What I’ve learned about Gbodys

[Kamloops cutlass]

On the few occasions I go to the corporate parts stores I tend to give the parts store monkeys crap because I can.

My 1977 truck isn't in their computers for what it is. It's trim level is bonanza. Not custom deluxe/scottsdale/silverado/etc... bonanza. Sure, it's a trim/value package, but no more so than a silverado was.

So when they insist on typing in all different info they go through the year, make, model... then stall.... I don't see bonanza, do you mean silverado? I say nope, go outside, look at the fender and the dashboard. They walk out all brisk, sure they'll prove me wrong. I lean back on the counter and wait. Watch. See them look at fender, through window, and back again. After a few times they return, much more slowly, and dejected.

Depending how much attitude they gave me first I sometimes needle them and ask what it said, and other times I just wait for them to say something to me. But it always turns to "so, what was the part number you said you wanted?"

Unfortunately, areas I've lived lately don't have mom and pop stores where those conversations didn't happen. So, I tend to shop online when possible, or deal with the monkeys when I don't have time to.

I used to go through this with my 81 Chevy diesel pickup I swapped out the 350 diesel for a gas 403
You can’t just go in the parts store and say “I need a “X” for a 403 , they want the trim level ,headlight style , etc etc of your vehicle
Then they sell you a part for a Chevy 350 that you have to drive back to return ...
Or once the sold me an intake for a 455 Pontiac
Sent my sister to parts store to get a dipstick and tube for 403 I told her just say it’s an olds 350 so the don’t get confused
They asked her what vehicle ,told her “no sweety you’re wrong here is the part you need “.
for a Chevy 350 ... grrr
Online ordering is just easier if you have the time to research part numbers and wait for delivery

 

[motorheadmike]

My wife reminds me on an occasion, then I remind her about the smiles per mile, Drag Week videos/live stream of her boy, and her family being together in the garage rather than in a bar, or in jail - still close because of cars/trucks/projects.

And damn straight that I hide the credit card bill and receipts (I'd like to get some more often than a yearly schedule) :-/

She can't understand why I need needed 2 identical fuel pumps let alone the 3rd that I have as a spare that I haven't mentioned.

I tried having an E85 discussion with her that included why we have two 55 gallon drums on the property full of the stuff - 'I don't want to refill when I'm out, this way I always have 50 gallons ready to go'

How cars connect a family is huge.

Last night we were chilling on the couch and I was watching a Cleetus video of him and Kevin from KSR on Midwest Drags(?)... I looked at her and said: "Drag Week next year." She responded: "Okay.". My response: "It's killing me to see the Americans having all the fun."

Then we watched a short documentary on Vanishing Point. She gets why there is a white Challenger in the garage - always has. Asked if I was going to watch the movie with Tatiana. I responded: "Nope." "Why?", she asked. "Boobies and drugs." I said "Really, I don't remember that?", she replied. Then they showed the scene of the girl on the motorcycle. "Right - we'll wait.", she closed.

 

[-dw-]

I've learned they're money pits & I have the receipts to prove it

Over 20yrs ago I pulled my Olds out of a junkyard for 150$. Spent a small fortune on it but the fun we had over the yrs has been priceless.