What's Plastigage??!!

[64 SRT8 Dart]

So, I go into one of the dozen or so Checkers here in town that's supposedly the "Performance" store to get some plastigage. They have carbs, intakes, valve covers, and even blowers/superchargers on the shelves!! Have a ton of h.p. stuff laying around.

I go to the counter and ask for the plastigage and the guy asks, "What's that?" I'm like, you're joking right?. Another worker speaks up and says" Is that that paper stuff?" I'm like you've got to be kidding me!!! I told them that it's not paper but a small/tiny strip of plastic that you place between bearings/journals to check clearances.

They tried looking it up in their system but probably didnt spell it correctly because they couldn't find it. So, the first guy and I went looking through their performance shelves. After about 5 minutes the other guy found it and was like, " Told you, it's that paper stuff!!." And, they look at eachother and smirked like I didn't know what I was talking about.

I then told them, "No, it's not paper, you use the guages on the paper to measure the plastic that's in the paper!!!" I peeled the paper back to show the plastic strip inside and shut em up real quick. However, it wasn't the right tolerance I needed and it was all they had.

These guys were older and I would've thought that they at least would've known what the stuff was, geeez!

The first guy then, changing the subject real quick, asked me what I was building. I told him a 318. He then proceeded to lecture me on how the 318 wasn't worth building and that I'm making a mistake, and that he'd make me a deal on a 440 out of his friends motorhome. Said he'd take $800!! lol
I kindly declined and let him know all the machine work and parts were all there for the 318. Let him know that the 318 would be a bolt in deal for the car and would move the car along just fine, lol.

I then left just shaking my head. You don't know what plastigage is but yet you want to lecture me on motors??

I went to NAPA about a mile down the road. The guy immediately asked which color/tolerance I wanted, went downstairs, came back up with it, done deal. In and out in a few minutes.
That Checkers' just lost my business.
Rant over. lol

 

[toolmanmike]

Now you know where to go to get parts next time. lol

 

[69B-Cuda]

unless someone has ever build an engine or watched it done, I can see how they might not know... but sad to say, guys at a lot of the chain parts stores don't have a clue.... especially on anything older!

 

[cjh]

unless someone has ever build an engine or watched it done, I can see how they might not know... but sad to say, guys at a lot of the chain parts stores don't have a clue.... especially on anything older!

I wonder if the same situation wasn't any different back in the 50's when a guy wants something for his 1920 Model T Ford ???

 

[krazykuda]

I'm going to buy an engine from a guy that doesn't know what plasticgauge is and how to use it.... NOT!!!

 

[TrailBeast]

Let me guess, you got green?

 

[67Dart273]

I wonder if the same situation wasn't any different back in the 50's when a guy wants something for his 1920 Model T Ford ???

I'll tell 'ya

I was born in 48, so I was not working on cars in the '50s. But when I was about 10, so this would have been about 58 or 59, my Dad overhauled two old pickups. I can STILL remember being fascinated as he used Perfect Circle brand name Plastigauge to check the mains and rods in those old engines in our old, dirt floor garage.

You cannot entirely blame the parts guys. Blame the corporate ownership, the pay they don't get, and the training they don't have. And blame the confrontive atmosphere in which these guys work. Years and YEARS ago in a previous life, I sold auto parts, truck parts and heavy hardware, along with wire rope and chain, industrial belts, sprockets and chain. In those days the "senior guys" kept a wary eye on the "junior guys." They forever kept one eye, one ear, looking and listening for "I don't know" or "I don't think we stock that."

We used to have one old guy who started at one store the year after they opened......in '31!!! I used to accuse him of being able to crap auto parts.

One time a local, tall lanky guy I knew came in, George. Now this was in the eighties, but George had OLD rigs. He had a NICE Model A flatbed that he USED.


"Hallow Nick, haow ar ya, how ya been? Say I don' spose ya kin order a ring 'n pinion fer the ol model A?"

Nick plays it cool. (I knew that ring and pinion was "down there" covered in about 1 " of dust) "Oh, heck, I think we STOCK those!!!!" (Like it's every day that some guy wants a model A ring / pinion, or for that matter ANY model A parts

So Nick gets it out, dusts it off, and carries it up to the counter, in the old, dark orange and black Timken box. Dumps it casually on the counter. "Sure, here ya go, we STOCK those!!!!"

