The days of old fashion service at a parts house are, for the most part, gone forever. Online ordering is so very convenient and if you’re not in a rush, a big money saver. I’m guilty – order a lot of “stuff” from Amazon as well as Speedway, Classic Industries, Jeggs, etc…

There was a time when our local NAPA store had a coffee pot near the door and stools on the customer side of the counter and I would go in for a part and leave after a cup (or two) and some social time with the guys at NAPA. Years ago, I used a machine shop in Tacoma, Washington (while stationed at then McChord AFB) and they employed a lady machinist who would always have time to either come out front and discuss my latest project or invite me into her domain and we would visit while she was running a set of heads or decking a block. Had I not been a happily married newlywed, I would have certainly been interested in her as she was “every-man’s-dream” in terms of looks and she was a fantastic machinist. Those days are gone and (at least in my area) AutoZone and O’Reilly’s are staffed by 20 something Hispanics who know the computer system, but if you need institutional automotive knowledge you’re out of luck as the big ol’ counter catalogs are nowhere to be found. Nothing against the current help, but they think a 2010 Civic is a classic car.

We still have a NAPA store – but the last “over 60” guy retired and they too have succumbed to relying on only what the computer tells them. There is one chain of old speed shops called “Baxters” with one location left near where I live and they still carry a decent line of AN fittings. Last time I was in there (it’s been a while) picking up a serpentine belt a gentleman came in carrying an alternator all wrapped up in a rag and in a box. When asked, he explained it was from a 1976 Jeep and, “…no one else even has a listing for this part.” The lad behind the counter consulted his computer and shook his head slowly explaining that he didn’t show anything either. As the man was ready to walk out, I couldn’t help myself so I asked if I could look at his alternator. Sure enough – it was a Delco 10-SI. I asked the counter-kid if he had an aftermarket GM alternator to which he replied sure and brought out a nice chrome “Performance 100 amp” re-built unit. Laying the two side-by-side it was obvious that they were physically identical.

I smiled and said, “This will work just fine for your Jeep sir. It’s actually a rebuild of a GM core that’s been beefed up inside and chrome plated.” He nodded, thanked me and for about a hundred bucks, his Jeep would live to see a lot more days. The kid at the counted asked me, “How did you know?”

Well…. When you know, you know.