am wondering how the hell am I supposed to filter the fuel on this car if no one offers reproductions of the correct fuel pump. I know I could cut stuff but why should I spend all this money on stainless steel reproduction hard lines if im going to cut it just to fit in an aftermarket fuel filter which wouldnt be a restoration then.

Its no big deal though, I am waiting on a email reply from that company that makes that fuel pump on if they know of a place that makes rebuild kits for them since I cant find them and all restorations shops say they arent currently reproduced.

The new car part I dont make a big deal out of, after 10 years the part becomes obsolete unless its still being used and by then I generally dont expect auto part houses to keep them in stock or for them to be made.

 

Have you checked MAC's or Dennis Carpenter for the fuel pump or rebuild kits? Maybe the original manufacturer is no longer in business and the other companies were making copies to their ability (IE copyrights, patents) and never changed their designs.
A few years back we were looking for a clutch pack and other stuff for a transmission out of a Edsel...guess what, no one around had anything. Finally found some in Arizona and had it shipped to us. When it comes to the older vehicles, alot of parts shops wont carry stuff in stock due to the fact that they must keep a certain inventory for newer vehicles. Thats is where they will make the most money, not from stuff for vehicles that are 50+ years old.

 

Here is a link of fuel pump stuff for your car from Dennis Carpenter. They have rebuild kits, rebuilt fuel pumps and lots more. Just look thru and find your application.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....ffN~~~~A20~A11

 

I am dealing with Tee-Bird Products Inc currently, they have a fair price for a remanfactured distributor dual can vacuum advance, they want $150 for it (not sure if thats including the core charge or not) but its better than the $200 - $400 I seen them go for on Ebay remanufactured. Only trouble I have is tracking down the correct dist, one I have is from the 1960`s with mechanical advance which wont work with the correct carb. I could save money using the dist I have now which the mechanical and vacuum advance is better but it would cost me more to get the correct 1957 and up 4 barrel manifold when I have a 1962 2 barrel currently. Then I dont know if a 57 Ford motorcraft 4 barrel carb has the provision for the correct 56 ford vacuum pump on the fuel pump. Other thing is the fuel pump but I asked Concourse Parts and they said that no one is reproducing the rebuild kits for those pumps but they do for the 6 cylinder and for the single action models.

But I will check with Dennis Carpenter as well as the list of other companies I have. I havent yet due to the pitiful catalogs that the other companies offer compared to companies like Concourse.