Is your FLAPS disappearing, ...or generally a waste of time Options

[914werke]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) I remember when there were multiple differing parts suppliers including 1 or 2 thriving hot rod shops. Now its down to 2 or 3 which ALL carry the same thing & are staffed with a revolving barrel of monkeys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
The interweb & Amazon have killed your corner auto parts store.
I had a Worldpac account until even Redline weber started limiting the ACVW stuff they carried. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[Superhawk996]

I’m going to start with a premise that Advance Auto, O’Rileys, AutoZone, and the chain stores are not really FLAPS. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

FLAPS is the crusty local place that has an automotive machine shop in the back and a counter staffed by men who actually know the difference between a Weber and a Holly carb and have actually rebuilt a carb a time or ten. They should actually know what decking a head or resizing rods means and have the equipment and someone in house that can do it!

The counter staff should know the difference between a crankshaft and a camshaft. Ideally they might even have a dusty old Edelbrock box or two still hanging around from the 80s waiting for someone rebuilding a small block.

When I’m heading toward where the oil and filters are, the first question shouldn’t be what year, make, and model. There should be a greasy, dirty, dog eared paper catalogs near said filters that I can look up what filter fits what. Of course, that cross reference book is only needed when I don’t already know which filter I need by memory like when I buy a “new” used 30 year old car I’ve never changed the oil on before.

When I want transmission oil cooler hose - they should not bring me fuel hose or heater hose. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) I shouldn’t have to explain to them what the difference is and why it matters.

So by my definition, FLAPS are almost extinct. There are a few still around but they are becoming increasingly hard to find. Sometimes I still find an old school NAPA that is OK but increasingly they too are staffed by people that clearly don’t know a Porsche from a Pontiac.

Signed - grumpy old man who avoids the chain auto parts stores like the plague. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[930cabman]

I’m going to start with a premise that Advance Auto, O’Rileys, AutoZone, and the chain stores are not really FLAPS. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

FLAPS is the crusty local place that has an automotive machine shop in the back and a counter staffed by men who actually know the difference between a Weber and a Holly carb and have actually rebuilt a carb a time or ten. They should actually know what decking a head or resizing rods means and have the equipment and someone in house that can do it!

The counter staff should know the difference between a crankshaft and a camshaft. Ideally they might even have a dusty old Edelbrock box or two still hanging around from the 80s waiting for someone rebuilding a small block.

When I’m heading toward where the oil and filters are, the first question shouldn’t be what year, make, and model. There should be a greasy, dirty, dog eared paper catalogs near said filters that I can look up what filter fits what. Of course, that cross reference book is only needed when I don’t already know which filter I need by memory like when I buy a “new” used 30 year old car I’ve never changed the oil on before.

When I want transmission oil cooler hose - they should not bring me fuel hose or heater hose. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) I shouldn’t have to explain to them what the difference is and why it matters.

So by my definition, FLAPS are almost extinct. There are a few still around but they are becoming increasingly hard to find. Sometimes I still find an old school NAPA that is OK but increasingly they too are staffed by people that clearly don’t know a Porsche from a Pontiac.

Signed - grumpy old man who avoids the chain auto parts stores like the plague. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Same with hardware stores, basically a thing of the past.

My local NAPA is decent, at least the counter is not manned with younger kids who have no clue

Another grumpy old guy

[ClayPerrine]

I’m going to start with a premise that Advance Auto, O’Rileys, AutoZone, and the chain stores are not really FLAPS. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

FLAPS is the crusty local place that has an automotive machine shop in the back and a counter staffed by men who actually know the difference between a Weber and a Holly carb and have actually rebuilt a carb a time or ten. They should actually know what decking a head or resizing rods means and have the equipment and someone in house that can do it!

The counter staff should know the difference between a crankshaft and a camshaft. Ideally they might even have a dusty old Edelbrock box or two still hanging around from the 80s waiting for someone rebuilding a small block.

When I’m heading toward where the oil and filters are, the first question shouldn’t be what year, make, and model. There should be a greasy, dirty, dog eared paper catalogs near said filters that I can look up what filter fits what. Of course, that cross reference book is only needed when I don’t already know which filter I need by memory like when I buy a “new” used 30 year old car I’ve never changed the oil on before.

When I want transmission oil cooler hose - they should not bring me fuel hose or heater hose. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) I shouldn’t have to explain to them what the difference is and why it matters.

So by my definition, FLAPS are almost extinct. There are a few still around but they are becoming increasingly hard to find. Sometimes I still find an old school NAPA that is OK but increasingly they too are staffed by people that clearly don’t know a Porsche from a Pontiac.

Signed - grumpy old man who avoids the chain auto parts stores like the plague. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Same with hardware stores, basically a thing of the past.

My local NAPA is decent, at least the counter is not manned with younger kids who have no clue

Another grumpy old guy

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

There is an O'Reilly around the corner from me. I buy oil, carb cleaner, batteries, bulk vacuum hose and stuff like that when I am there. I don't even try to find 914 parts there. They are OK when it comes to parts for the 06 GMC Envoy, but even parts for my old Jeep pickup are questionable. They used to have a bunch of guys there that knew something about cars. They are gone and the counter people there are a bunch of kids that only know what the computer says.

For anything complex, I either go to Zims, order from one of our suppliers on here like AA, 914Rubber, PMB, Tangerine, BDStone and others. Or I go to the internet and use PET to get the Porsche part number, then I do a search for it and buy it online.

Another grumpy old guy.