Of course the BAD side of this is, George forever after thought that whenever he needed something for that damned model A, WE would have it!!!!

 

[64 SRT8 Dart]

Let me guess, you got green?

Yep, lol

 

[67Dart273]

Also, there's a procedure by which you can use ship stock to estimate bearing clearance. I believe it's in some of the shop manuals. I've never been too convinced as to accuracy

Of course walking into just about any auto parts or hardware store and asking about "shim stock" is likely to get the same "whut?" response

 

[jefflock]

I had the same experience at our local NAPA store with some of the newer help. Finally the machinist come from the back and gets me what I need.

 

[65cuda360]

Go ask them for crocus cloth to polish a crank.....you'll get the same dumb looks.

 

[krazykuda]

Isn't plasticgauge that cheap plastic $2 pair of vernier calipers that I bought at the discount tool store?? It's plastic and a gauge.....

 

[67Dart273]

LOL........

 

[Leadfoot]

Napa isn't any better. The clowns at the Napa here couldn't sell me a kit for a 4150 Holley.

 

[Abodybomber]

It's really embarrassing, as a parts guy. Unless you have basic automotive knowledge,it's a awful thing. Corporation stupidity, is the cause here. Napa is usually the best.

 

[MOPARMITCH]

Napa is usually the best.[/QUOTE]

Or a good long standing Independent Auto Parts Store

 

[krazykuda]

Napa is usually the best.

Or a good long standing Independent Auto Parts Store[/QUOTE]


You don't see those good ol Ma & Pa parts stores around here anymore. You can't fix today's cars like the vintage ones that we are working on, so most of them went out of business. It's mostly just the big chains now and all parts are listed on a computer.


Not like back in the 70 & 80's where they had the "stacks" of catalogs and the good guys knew just which catalog to look in and where to find what you were looking for. With a price sheet right behind it. There were at least 3 local warehouses that they sent their drivers to first thing in the morning like 7 to 9 AM, a second run between 11 AM & 1 PM, then a third pickup between 4 PM and 5 PM. The store was open at 7 or 8 AM and close at 8 or 9 PM.

If you got there by 8 or 9 AM, you could have your out of stock part by 1:30 PM, or if you came at lunchtime, you could get your parts after the 4-5 PM run before the warehouse closed. Then you could pick up your parts by 6 PM and start working on the car, and still make one more run for little off the shelf stuff like sealer, nuts and bolts, oil, antifreeze etc before 9 PM. Then work till midnight or 2 AM. Catch a few hours of sleep and do it again.

There was a black guy that worked at Short's Auto Parts in Ferndale, MI at 9 Mile and I-75 named Richard. Man he was a great parts guy. If it was available, Richard could find it. Even when the other parts guys (who were pretty good) couldn't, Richard could. If another parts guy was helping me and couldn't find the part, Richard would tell him what catalog to look it up or tell them that the catalog they should be looking in is in the back. If they still couldn't find it, Richard would tell me to wait until he finished with his current customer and then find it for me. I could go in there for a common engine part and Richard would ask, "Didn't I sell you one of those 7-8 months ago?"

Then I would tell him, "Yes, but this one is for one of my other cars." He had a great memory. Sometimes he wouldn't even have to look up the common parts, he could just tell you the part number off the top of his head. He could list all kinds of engines from the 50's that I never even heard of. I missed him after he finally retired. Richard was the best parts guy I have ever met.

Not like some of these guys you see in today's parts stores. :banghead: And it takes 2-3 days for a special order non-stocked part. :banghead: Then when you get the part, it is the wrong one.... :banghead: So you have to re-order it and wait 2-3 more days.... :banghead: And now I have a headache from banging my head so much, so I'm gonna go.....

 

[Abodybomber]

Or a good long standing Independent Auto Parts Store

You don't see those good ol Ma & Pa parts stores around here anymore. You can't fix today's cars like the vintage ones that we are working on, so most of them went out of business. It's mostly just the big chains now and all parts are listed on a computer.


