71ChargerRT
Well-known member
203's 
Got them off of eBay for $2.74 ea w/ free shipping
Got them off of eBay for $2.74 ea w/ free shipping
What are you working on?
- Thread starter Stretch
- Start date
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
Can you tell I've found a few mower-deck bearings in my day? :dance: The 203s are more common, but I have run into a couple of 205s.
Did you go with 203SS or 203FF? Please tell me you went with one of those two, though I would think the FFs would be more durable in that application.
Did you go with 203SS or 203FF? Please tell me you went with one of those two, though I would think the FFs would be more durable in that application.
71ChargerRT
Well-known member
The ones I bought are 203RS. I didn't see any others. Hopefully they last a couple years, I should be able to buy a new one by then.
71ChargerRT
Well-known member
I miss having "in's" at parts places. It really sucks, I have never paid full price for parts, 'cept the last couple years and it REALLY sucks too!
Is it me or have prices exponentially increased, even without the discount, over the last 3-4 years?
Is it me or have prices exponentially increased, even without the discount, over the last 3-4 years?
Diplomat_Wagon
Hiding In The Bushes While
As for me mostly fixing and upgrading my Dakota. Finished up the intake repair and cam swap and I'm onto the shift kit and transmission fluid swap.
After that when I have some more money will be doing the brakes and bolt pattern swap and PowerTraxx install.
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
It depends on the part, 71. Some things have gone way down in price since I started back in '87, whereas other things have skyrocketed. Rotors and drums were so expensive back then, it was nothing to cut 5-10 sets per day. Now it's a miracle if you cut 2 pair a week. Brake shoes still cost about the same, but back then they had a core charge as they were reman. Now they're new. Same situation with wheel cylinders. Back then, you could have 8'-12' of shelving for rotating electrical (starters and alternators) and have 90% coverage. There were 3 Chrysler alternators and 4 starters. When I left Auto Value, we had 28' of RE and about 65% coverage. It's far worse with brake parts, as everything has gotten so specific. In the '70s, full-size GM cars had 2WD truck brakes up front (#52 pads, if I recall, and the calipers were the same). On an '03 Silverado 1500 4WD, there are 3 possibilities on the front brakes alone, and none of that shit fits cars. Brakes for an '07-'08 Charger? Don't get me started.
This is why prices have skyrocketed on a lot of parts. Rotors and drums are actually less expensive, but to have same-day coverage there's a lot of overhead. We had 118' of rotors and drums at Auto Value, 8' high. Brake parts are wildly competitive, so you're going to pay more for a cap and rotor, plugs, paint, whatever to make up what you're losing on the fast movers. That's just how it works. Here, no one can touch NAPA's price on drums and rotors to their good commercial shops, but if you're a now-and-then commercial or a walk-in, you get stabbed in the ass hardcore. That's how they choose to make up the difference. Their call, but a customer's going to look around when you're charging $68 for a rotor while I'm charging $46 for the same part to a walk-in (this really happened).
The real bitch of it is, from the standpoint of the guy behind the counter, is that no one shops quality anymore. Everyone's got Wal-Mart mentality, and cheaper is gooder. They'll but the $3.75 ignition rotor, then scream bloody murder when the it's junk in 3 months.
This is why prices have skyrocketed on a lot of parts. Rotors and drums are actually less expensive, but to have same-day coverage there's a lot of overhead. We had 118' of rotors and drums at Auto Value, 8' high. Brake parts are wildly competitive, so you're going to pay more for a cap and rotor, plugs, paint, whatever to make up what you're losing on the fast movers. That's just how it works. Here, no one can touch NAPA's price on drums and rotors to their good commercial shops, but if you're a now-and-then commercial or a walk-in, you get stabbed in the ass hardcore. That's how they choose to make up the difference. Their call, but a customer's going to look around when you're charging $68 for a rotor while I'm charging $46 for the same part to a walk-in (this really happened).
The real bitch of it is, from the standpoint of the guy behind the counter, is that no one shops quality anymore. Everyone's got Wal-Mart mentality, and cheaper is gooder. They'll but the $3.75 ignition rotor, then scream bloody murder when the it's junk in 3 months.
71ChargerRT
Well-known member
This is very true, batteries are killer! I remember people bitching about the economy series at $30 bucks when I started at PepBoys, now the cheapest I can find for my Charger is about $80! I had to buy 1 at a time for my truck, and they were $140 each out the door. I know brake parts are pretty cheap I bought Wagners for my truck (1 ton) and they were $50, and rotors weren't much more and I have an early '99, pre 3/21/99, the later ones are even cheaper.
