When I recently purchased a carb kit from Rock Auto I also bought a new float. The image of the float they listed for a 1949 Ford F-2 with a 226 didn't look anything like the float in my carburetor but many times websites will have statements that images sometimes don't represent the actual part. I figured since Rock Auto had it listed it would be the correct part so I ordered it. There is no way to contact a live person at Rock to verify anything BTW. I got the parts I ordered and the float was wrong, never would have worked in my carb so I had to reuse the old one, It worked OK but I wanted a new one just to be sure since I'd be tearing the carb apart. I looked around at other auto supply places and they list the same incorrect floats for this truck. Just wondering if I was wrong and could have used this float in my truck. I don't see how it would have fit.

Original type float:

Rock Auto float.


I don't think I'll ever buy from Rock again. First, there isn't a way to talk to anyone on the phone in person. Second, they charge you $5 to send incorrect parts back to them. This isn't the first time they sent a wrong part to me. About five years, or more, I bought two sets of points, identical parts, they came in the same box with the same part number but one was the mirror image of the other. At that time you could still talk to someone in person and when I called to get a correct replacement part the phone rep said they would exchange the part if I paid for return shipping. I had a rather long conversation with the rep and at the end he agreed to pay the return shipping along with the cost of shipping the correct part. I couldn't do that this time because there is no way to contact them I have found there isn't all that great of a saving buying from them anymore, especially after they tack on all of the shipping charges. Most times I can get the same parts from either my local NAPA or MacParts store, O'reillys seems the best. I just ordered head gaskets and valve cover gaskets from O'reillys for the same price as Rock Auto with free shipping to my house and if I have a problem with the parts I can talk to someone at a nearby store and get the problem resolved. No going back and forth with shipping.

 

Doesn't seem likely that could work. The 226's use the same float as the V8 Holley's, p/n B6A-9550-A. C&G has what appears to be the correct one, under a different number: https://cgfordparts.com/carburetor-f...4-78-9550.html
I have 3 good used floats if you're interested

 

Thanks for the offer Ross but I used my old one without a problem. I bought the new since I was going to up the carb and figured if there was a problem with the float I'd have a nice new one on hand. I didn't want the carb torn apart waiting for a part. The original seems to working OK, no overflowing or any other leakage.

 

I worked for O’Reilly for 9 years as a counter person, assistant manager, store manager, and commercial sales manager. I will tell you that frequently on these old vehicles the electronic catalogs are just plain wrong. Like for example if you look up a remanufactured carburetor for the same truck you’ll find it lists a Carter 2 bbl with electric choke. From what I’ve found they all had the Holley 8HA or a similar variant as our ‘49 F1 is equipped.

 

Of all the MacParts stores around me O'Reilly's seems the best. The counter people are older and seem to know their parts. All parts stores are a crap shoot. I have at least four of each within 15 miles of my house, from my experience NAPA is #1 although I have very close that I tend to avoid, the manager seems like an air head and pretty boy who isn't on top of his game, the other four NAPA are great. The one I tend to go to has an amazing manager. One story that won me over with him is I needed threaded bushings to install temperature sending units the the heads of the flathead in my '48 panel. It was the weekend and all the MacParts store didn't have anything that would work. Monday I go to NAPA and ask the counter guy and he takes me over to the brass fitting section and starts pulling out drawers but can find anything. The manager walks by with his arms full of merchandise, looks at the one sample fitting I had and says,"Installing temp sensors in a flathead? There over there on the rotating display.". I was amazed.amaze

 

I had a similar problem with Rock Auto that a phone call would have easily resolved. Won't use them unless they are the only option. A poor business model in my opinion.

 

It is now that most auto parts stores have an on line presence. They're just as easy to order on line from and if you have a problem and needed to exchange or return an item you can do it in one of the near by stores. I've compared their prices to the other businesses and while some of their prices are lower most are within a few percentages of the local places. The reason I bought from them is they had the lowest prices on both items. I've since decided it not worth it.

 

Rock Auto used to be a great place to buy parts and save a ton of money. Lately, I too have noticed that the margin on the part price has closed up considerably compared to buying local, and when you calculate the shipping cost and the wait time, many times it's the same cost or more. And like Bob says, the hassle and expense of returning wrong parts is much better elsewhere. If you buy something with a core charge (P/S pump, for instance), there's no point in returning the core because the cost to send it back is more than the core charge you'll get back. Oh, and if your order comes from multiple warehouses, fuggittaboutit. Each shipment has it's own, separate shipping fee jacking the total cost even higher.

I was just shopping for a fuel pump for my 87 F250. Rock Auto had the part for $10 less than local, but it was $10 more when you added in shipping, ($29 pump, $19 shipping, +tax) and had to wait a week to get it. I ordered local, saved money and got it overnight.

 

If you want someone knowledgeable to order parts from, I recommend Chuck!s trucks. https://www.chuckstrucksllc.com/

He answers the phone and knows what he’s talking about. I’ve bought several things from him and he always takes the time to talk to you and make sure you’re getting the right part. Ignore his on line catalog though, he doesn’t update it.

 

I am done ordering parts from Rock Auto after they sent me the wrong things for several cars over the last few years. And for older cars, their part numbers, descriptions (IF there is one), and pictures vary tremendously for the SAME part, which makes me very skeptical. Different brand names do not account for that variation. If I'm looking for something for my daughter's 2016 Mazda, I MAY look there, but never again for my truck or '65 Galaxie. They are a drop-shipping giant, and don't give a poop for providing the proper parts. Sometimes it isn't about price.

Other than that, I have no strong thoughts on the subject.

 

I can wholeheartedly second that. I started recently in this hobby buying from here there and everywhere maybe to save a buck or two, maybe cause I didn’t know where else to go. But for me personally Chuck has been a mentor and and invaluable resource in getting me the right parts. The advice has been priceless when you consider the cost of doing things wrong. Like his ads say his advice is free. That beats the pants off any of the order-takers you’re going to speak with at the other places.

 

O’Reilly is the best in our area too. I just know that a lot of the time the electronic catalog is wrong for our trucks. O’Reilly used to have paper catalogs which were always right, but I’m not sure if they are printing them anymore. I still buy from my old coworkers exclusively. I was in today buying an oil filter for our 5085E tractor. They had it in stock. If they don’t have it in stock the hub and Houston warehouse deliver 6x a day 7 days a week. So usually they get it within a couple hours which is pretty impressive. Way faster than Rock auto. Lol!