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Topic: The days are numbered (Read 2988 times) previous topic - next topic

The days are numbered

Think I'm going to have to find a new car to daily drive. One of my requirements in beater us being able to fix it easily and getting parts. I have a stash as well as a few parts cars.

But something changed today. I just went to 6 different parts stores looking for brake pads. I ended up special ordering them and it will take 2-3 days to get here. At this point, I am probably better off ordering online.

Its been a good 15 years or so, but I think I'm at the point now where I am going to have a weekend cougar/bird and a boring 4 door daily like everyone else. Been a good haul, but I think I'm done abusing these cars. Delivering pizza, camping, going off roading, and messing them up.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #1
It would definitely be tough having a daily 30+ year old car especially if you do a lot of miles. 
You could probably skirt the brake pad finding issue by upgrading to a current brake/rotor setup, but that wouldn't help with other parts.
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

The days are numbered

Reply #2
Yup, I could. But putting $500 worth of brakes into a $500 car so you can buy $20 brake pads kinda defeats the purpose of a beater.

And then like you said, finding all the other parts. If they quit stocking brake pads, I doubt they will carry much more for long.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #3
Yeah it's getting aggravating. I've simply been stocking up all sorts of shiznit. I have several AOD VB gaskets, I have a few MAP sensors...'stat housing gaskets, intake, head...blah blah.....what the hell else can you do? And worse, I have more faith in used OEM parts than I do in aftermarket new. So much garbage that was made by a company run by yet more complacent management that hasn't a real care in the world.



Where I work, we're a "state of the art semiconductor research facility" and we have plenty of single-path machines that are old as dirt as far as the industry goes..and it's the same thing. We're just down for days even weeks sometimes if the right piece breaks. It's just funny. Larger scale, but same proportions I guess. Who really wants to spend hundreds if not thousands on every possible spare part that you don't KNOW you'll need....?
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

The days are numbered

Reply #4
Ive always been a fan of local auto parts stores. If Amazon goes under when I need brake pads, no big deal, ill go anywhere else. If the only place in town goes under, I'm stuck getting a ride.

I've always avoided ordering parts online. Mostly for the aggravation of having to wait a few days and get the wrong part.

There really arent any more mom and pop owned auto parts stores, and since AutoZone isn't carrying all the parts I need any more, I guess it's time.

Gonna place an order in rock auto.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #5
Local carquest here still stocks brakes for both SN95, as well as my '98 Exploder. Oddly enough, pads, rotors, and a rear driver's caliper for my Lexus had to be ordered in. It's an '06. Hmmm.

I refuse to go into oreilly now. I had to get the above mentioned caliper for the Lexus (rotors were back in spring), told him specifically to order the caliper. Guess what showed up the next day? Rotors.

God it. Went to carquest and got it right the first time. There's a difference between a place where the people have been there for 15 years, compared to a place where every week there's a new person who doesn't know the difference between a dick and a driveshaft.
'84 Mustang
'98 Explorer 5.0
'03 Focus, dropped a valve seat. yay. freakin' split port engines...
'06 Explorer EB 4.6

The days are numbered

Reply #6
Well, an update. Placed my order at rock auto earlier this week. Got my $3 wheel bearing. Its a timken and made in USA. It was less then half the price of a Chinese house brand from an auto parts store. I also got 8 autolite plugs for $.65 vs $2 at the auto parts store, a motorcraft set of brake pads for $7 (vs $20 for cheap Chinese  from AutoZone) and a set of cheap plug wires for around $10 (no higher quality or motorcraft brand in stock).

Over all, I got nearly $100 worth of parts shipped to me for $40, but $13.95 was shipping from 3 different warehouses (which I didnt realize) so I paid shipping 3 times. And not only is it roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the price for oem quality vs Chinese  from an auto parts store.

When I get paid again, I think I am gonna do shocks, struts and replace my badly wrapped brake discs which should cost about the same as just brake discs from the auto parts store.

As long as all my parts fit, I'm not sure I'm ever going to a local auto parts store again unless its an emergency.

Btw, the whole reason I decided to order online is because I paid for and special ordered my brakes twice from local parts stores and they didn't have them when I went to pick them up and ended up refunding me.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #7
My Thunderbird is not and hasn't been my dd for years. I've been ordering parts for it online as if the car has to sit waiting for a part it's not a big deal. That way I get the better part and save some money in the process.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

The days are numbered

Reply #8
Pick up an S197 Mustang. The buy in isn't super cheap, but the parts availability is getting to SN95 levels.
It's Gumby's fault.