Back when I was at the 'Boys a "premium" BWD cap was about $10 bucks and the rotor was about $2, now the cheap stuff is about that and the better isn't even in stock, unless you own a frickin' Blowtie (not a typo)
Very true about the quality issue, I buy parts online now when I don't need them immediately. Most of the stuff I want they have to order anyway, so I might as well order off of the 'net and get a better price.
I remember cutting rotors in the late '90's at AZ, but by the time my dad bought his shop in Feb. '00 it wasn't worth it, and so many cars came in for the first brake job and the rotors were already borderline.
Back when I was at the 'Boys a "premium" BWD cap was about $10 bucks and the rotor was about $2, now the cheap stuff is about that and the better isn't even in stock, unless you own a frickin' Blowtie (not a typo)
Very true about the quality issue, I buy parts online now when I don't need them immediately. Most of the stuff I want they have to order anyway, so I might as well order off of the 'net and get a better price.
I remember cutting rotors in the late '90's at AZ, but by the time my dad bought his shop in Feb. '00 it wasn't worth it, and so many cars came in for the first brake job and the rotors were already borderline.
beeper*71
This space for rent
Looks great! I will do something constructive (or deconstructive?) tomorrow.
restoman
The paint fumes have cleared so I'm
Not just from behind the counter. The same applies to just about everthing today. You'd be amazed at how many people think all body and paint jobs are equal, the only difference is in the price. Drove me nuts when I was in business, constantly trying to explain the differences, to blank-faced customers that only heard the bottom line.
I figure I'm as cheap as anyone, but only in the sense that I want the best there is for the lowest price I can get it for.
If I'm going to shell out my money, I only want to do it once, so I buy the best I can get. I've never seen much sense in price shopping at the cost of quality.
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dustergal
I have serious issues, so I'm
beeper*71
This space for rent
Today I finally got around to rebuilding the seat on my little Honda. The cover was in acceptable condition but the open cell foam used for rider support was usless. Think worn out couch cushion, it supported the shape of the cover but little else.
So here we have the cover removed exposing the offending "cushion".
Peel off the old foam to the aluminum pan underneath, basically what my boney butt had to endure.
Here it is after some quality time with a wire wheel and some mineral spirits to remove the old adhesive. The edges of the cover was glued on underneath and much glue was also removed in that area. The original builder of the bike did a real nice job fabbing the seat pan, I was impressed. The bolts are used as locating pins to holes in the frames crossbrace.
So what to use for the new foam? Well, we had new carpet installed last summer so I had the installer leave me some scraps of carpet pad. Turns out it's the perfect fit for my little project, it's firm, supportive and easy to work with. Five layers joined together with spray adhesive worked out nicely.
Re-install the cover and it's better than ever. An seat that actually supports my weight without breaking my ass and I also gain some legroom as I now am sitting on the seat rather than in it. Win, win.
So here we have the cover removed exposing the offending "cushion".
Peel off the old foam to the aluminum pan underneath, basically what my boney butt had to endure.
Here it is after some quality time with a wire wheel and some mineral spirits to remove the old adhesive. The edges of the cover was glued on underneath and much glue was also removed in that area. The original builder of the bike did a real nice job fabbing the seat pan, I was impressed. The bolts are used as locating pins to holes in the frames crossbrace.
So what to use for the new foam? Well, we had new carpet installed last summer so I had the installer leave me some scraps of carpet pad. Turns out it's the perfect fit for my little project, it's firm, supportive and easy to work with. Five layers joined together with spray adhesive worked out nicely.
Re-install the cover and it's better than ever. An seat that actually supports my weight without breaking my ass and I also gain some legroom as I now am sitting on the seat rather than in it. Win, win.
Stretch
Hey! There’s no easy button for a body like this!
Love that Charger Stretchy. That is the coolest color.
[smilie=2::naughty:[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the complement on my car and thanks for proving you have a dirty mind! I'll make a note to choose my words better from now on. Just for you.
Stretch
Hey! There’s no easy button for a body like this!
Nice work Beeper! I love doing upholstery. I did the front seat in my car, the entire interior in my father-in-laws '66 mustang convertable, and the entire interior in my dads buddys '74 nova. All were done with kits but I had to fit the carpet on the floor panels for the mustang, and build up the foam for my car and Bill's nova. Fun stuff for sure.
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