IML: Blank Stares at the Parts Counter

I am not Bob, but I'll suggest we find a parts man that won't give us blank stares when we show up at their counter needing an Imperial part. There are certain things that I don't try to ask for, but about 5 years ago when I began to rekindle my interest in my Imperials, I did some research to find a reliable parts man for routine items.

I discovered a shop that specialized in repairing older cars. I paid them to do a few things to one of my cars, then I struck up a conversation about parts availability. They hooked me up with a guy at a local Parts Plus store. I wouldn't recommend that everyone on the IML seek out the nearest Parts Plus store and assume that they will have access to the same service that I have had. The service comes from the individual, not necessarily the store.

My parts man is in his 50's, with 30 years of experience, and has obviously made a career out of running his parts counter. This is clearly different from the 18 year old who is going to school and working at Parts Plus to buy food and pay rent. My parts man tries to find the parts that I need. If he doesn't find what he is looking for in the first manual, or source, he checks another. Now and then he knows right off the bat that we will come up empty handed, so I don't waste his time. 90% of the time he gets what I need, or at least can offer an alternative that will work, such as a rebuild house, or service company.

There will probably come a time when I won't be able to get a starter for my Imperials, or have one of them rebuilt by an outside source. When that time comes, there will always be someone who will do the work privately, but that will be difficult to find and expensive. I have run into this problem with other hobbies, namely old electronics. I recently found that there are only two places in the United States of America to have a Tandberg Model V reel to reel tape player repaired. I wanted it done, so I chose one of them and paid

Hi Bob!!! Hope things are going OK for you and your Imperial!!!
Just a quick question about the NipponDenso starter you just put in....although 
I do not need one RIGHT NOW, I was wondering if there is a Starter Model # or 
'type' that I ask for at the parts store? where I am, out in the 'rural' part of 
southern Cal., anytime I ask for anything for a '66 Imperial I get these blank 
looks from the kids, I mean 'younger adults' that are usually behind the 
counters. If there is a specific # starter or 'type' of starter I could ask for 
I'd get one from Auto Zone(?) to keep on hand for when (not if) my Imperial 
needs it! (especially now that I have added to my 'family' and have a '66 
LeBaron also).
Thanks!!!
Dan Melnik



-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm