Parts guy rant

[R62HOPE]

My '62 had been "retrofitted" with a Delco one-wire alternator. I had no desire to keep it. I didn't mind so much the alternator, in fact I was going to replace the generator with a Ford alternator when I was looking for a '62-3 Falcon.

No, my issue was with the haphazard way the unit was installed - the alternator was not aligned with the other pulleys and was mounted in such a way as to not be adjustable - and the hacked-up, electrical-taped, and twisted-wire bypasses in the factory wiring harnesses.

Soooo, after buying an alternator and solid-state regulator, I removed the harness, properly removed wires no longer needed or damaged and added the stator lead wire. I used factory wiring colors in case I sell the car to help the next guy. I wasn't happy with the plug and harness kits available from NAPA and other parts stores, so I de-pinned the plug and used the terminals and soldered them to new correct color leads.

I made a lower mounting bracket from 3/16 steel strap and used the existing adjuster bracket.

All was well until I went to get the belt (I couldn't buy one until I knew where the alternator was going to sit.)

So here is my stupid parts guy story: I handed the guy at the counter the belt I had taken off of the car (and had cut and measured) and said that it was 35 inches and I needed one two inches shorter.

He asked what it was for.

I replied a 1962 Falcon with a 1965 to 1989 60 amp Ford alternator. This belt that I handed you is two inches too long. I need one two inches shorter.

He said (and I tried not to strangle him) Well, I'm not going to show anything for that application.

If parts stores in my area were closer I would have walked out, but I wanted to finish the project... SO...

I said I have given you a belt. It is a 35 inch long belt. Using my AMAZING mathematical skills from my years of education I can tell you I need a 1/2 wide belt that is 33 inches long...

He proceeded to go into the back and returned with a 35 inch belt.

I humored him and held it up next to mine and kindly said Gee, this looks like it is the same size... How about one two spaces down...

It took THREE more tries to get a belt...

But in the end I DID get a belt and the conversion was completed.

Photos in a bit.

[R62HOPE]

Here are a few of the finished work. (well, for now, it's all coming apart this winter to do everything correctly as far as bodywork and engine work...)

The rear of the alternator:



The top of the alternator showing belt alignment - it looks off, but I think that is a result of camera angle...



And the regulator and harness:



I did not use electrical tape on the harnesses. the "tape" is friction tape or harness tape, it has no adhesive but clings to itself. The harnesses were COVERED in electrical tape (factory harnesses are friction tape) over a good 2/3 of the length. Tape adhesive is nasty and gets everywhere making anything it touches black. So if you're going for clean find some harness tape!!

[chukar]

you are working on a car that is older than most of the parts store kids who are lost if something doesn't come up on the computer screen as "factory app." get used to it, i did. now i just tell them what i have, what i need, and which BOOK it will be found in. dang, i sound old now. but not as old as my car!

[R62HOPE]

Originally Posted by chukar

you are working on a car that is older than most of the parts store kids who are lost if something doesn't come up on the computer screen as "factory app." get used to it, i did. now i just tell them what i have, what i need, and which BOOK it will be found in. dang, i sound old now. but not as old as my car!

What's bad is this guy should have known... I'm used to the "shiny" parts stores with the high-school kids and know not to ask too technical of stuff from them, but a guy with "supposedly" 15 years parts experience?!?!

I'm not as old as any of mine, either... Thank goodness!

[froggerxt]

I always shop at a parts store that know what you are looking for and are not afraid to compare parts to get the right one.

Being as we all have cars that no longer are in the parts book it usually takes a couple of looks and see's to get the right one.

I had the same thing on my 65 with the front rotors and brakes.
The guy before me had used a 65 Mustang setup and after 5 or 6 questions I finally found a FOMOCO part number and it quickly solved the problem.

FOMOCO numbers are a God send when you need them.
To the younger guys out there these can be searched on the internet.

Jerry

[R62HOPE]

I always shop at a parts store that know what you are looking for and are not afraid to compare parts to get the right one.

This is all I wanted! The "old timer" (heck, I was probably the same age) didn't want to go look...

I repair handicap mobility equipment and needed a window lift motor to repair a power swivel van seat, the same store (different guy) and they were more than happy to look up odd parts until we found one... I didn't even have an application, we just looked at pictures!

[SUPERWOOTER]

HA! i had a woman at 'advance' autoparts trying to tell my that my exhaust manifold bolts were metric! could you imagine! if people in 1965 found out that ford was using metric parts, they'd've boycotted the heck out of them...

i've found that car quest seems to be the option with the most knowledgeable staff in my town.

[R62HOPE]

...trying to tell my that my exhaust manifold bolts were metric...

I get this from the "shiny" stores; you know, the ones with the polished floors.

[BroncoJoe19]

LOL... Yesterday moring I went to the grocery store to pick up a couple of burgers. The bill came to $4.07 I gave the cashier a $5 dollar bill, a dime and 2 pennies. That threw him, he couldn't figure why I gave him the 2 pennies!

[Tony Farmer]

About a year ago I went to my local NAPA store and asked the young lady at the front counter if I could get a certain part for my 1961 Falcon. She then turned to her co-worker and asked " What kind of car was that." True story!