[Jack Peters]

Had a guy come to my house to buy some RA IV heads I had. He wanted to put them on his '69 442. Had to explain they were completely different.

Have had more than one tell me they had a T-37 like mine. Have given up trying to explain the difference. After all, they all look alike.

[Simple Man]

Working in a gas station in high school, a guy comes in and ask's for a quart of ATF. I said "for GM or Ford"? He said "doesn't matter, I use it in the master cylinder, it's cheaper than brake fluid".

In the autoshop at the local college, there was a nice 69 Charger sitting there. Had a 383 in it. The local expert was pointing out that it had the "383 magnum" because the distributor was up front, and at an angle.....

At a carshow a few years ago, there was a 69 Camaro convertable there. It had one SS emblem on the car, in the grill. None anywhere else. Automatic on the column, and 307 badges on the fender. Owner kept bragging up his "original SS Camaro".....

[Evil Stu]

Originally Posted by Donovan

I didn't know that, cool! American block! I assume compared to what we call 'corporate' blocks?

Like this;

Hey, can I put that TA motor in my Chev pickup? That 305 sucks.

Sure, but the starter is on the other side of the American block 400 so you'll need to make some changes.

http://newbrunswick.kijiji.ca/c-cars...AdIdZ288531590

BTW: The ELDERBROCK reference should make this list on it's own! That's as bad as driving a Camero.

Until 1970, as I'm sure you know, many Pontiacs here came with the Chevy engines (both sbc and bbc). If you wanted a GP, or a GTO, before 1970, you could get one, the dealer would bring it in. It would be described as having the "American block". Even after 1970 when the Pontiac lines became generally much more similar on both sides of the border the name stuck.

It's only used for Pontiac's too, Buick and Olds didn't have the Canada only Chevy based models like Pontiac did (at least not as late as the 60's), so the distinction for the Olds and Buick motors was never required.

Stu

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

And the 348 Chevy isn't exactly a small block.

Interesting you bring that up. I'm a member of the ATHS (Antique Truck Historical Society) and one member has a few old Chebbies (most are parts trucks) with the old 348 & 409 "W" engines. He's had some pretty nice offers on the engines through the years ; from what he was told the 409 in trucks was a stronger block than the passenger car block. He and I kinda doubt that -

Originally Posted by Simple Man

At a carshow a few years ago, there was a 69 Camaro convertable there. It had one SS emblem on the car, in the grill. None anywhere else. Automatic on the column, and 307 badges on the fender. Owner kept bragging up his "original SS Camaro".....

307 ? Maybe he meant "Super Slow"

[Heybuck]

Just this morning I had to replace a headlight globe in my daughters Commodore wagon. Just a regular, every day H4 globe that just about every car has used for the past 25+ years.

So, not having have a spare on the shelf, I go up to the local petrol station. Show the blown globe to the guy working there and he asks "what's it out of? I've never seen one like that before"!!!

Now the WORST PART is, this guy had a car on the hoist and was changing the oil and lord knows what else...... I couldn't believe this guy for a moment but he was insistent. I left thinking no matter what happens, I won't be getting work done there!!!!!

Ian

[richardk]

Years ago I was stopped for gas when a guy comes over to me and starts telling me about the rare GTO he and his brother used to own. Seems he had a '72 Judge convertible with a factory installed RA V engine. Not wanting to call him a liar to his face I just nodded my head and said something like, "Yep, that would be a rare one indeed."

[beemergary]

Originally Posted by beemergary

Get yourself a 61-63 tempest and sit back and listen to the BS one person will tell another about these cars. Most don't know there a unibody and the trans is in the back. Got 421 sd and the 2x4 carbs and they see the326 emblem on the grill and tell there friends its a 326 Big Block. Did you know those 421s got in the there cause the ran out of 326 and didn't want too stop production. LOL The remarks go on and on.

Had a good one this week also. What engine is that? 421 sd----I got that engine in my Pontiac-----what heads you got? RAM Air Kinda lost it with that guy.

[mikeb]

Went to the local autozone yesterday for some front wheel bearings for my expedition. He told me that the car didn't have those bearings (funny, i distinctly remember packing them) and i realized that he was searching for a hub assy. I redirected him to wheel bearings, and then he started telling me that they didn't have the outers when i could clearly see "2 in stock" right there on his screen. We got that straightened out, and then he started asking me if i wanted "inner" or "outer" grease seals.... i still have no idea if i have the correct bearings or not.

