I stumped an entire autozone parts store today

[fubar2.5]

Funny story....

Here's one for you...back in the early 90's, me and my dad went to NAPA to get a set of radiator hoses for the GN. We went in, told the clerk what we needed and of course he asked "what vehicle". Dad told him an 87 Buick Grand National V6 Turbo. The guy looked in his catalogs for a few minutes with a look on his face and said "There ain't no such thing!" Me and dad looked at each other about to laugh and told the guy to look outside. He looks, goes to the back and has two hoses in hand. They were short and looked like they belonged to a 4 cyl . Dad said they won't work and he wanted to see the engine. After we showed him, we were like forget it, we'll take our business else where.

Whats funny is the parts guy was correct. The correct name is regal code 7 or regal with 3.8sfi turbo engine. Grand national is a package not a model at least in parts books.

That is the other side of the coin.If I go in to the parts store and ask for parts for my 99 ultra what are they going to say.

 

[87granny]

Whats funny is the parts guy was correct. The correct name is regal code 7 or regal with 3.8sfi turbo engine. Grand national is a package not a model at least in parts books.

That is the other side of the coin.If I go in to the parts store and ask for parts for my 99 ultra what are they going to say.

I tried that at Pepboys once and the guy told me they don't look them up that way as i am looking at the computer saying (7-3.8l turbo) then i told him to learn to read the screen he was like oooooooo that's what that means

 

[TTA81]

Whats funny is the parts guy was correct. The correct name is regal code 7 or regal with 3.8sfi turbo engine. Grand national is a package not a model at least in parts books.

That is the other side of the coin.If I go in to the parts store and ask for parts for my 99 ultra what are they going to say.

You're right, code 7 or regal 3.8 turbo would be correct. It's possible that parts books back then only listed it under VIN codes or engine size. The info given to him about the vehicle should have been enough for him to figure it out. How was he correct by bringing out hoses that don't fit? Maybe he should of asked for more info. We went to Pep Boys afterwards, told them the same thing and got what we needed.

As for your 99 ultra, they would look at you funny because you didn't specify Buick or eng size. Unless the parts guy knew exactly what it was or he had to ask you the model.

 

[regal-nut]

I have had problems with some stores when you have an 86 buick regal with an olds 307 in it. They think that im nuts. I get told that it is not possable and they get pi$$ed when i proved it, and that it was a factory opp.:All i had to do was got to thier repare manuals, take the plastic off the book and show them. Its funner yet when you have dirt on your hands and thy try to get you to buy the book too and i get to tell them to fly a kite and walk out with the part that takes them 20 min. for them to find because thy have to find an olds. listing insted of a buick.:biggrin:

 

[87granny]

If a young parts guy has never heard of a TR and you go in a parts store saying 86-87 Regal 3.8l turbo vin 7 they think your crazy and tell you does it have a V8

 

[TURBOTWIN2]

This whole thread shows why I look up my own parts online before I go to the store. Napaonline.com, oreillyauto.com, advanceautoparts.com, autozone.com etc. Can't do it with Pep Boys, though. This enables me to check price and availabilty while comparision shopping. I know I'll get the right part because I have the part number in hand. Most stores will price match if I print out the competitors part number and description with the lower price. Bypass the keyboard punchers and their propensity for mistakes.

 

[corsair231]

Funny story....

Here's one for you...back in the early 90's, me and my dad went to NAPA to get a set of radiator hoses for the GN. We went in, told the clerk what we needed and of course he asked "what vehicle". Dad told him an 87 Buick Grand National V6 Turbo. The guy looked in his catalogs for a few minutes with a look on his face and said "There ain't no such thing!" Me and dad looked at each other about to laugh and told the guy to look outside. He looks, goes to the back and has two hoses in hand. They were short and looked like they belonged to a 4 cyl . Dad said they won't work and he wanted to see the engine. After we showed him, we were like forget it, we'll take our business else where.

Whats funny is the parts guy was correct. The correct name is regal code 7 or regal with 3.8sfi turbo engine. Grand national is a package not a model at least in parts books.

