Tip for parts search

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73c20jim

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Jim
Truck Year
1973, 1973
Truck Model
C20 2WD Custom Deluxe. C10 2WD Base Model
Engine Size
350 CID 195/260 HP Goodwrench crate, 400 CID 2bbl
When searching for a part on Eckler's and you can't find the part you want under the truck category, search for it under different Chevy cars of the same year.

I searched for a ignition rack pre-load spring and it wasn't under trucks. I found the exact spring I needed under El Camino parts.

Go figure.
 

shiftpro

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BC Canada
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shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Remember the days when parts men were... MEN,.... and if they didn't have the part they knew which one would work. And, they knew where to find it!
These days auto parts store hire anyone who can run a computer. Probably one of those girly boy millennial tards that set up the search on the Eckler site.
 

Craig 85

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Nashville, TN
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Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
I actually did that for my fuel line. I found a similar one for a 454 Corvette.
 

agreiner

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Location
Altoona, PA
First Name
Al
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
350
Remember the days when parts men were... MEN,.... and if they didn't have the part they knew which one would work. And, they knew where to find it!
These days auto parts store hire anyone who can run a computer. Probably one of those girly boy millennial tards that set up the search on the Eckler site.
As a parts guy, I get so frustrated with my co-workers who are willing to say no without even a little bit of thought. "Well, computer says we don't have it..."

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk
 

DoubleDingo

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Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Yeah, Went into Pep Boys to get a new air filter. Told the guy it's a 81 Chevy 3/4 Ton with a 350 and TH400. He pulls one down and it's the short filter. I said, "No, that's not the correct one. It is about 3 inches taller than that." Him, it doesn't exist. Me, "Yes it does, I have the truck right outside if you want to see it and it is all factory original." Him, Um, oh, uh, let me look again. It listed under the 454 engine not the 350 engine, so I just bought a few of them because the air cleaner assembly I got off ebay for Crusty Biscuit uses the same filter, so now I almost know the part number by heart. It was annoying, though, being told it doesn't exist when it came from the factory like that.
 

73c20jim

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Location
Tombstone, AZ
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1973, 1973
Truck Model
C20 2WD Custom Deluxe. C10 2WD Base Model
Engine Size
350 CID 195/260 HP Goodwrench crate, 400 CID 2bbl
These days the only person you can trust is yourself.
 

rt66paul

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California
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paul
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1991 suburban
Truck Model
2500
Engine Size
7.4
If you think that is bad, try to find parts for the last few years of IH trucks. Brake parts are a guess, they used what they could find. The same with late 70s Ford 4WD vehicles. They would make them for a couple of weeks, go back to 2wd and then some engineer would change something and the next run of 4WD had different parts.
Almost as bad as 50s and 60s foreign vehicles - they were not exactly by year, but by model number. Don't get me started on Willys and Harley Davidson
 

agreiner

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Location
Altoona, PA
First Name
Al
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
350
A good parts person will be able to find the parts you need, if you have the old part. A great parts person can find it with pictures.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk
 

da_raabi

Trailer Park Supervisor
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Aug 7, 2013
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1,403
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Location
FloriDUH
First Name
Adam
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c30
Engine Size
454
Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and buy a few different part #s to get the right one. I ran into this trying to get the correct fuel filler hose for the crew dooley off of LMC. They say they do not support 1-tons, but as we all know parts are interchangeable between the 10/20/30 series. I tried to get their help on this, but it was like pulling teeth. I ended up buying three hoses and sending two back. It was easier that way!
 

Super-Dave

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Location
Oregon
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Yeah, I love it when you want something like a door handle retaining clip, etc. and they need to know the size engine and the transmission version in order to locate the part. Same thing happens for most of the online suppliers. . .
 

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