Dealerships
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 54
From: Central Texas
Dealerships
Sounds like there are still some dealerships in other parts of the country that still support owners of older Ford vehicles.
When I was looking for a vacuum modulator for my truck the other day none of the local parts stores had one in stock so I thought what the heck why not try our local dealership. When I walked in into the parts department I was not sure whether to ask for an expresso or latte or a bottle of spring water. The parts guy was quick to inform me that their computers did not contain information on old vehicles like mine, he did not have the old books to even try to look it up and pretty much invited me to take my business elsewhere.
Oh well, guess I wont be going back there again.
When I was looking for a vacuum modulator for my truck the other day none of the local parts stores had one in stock so I thought what the heck why not try our local dealership. When I walked in into the parts department I was not sure whether to ask for an expresso or latte or a bottle of spring water. The parts guy was quick to inform me that their computers did not contain information on old vehicles like mine, he did not have the old books to even try to look it up and pretty much invited me to take my business elsewhere.
Oh well, guess I wont be going back there again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
I agree that some are better than others, but you can't expect them to still be dealing in parts for a vehicle that was last made over 40 years ago. Stock gets sold out and when it's gone it's gone. Old dealers that are large or may not see a lot of business usually have some left, but otherwise Aftermarket is the only way to go. Unless it is a common part shared by later model vehicles, dealers don't usually have much past 25 years. Most people don't keep vehicles in service that long.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
What a twatwaffle! It helps to have part #s; and be suitably humble, but there's no excuse for that. Treat customers with respect and there's never any downside to that.
Oftentimes they will have inventory going way back if they are a longtime dealer and at this point it's almost pure profit if they can make a sale. That said, the whole vibe at those places isn't worth it.
Oftentimes they will have inventory going way back if they are a longtime dealer and at this point it's almost pure profit if they can make a sale. That said, the whole vibe at those places isn't worth it.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 54
From: Central Texas
I fully understand about old vehicles and lack of parts availability for them. I guess what got me was the attitude more than anything. When someone looks over the top of their glasses at me it and dismisses my question as beneath them then I tend to get a little peeved about it. Oh well so much for customer service.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
You can learn a lot watching how people treat others, who can't do anything for them. It's all about the sale at a dealership, no?
Let's just say you're in the market for a new truck someday for the sake of argument. You gonna give them your business, you think?
Let's just say you're in the market for a new truck someday for the sake of argument. You gonna give them your business, you think?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
Now,now guys. I AM A DEALER. Am I a scmuck? No. While I can not seduce your business per rules here you can contact me.
Back to the point here. I agree a lot of parts guys and gals won't go past the nose on their faces. But not all are like that. Next time you want to try just make sure you try another parts person. If they don't have a micro-fische machine with the ol' slides (or books) it is true they won't be able to look up any numbers. I do here, but the last two Dealers I worked at did not. Their parts managers didn't see a reason to keep them. As a matter of fact that's how I ended up on this Forum. At those dealers I had customers every-once-in-a-while that needed something 1979 and older. Not 100% sure I was remembering the correct part number I googled it. Bill's (ND) answers to folks on this forum with the part number(s) proved me correct. So then I located the parts for them. So you see, there are guys out there that go the long mile. And a lot that don't. In any field.
Back to the point here. I agree a lot of parts guys and gals won't go past the nose on their faces. But not all are like that. Next time you want to try just make sure you try another parts person. If they don't have a micro-fische machine with the ol' slides (or books) it is true they won't be able to look up any numbers. I do here, but the last two Dealers I worked at did not. Their parts managers didn't see a reason to keep them. As a matter of fact that's how I ended up on this Forum. At those dealers I had customers every-once-in-a-while that needed something 1979 and older. Not 100% sure I was remembering the correct part number I googled it. Bill's (ND) answers to folks on this forum with the part number(s) proved me correct. So then I located the parts for them. So you see, there are guys out there that go the long mile. And a lot that don't. In any field.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,031
Likes: 72
My local dealership is not a lot of help, but they have found a few parts for me when I had the part number. They have politely informed me of the fact their modern systems do not go back that far, but when provided a part number they will look it up.
One of their service writers said they would have no issue doing some under the hood repairs. I mentioned the prospects of installing the oil pan gasket and a rear main and he said they would have no issue doing it. Now can they do it well, I don't know.
They proudly point to a dent-side on display at the dealership as a testimony to liking older vehicles.
One of their service writers said they would have no issue doing some under the hood repairs. I mentioned the prospects of installing the oil pan gasket and a rear main and he said they would have no issue doing it. Now can they do it well, I don't know.
They proudly point to a dent-side on display at the dealership as a testimony to liking older vehicles.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Any ford technician worth his salt can easily fix a bump truck. I had the chance to take part in a few of the ford training classes. Those guys have the skills. In fact, is go as far to say that a ford tech working on a classic like these would do a better job than normal since it is so simple to do. They don't have the frustration of taking the whole top end apart or removing the cab to do anything.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 7
From: PA
I've had both good and bad trips to the dealers when looking for certain parts. The one dealer was totally useless and they had sort of a bad attitude about the whole ordeal. When I was just there for parts help. Another couldn't do anything either since they didn't carry records back that far but since I provided part numbers after looking on this forum for the part numbers they were able to give me further information and assist me in getting what I needed. Big thanks to NumberDummy and JEFFFAFA while we are on this topic for all your help you's do for us.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 8
From: Langley, BC
My dealership parts man is my guy. He's got all the books for the old stuff, is a classic enthusiast himself, and cuts me slack on the price. I need to start bringing him some beer or something.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 40
From: El Dorado, Arkansas
I think Ford figured out they did too good of a job building these old trucks (they lasted too long).
They've gotten it down to more of a science now in making new vehicles. They build them now so that by the time you make the last note payment on it, it won't be long until you start having major problems and trade it in on a new model. That's about every 4-6 years, ---not 10, 15, 20 or more years later.
They've gotten it down to more of a science now in making new vehicles. They build them now so that by the time you make the last note payment on it, it won't be long until you start having major problems and trade it in on a new model. That's about every 4-6 years, ---not 10, 15, 20 or more years later.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, La
There is a closed ford dealership in Georgia selling off old inventory on ebay. Look up Donalsonville ford or something similar to that. I saw quite a few things that went back to 63. Steering collars, drums, rotors, etc...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 7
From: PA
Definitely be a lot of these old ford trucks on the road as the saying go's I can rebuild her haha. I don't even want to think what the cars of 40 years from now will be like. With the winters here and the stuff they been laying on the ground to melt the snow there's a lot of 4 year old trucks and cars that are destroyed. Literally almost whole bedsides of newer trucks gone eaten by rust.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
I think Ford figured out they did too good of a job building these old trucks (they lasted too long).
They've gotten it down to more of a science now in making new vehicles. They build them now so that by the time you make the last note payment on it, it won't be long until you start having major problems and trade it in on a new model. That's about every 4-6 years, ---not 10, 15, 20 or more years later.
They've gotten it down to more of a science now in making new vehicles. They build them now so that by the time you make the last note payment on it, it won't be long until you start having major problems and trade it in on a new model. That's about every 4-6 years, ---not 10, 15, 20 or more years later.