The days are numbered

Reply #9
Quote from: Tbird232ci;466725
Pick up an S197 Mustang. The buy in isn't super cheap, but the parts availability is getting to SN95 levels.

I actually test drove one. Gonna try to work on my credit (I usually only pay cash for everything) and start looking seriously. I think I'm going newer stang or fusion.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #10
I was heavily considering a 2017 Fusion Sport, but ended up not making any moves. I would hate to get rid of my Scion.

Look into things like Best Buy who have 0% interest for a year or two. May sure you pay it off before that time frame and it won't cost you any more than if you paid cash.
It's Gumby's fault.

The days are numbered

Reply #11
Quote from: Tbird232ci;466732
I was heavily considering a 2017 Fusion Sport, but ended up not making any moves.


My wife and I were considering buying a Fusion Sport but end up with an Accord EX-L V6 instead. We bought the Accord because it was less expensive comparatively equipped and could run on regular gas with no loss in power. With the 3.5 J series V6 the Accord isn't but a couple tenths of a second slower than the Fusion Sport.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

The days are numbered

Reply #12
When it comes right down to it I don't even want a Mustang or a fusion. I feel like there's way too many bills and whistles on Modern cars. I generally disable all of my door chimes key Chimes you left your headlight on warning Chimes I hate creaks and rattles I hate the seatbelt beep. When my dad wrecked his Fiesta they gave him a truck for rental and I was one of the only people that could drive a truck that big so I ended up driving that instead. It was a 2016 or 17 F250 and it was nice but reminded me of how much I hate modern cars and how integrated the radio in the infotainment system is for the rest of the vehicle. In all reality I would much rather have the Mustang but there's less and less heat room as they get newer and it's becoming more and more of a two-seater rather than a real car. The fusion is essentially only because it's a Ford product you can get it with a inline 4 or a V6 and I would probably go for the inline 4 I don't even want a 4-door car. But I have two boys and they're getting pretty big my oldest is out of his booster seat which generally you have to be in until you're 12 in my state and my younger
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The days are numbered

Reply #13
Unfortunately, there is no way around. I was the exact same way, grumbling about touch screens and all this  you don't need. I got my Scion, and it has a decent head unit with limited capabilities. I loved that it worked perfect with bluetooth for calling and for media streaming. The traction control and stability control work so well that I don't mind them. The windows going full up and full down depending on how you hit the switches is pretty awesome too. I had my Scion for a year or so, and my girlfriend ended up getting a fully loaded Fiesta ST. I read off the list of features like keyless entry/start/stop, sync system, auto climate control, seat heaters, and all this other  and thought to myself how it was completely useless. Now I love it. If we split driving, she never has to hand me the key. As long as it's within proximity, we can both get in the car. As long as it's in the car, it starts. It's nice pushing a button, and telling it where you want to go, and it brings up navigation. It's nice being a bitch when it's cold and turning on the seat heaters.
It's Gumby's fault.

The days are numbered

Reply #14
Quote from: Haystack;466736
When it comes right down to it I don't even want a Mustang or a fusion. I feel like there's way too many bills and whistles on Modern cars. I generally disable all of my door chimes key Chimes you left your headlight on warning Chimes I hate creaks and rattles I hate the seatbelt beep. When my dad wrecked his Fiesta they gave him a truck for rental and I was one of the only people that could drive a truck that big so I ended up driving that instead. It was a 2016 or 17 F250 and it was nice but reminded me of how much I hate modern cars and how integrated the radio in the infotainment system is for the rest of the vehicle. In all reality I would much rather have the Mustang but there's less and less heat room as they get newer and it's becoming more and more of a two-seater rather than a real car. The fusion is essentially only because it's a Ford product you can get it with a inline 4 or a V6 and I would probably go for the inline 4 I don't even want a 4-door car. But I have two boys and they're getting pretty big my oldest is out of his booster seat which generally you have to be in until you're 12 in my state and my younger
Maybe you guys are giving up on the fox bodies too quickly. I can still practically find everything I need for my 65 T-Bird at the local auto part stores. I recently replaced the rear brakes and Autozone had everything in stock except the spring kits. Those I found in stock at my local Napa store. However, the heater core just went out and no one has it except one of those expensive "T-Bird Specialty" stores in Calif.  Forget that. And I must admit finding a new or rebuilt throttle body for my 86 Cougar was impossible. They don't exist.