QUOTE]


Part of the problem was that in the early 90's the aftermarket did not have the TR specific hoses. At least Gates and Dayco didn't. I don't know if GM had not released the spec's to the aftermarket yet or if there just wasn't enough market for them yet but to get one you had to go to someone that carried AC Delco/GM parts. I've been at Advance for 12 years and they did not have them when I started back then.

 

[turbo39151]

We've had issues with nearly all the parts stores we go to. Rarely can you ever find anyone who knows anything.

I often send my wife to pick up parts. It's kinda funny that the clerks always treat here like she's stupid or might not know what she's talking about.

She's a former helicopter mechanic and is ASE certified in Electronics.
I have explained to her that when we deal with these guys we have to be patient and talk real slow...

Last Napa store we went to we re-named "NASA" because everyone was a freakin' rocket scientist.

I think if I would have asked them for a flux capacitor they would have asked "for what vehicle?"

 

["Turbo-T"]

Another good one is when you have to order headlamps and they have to ask if it's a V6 or V8 and if it has a/c.

 

[TurboBuRick]

So I just got back from the zone , I grabbed some oil, filters some ultimate detailer and some tire shine right. I figure I would grab a set of spark plugs. I tell the guy I need a set of R42TS spark plugs. LOL. What do you think he ask me? I tell him 87 Regal with the 3.8 turbo. They show R44TS for the plugs. I said I know that but I want 42's. What does he bring back? 44's. I ask did you not here what I said? He says these are the ones for the car. I said no they are not. I asked for 42's. He said we don't have them.

 

[SilverSleeper]

I'll throw my hat in the ring here too. I worked at Advance Auto for a bit, and had a GF who was parts specialist for Autozone.
My boss, was great when it came to cars and parts. Of course, he was "old school", and knew where to look for the right parts. Me, I didn't even get trained to use the computer, so I almost always grabbed the books. (I only was there for a week when they cut my hours in half at my other job, only to leave once they realized I was serious about it and giving me my hours back).

My ex GF was extremely good with cars, did a lot of her own work, could change fuel pumps, water pumps, did her own brakes, etc. Had quite a few people pull the VW radiator bit on her, and without pause she would turn it around jokingly asking them if it was a custom setup, or a drag car, because it certainly wasn't stock, but if they knew dimensions and core thickness she would gladly sell him one! lol. She was a blonde, and cute, so you can imagine she heard it all. She was even asked for something for a TTA once, and you'd think that would stump even some seasoned people, but she knew what it was and amazed the guy that came in for the parts.

And the guy that hired her used to be a district manager for my old employer. He was certainly old school, grew up in Detroit racing in the streets, building his own custom parts, would rather drive his 69 Nova around for work than take the company car. Great guy. Last I knew, was still regional VP for AZ in this area.

 

[TTA81]

So I just got back from the zone , I grabbed some oil, filters some ultimate detailer and some tire shine right. I figure I would grab a set of spark plugs. I tell the guy I need a set of R42TS spark plugs. LOL. What do you think he ask me? I tell him 87 Regal with the 3.8 turbo. They show R44TS for the plugs. I said I know that but I want 42's. What does he bring back? 44's. I ask did you not here what I said? He says these are the ones for the car. I said no they are not. I asked for 42's. He said we don't have them.

Rick, What I do now to avoid that confusion is to look up on the net what vehicle takes the plugs I want. When I go to the parts store, I tell them I need plugs for so and so vehicle and if its a 4 cyl, I tell em I need 6 Never have a problem!

 

[TexasT]

We've had issues with nearly all the parts stores we go to. Rarely can you ever find anyone who knows anything.

I often send my wife to pick up parts. It's kinda funny that the clerks always treat here like she's stupid or might not know what she's talking about.

She's a former helicopter mechanic and is ASE certified in Electronics.
I have explained to her that when we deal with these guys we have to be patient and talk real slow...

Last Napa store we went to we re-named "NASA" because everyone was a freakin' rocket scientist.

I think if I would have asked them for a flux capacitor they would have asked "for what vehicle?"

Just have to go on down to O'reilly

flux capacitor

or the

Flux Capacitor Upgrade Kit

you have to put a zip in before it takes you to the page

 

[turbo39151]

Nice! I think I need one of those.