old???

[56safari]

My 60 Corvette is dual points also. Hard to believe new cars were pointless ignition by 1975 and distributors disappeared by 2000. So many "mechanical advances."

[Rexlion]

Originally Posted by 56safari

My 60 Corvette is dual points also. Hard to believe new cars were pointless ignition by 1975 and distributors disappeared by 2000. So many "mechanical advances."

What, all the auto parts distributors have disappeared? And all the new cars are pointless? Anyone want to send me their new car?

[radar]

Originally Posted by Rexlion

What, all the auto parts distributors have disappeared? And all the new cars are pointless? Anyone want to send me their new car?

You have to wonder how much auto parts stores are going to change in the next 20 years. No spark plugs, no wires, no fuel filters, no air filters, no exhaust systems, no catalytic converters, no gas tanks, no engine oil, no transmission fluid etc etc etc and soon no 12 volt batteries. They’ll still sell suspension parts etc but things will definitely change. Northern European countries that are now selling primarily electric vehicles are already dealing with the change to their auto parts stores. And gas stations are already closing or converting to L3 high speed chargers. Change is coming to the auto parts industry although it will take a while to work it’s way south..and west to North America.

Jmho.

[bentjm]

I still have five engines that I use a timing light and dwell/tach meter on.

Four Chevy V8s and one Westerbeke 4 cylinder.

[dbircky]

Originally Posted by radar

You have to wonder how much auto parts stores are going to change in the next 20 years. No spark plugs, no wires, no fuel filters, no air filters, no exhaust systems, no catalytic converters, no gas tanks, no engine oil, no transmission fluid etc etc etc and soon no 12 volt batteries. They’ll still sell suspension parts etc but things will definitely change. Northern European countries that are now selling primarily electric vehicles are already dealing with the change to their auto parts stores. And gas stations are already closing or converting to L3 high speed chargers. Change is coming to the auto parts industry although it will take a while to work it’s way south..and west to North America.



Jmho.

20 years? Very doubtful. Average age of American cars is now over 12 years old. I just replaced a brake caliper and brake hoses on a 1996 Ford. O Reilly had them in stock. Put new brake pads on a 1991 Jeep last fall, auto zone not only had them, they had 3 grades to choose from in stock.
Auto parts stores typically do better in an economic downturn as people hold onto their cars longer. The rapid rise in new car prices also feed into the average age of cars increasing. This has massively benefited parts stores. Here’s the facts about the nearest parts store for me: O'Reilly Auto Parts's revenue growth from 2009 to 2021 is 174.96%.
Haven’t had to visit a parts store for my trouble free newer Honda, and even if I did have a problem it’s still covered by the factory warranty.
My only complaint with part stores is the lack of knowledge by the employees. They couldn’t look up the caliper without imputing the engine size and transmission type.

[ThruTime]

I wish you would get to the point already!

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Bill 3rd

I wish you would get to the point already!

But now you are dwelling on the point.

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by radar

You have to wonder how much auto parts stores are going to change in the next 20 years. No spark plugs, no wires, no fuel filters, no air filters, no exhaust systems, no catalytic converters, no gas tanks, no engine oil, no transmission fluid etc etc etc and soon no 12 volt batteries. They’ll still sell suspension parts etc but things will definitely change. Northern European countries that are now selling primarily electric vehicles are already dealing with the change to their auto parts stores. And gas stations are already closing or converting to L3 high speed chargers. Change is coming to the auto parts industry although it will take a while to work it’s way south..and west to North America.

Jmho.

Parts stores have already changed a lot. I try to buy at my local jobber warehouse but they have been bought out by NAPA. If I need something at one of the chain big box parts stores I look it up at home first and go in with my part number. I've been able to look things up that the kids who work there couldn't find, I've actually had them tell me something is not available that I already saw online so I've just started bringing in my part number or paying online and picking it up. If they can't spell, they can't find it because their system requires correct spelling and doesn't make suggestions if you mis-spell like Google does.
A couple weeks ago I needed a common relay, I knew exactly what I needed but they can only look things up by make, model and year. So I gave her the info and she punched in "fog light relay" and nothing came up so she told me they don't have it. Trying to stay calm I said "Try fog lamp relay" and whuddya know they had it. It was just like every other 5 pin relay in 1,000s of cars.