I discovered today that they are slipping over there at Mid Fifty. I went to install the water valve in my heater hose today and found out that I had ordered the valve and the actuator cable but not the little thingy that connects the two under the hood.

I am surprised they didn't catch that when I ordered this stuff a few weeks ago. Usually Nicki is pretty good about that sort of thing.

 

I buy most if not of my 53-56 Ford truck specific parts from Mid Fiftys. The only problems I've ever had was some back ordered parts( which they don't have any control over ) and a credit card issue.

A couple years ago I ordered some parts with one credit card and some how a credit card that I had purchased some parts with the previous year got billed. That wouldn't have been an issue but at the time I placed the order that card was maxed out. So my credit card company hit me with an over the limit fee. I wasn't too happy about that. But eventually I got over it.


I will be ordering a LOT more parts in the future.

 

I see there are a lot of Mid Fifty fans here. I am glad they have had good experiences with them. Mine have been so-so. I admit I usually go to them first, but sometimes I feel their customer service skills are sort of lacking. At times I have had everything from exceptional customer service, to a down right snotty attitiude on the phone. Some of the gals are very good. Some of them don't seem to have a basic knowledge of auto parts. Before someone calls me a shovenist, let me tell you there is a young lady here at a local O'Reilly store who is really good, and has found me some non-specialty parts for my '56, that were cheaper than what Mid-50's had in their catalog. So this is not about "lady bashing"! But what this is to me is if I am to spend my hard earned, disposible income, with someone, I expect to be treated as well as the next person. I am nice guy, and easy to deal with over the phone. I don't want to be a pain to anybody!
On the positive side, they do have a good catalog, it almost doubles as a shop manual! They do give you good selection and installation advice in their catalog! And I have never had a back order issue with them. If I returned a part, they are very good about making sure I get credited!
One other thing, if you are working on your truck in the spring, order your parts before the show at Pigeon Forge! Because they put a lot of their resources into that show (with good reason!) and they seem to just have a small crew left back in AZ, which (at least last year) made it hard for me to get some parts shipped. What i needed was with them in Pigoen Forge!
OK ...the tootsie rolls are good and appreciated!

 

My mistake, not theirs. It seems that the cable winds around the post and that is how it connects. The housing clamp is what holds the coiled end down on the post.


Their reputation remains unsullied as far as I am concerned.

 

I bought one of those from them also. And I just installed it. I should of bought the correct (choke type) cable also, but the gal on the end of the phone told me, the factory stock one, already installed one in the truck would work. I really questioned her about it, but she had me convinced it would be no problem. When it arrived....I thought no way is this going to replace the factory stock valve without using a longer cable!. Their replacement is an "inline" type of valve that goes into the heater hose. It replaces the stock 90 degree, fire wall mount model that no one makes anymore. No big deal, I had an longer old choke cable I was not using, and I am temporarily using it. But the point is, they could of sold me a cable, and I could of had the job done right the first time, had she knew the background of the installation better. Who knows? maybe I mis-understood! There was no installation directions included with that valve.

The question I got now, as BACAgrizz is going to find out (probably already knows), it's very hard to wrap that choke wire around that valve control post. I just took a big pair of needle nose to do it, but it doesn't really look good! Should I of heated that spring steel wire up with a torch before trying to wind it around the valve's control post?

 

Yeah, it didn't wrap completely perfect but then again, I am not building a show truck so, it works and it's good enough.

Considering the original was missing this will suffice.

 

has anyone seen any front end tilt kits anywhere? i would like to use my hood and fenders but cant seem to find anything. thanks

 

If you mean a one piece tilt front clip I bought my hinge kit from Sacramento Vintage Ford parts. Part # 08158 . It's like $70.00 pr. if they have them in stock. It took over 3 months to get mine.

They allow you to convert the stock steel front clip/dog house into a one piece tilt front clip.

Here's a pic of the hinges I've got.

 

have you installed any of that kit yet?

 

I've mocked things up but I'm a long ways from being anywhere close to having the front clip in place. So no, not yet.

 

I recently ordered a couple cab corners and a lower door post from Mid 50's. Well after I placed the order on the website I got an email to confirm what I ordered was what I needed. I only ordered driver side front lower door post and they asked if I needed the passenger side. I confirmed I just needed the one door post and they shipped the parts.

Well they showed up today. It was all well packed. But then the disappointment hit me. NO Tootsie rolls!!!! Oh the humanity!! Oh and no new catalog either. The packing slip said the catalog is back ordered?? I guess they are waiting for the 2012's to come in.

Even with the missing Tootsie rolls and catalog I'll still give them two thumbs up.

 

Ted,
I also ordered a few items and while carefully unpacking everything, I kept finding tootsie rolls in each box. Think I got some of yours.

 

You can request extra tootsies when you place an order.

 

I think your Tootsie Rolls are also on back-order.

 

I enjoy them, several of them know my name/voice on the phone now. I seem to interrogate them over part specifics every time I order. The only issues with parts I've had from them were with the rear suspension kit I ordered. But it's not their fault. I took it up with TCI and it was resolved very quickly.

Continuing there earlier trend. I keep a catalog in the shop by my truck, in my car, and by the toilet in the house. I also have the .Pdf on my computer.

My last two orders came with tootsie rolls one last week and then the week before. Prior to that I had gotten no candy love.