Not like back in the 70 & 80's where they had the "stacks" of catalogs and the good guys knew just which catalog to look in and where to find what you were looking for. With a price sheet right behind it. There were at least 3 local warehouses that they sent their drivers to first thing in the morning like 7 to 9 AM, a second run between 11 AM & 1 PM, then a third pickup between 4 PM and 5 PM. The store was open at 7 or 8 AM and close at 8 or 9 PM.

If you got there by 8 or 9 AM, you could have your out of stock part by 1:30 PM, or if you came at lunchtime, you could get your parts after the 4-5 PM run before the warehouse closed. Then you could pick up your parts by 6 PM and start working on the car, and still make one more run for little off the shelf stuff like sealer, nuts and bolts, oil, antifreeze etc before 9 PM. Then work till midnight or 2 AM. Catch a few hours of sleep and do it again.

There was a black guy that worked at Short's Auto Parts in Ferndale, MI at 9 Mile and I-75 named Richard. Man he was a great parts guy. If it was available, Richard could find it. Even when the other parts guys (who were pretty good) couldn't, Richard could. If another parts guy was helping me and couldn't find the part, Richard would tell him what catalog to look it up or tell them that the catalog they should be looking in is in the back. If they still couldn't find it, Richard would tell me to wait until he finished with his current customer and then find it for me. I could go in there for a common engine part and Richard would ask, "Didn't I sell you one of those 7-8 months ago?"

Then I would tell him, "Yes, but this one is for one of my other cars." He had a great memory. Sometimes he wouldn't even have to look up the common parts, he could just tell you the part number off the top of his head. He could list all kinds of engines from the 50's that I never even heard of. I missed him after he finally retired. Richard was the best parts guy I have ever met.

Not like some of these guys you see in today's parts stores. :banghead: And it takes 2-3 days for a special order non-stocked part. :banghead: Then when you get the part, it is the wrong one.... :banghead: So you have to re-order it and wait 2-3 more days.... :banghead: And now I have a headache from banging my head so much, so I'm gonna go.....[/QUOTE]

Correct,KrazyKuda....

 

[65cuda360]

My parents and I ran the last "mom and pop" parts store in Baton Rouge for 28 years. I was a white version of your buddy Richard. I'm good friends with the guy who has the local parts store here in rural Oklahoma. We get together over a few beers and bounce old part numbers off each other and ***** about how everything has changed over the years. Every time we talk, he tries to sell me his store.....and I tell him to F&^k off! Then we drink a few more beers!:-D

 

[Abodybomber]

My parents and I ran the last "mom and pop" parts store in Baton Rouge for 28 years. I was a white version of your buddy Richard. I'm good friends with the guy who has the local parts store here in rural Oklahoma. We get together over a few beers and bounce old part numbers off each other and ***** about how everything has changed over the years. Every time we talk, he tries to sell me his store.....and I tell him to F&^k off! Then we drink a few more beers!:-D

Lmao.....

 

[krazykuda]

I was a white version of your buddy Richard. !:-D

Those are big shoes to fill.... Richard was the best....

Great story!

 

[65cuda360]

I do wear 12's......All the popular part numbers are still burned into my brain. We stocked gm points (DR2270xp) by the 10 pack, ordered chevy plugs (R45ts) by the case of 104. Sold sandpaper by the sheet or sleeve of 25, cut hose, emery cloth, ect and sold by the foot, sold light bulbs single or 10 pack, and would mic pistons ect and identify what motor you had that you thought was a 327 and turned out to be a 307. So yeah, I got kinda irritated trying to explain to an 18 y/o O'Riellys employee what an advance curve kit is, and why I couldn't "tune it" with a chip.

 

[My 72 340]

Or a good long standing Independent Auto Parts Store



You don't see those good ol Ma & Pa parts stores around here anymore. You can't fix today's cars like the vintage ones that we are working on, so most of them went out of business. It's mostly just the big chains now and all parts are listed on a computer.

I work at one, operates 2 stores and is creeping up on it's 99th anniversary, and yes there is some Plastigage laying around.

 

[65cuda360]

I work at one, operates 2 stores and is creeping up on it's 99th anniversary, and yes there is some Plastigage laying around.

Got any bearing spoons??

 

[Dart_Doctor]

Now I Didnt read the whole thread but I didnt know what it was Intel Karl and cliff and me Done the 360 and karl learned me lol