Last night i went to wally world to get some spray paint to paint some small items for my daughters car that we are restoring (a 79 TATA) and that started a conversation about trans-ams with the cashier. Seems that he used to date a girl that had one that was built on a corvette chassis......

Went to pep boys some years ago and baffled the parts guy by asking for a "ballast resistor"..... which they didn't have.

[Cobrabill]

When i moved to Redondo back in 86,they had a Pep Boys that was not only well stocked with parts,but well stocked with people that knew their sh*t!.I was stunned.So they tore it down and put up a library.

[PonchoV8]

Walk into a chain parts store and tell them you're working on an '81-'83 Nissan Maxima diesel 6 cyl.

[takid455]

Needed some minor items for my '56 olds so I went to the local Advance Auto since the other stores were closed. Knowing from past experiences that while their database goes to 1909, they dont have much if any listings for things proir to '57.

Asked for 7" headlight, R45 plugs, and rad hose w/ diameter and length.
Dude: what car?
Me: your system does go back that far.
Dude: We go to 1909
Me: Ok 1956 Olds 88
Dude: See, it comes up....but we dont list anything for it.
Me: 'providing dumb look"

I did get what I needed at the end, but for the older stuff, I need to know what I need and Part #'s before I enter as they carry the stuff, just dont have it listed under the application.

The Napa i town is much better. Actually had points in stock. I was surprised.

[i82much]

Originally Posted by takid455

The Napa i town is much better. Actually had points in stock. I was surprised.

I'm not sure why but even the young bucks they have at NAPA tend to have an idea or two about older cars, at least in comparison to the Pep Boys/O'Reilly crowd.

[Donovan]

Originally Posted by i82much

I'm not sure why but even the young bucks they have at NAPA tend to have an idea or two about older cars, at least in comparison to the Pep Boys/O'Reilly crowd.

the parts houses are endless fuel for this bonfire...

I recently needed plastigage and had to describe it WITH part number to 3 people until I got up the chain to an old dude knew what it was because his dad used it once... WHAT?

I have a lot of laughs because I've put a Cadillac Escalade engine into a 90 Mazda RX7. The transmission is from a Viper, the front accessories and oil pan are from a 2002 TA. Intake and TB are from a Corvette and exhaust came off a Trailblazer SS.
They always ask what car. It's the only way to get started... So I have to play along until parts over lap then I say I need parts for a different car. You can just watch the emotions play over their face. I always end up having to explain that these parts are in the same car... a Mazda. You'd think I told them I was building a UFO.

My Favorite Advance auto (closest ) just hired a young girl in the last month... I always seem to get her first when I call or come in. Without fail she listens to my needs then tells me ' I can look for it if you give me the part number...' Sheeeeeit. Can I just come over the counter and get it myself? It'll be quicker.

[67drake]

Originally Posted by Donovan

the parts houses are endless fuel for this bonfire...

I recently needed plastigage and had to describe it WITH part number to 3 people until I got up the chain to an old dude knew what it was because his dad used it once... WHAT?

I have a lot of laughs because I've put a Cadillac Escalade engine into a 90 Mazda RX7. The transmission is from a Viper, the front accessories and oil pan are from a 2002 TA. Intake and TB are from a Corvette and exhaust came off a Trailblazer SS.
They always ask what car. It's the only way to get started... So I have to play along until parts over lap then I say I need parts for a different car. You can just watch the emotions play over their face. I always end up having to explain that these parts are in the same car... a Mazda. You'd think I told them I was building a UFO.

My Favorite Advance auto (closest ) just hired a young girl in the last month... I always seem to get her first when I call or come in. Without fail she listens to my needs then tells me ' I can look for it if you give me the part number...' Sheeeeeit. Can I just come over the counter and get it myself? It'll be quicker.

LOL I asked for Plastiguage at Autozone once (NAPA is closed on Sundays). They had no idea what I was talking about. I had them look it up in their computer,and it showed they had some in stock. They still could not find it. I had to go back in their stockroom and point it out to them. Argh!

[bignate]

Originally Posted by i82much

That's it! Unless ... no disrespect, but ... a song about a 74????

Pretty sure its a black '66 or '67 in the MV.

Nate

[goatman65]

I think its a 66 in the video.

I laughed the first time i heard that song and the line about the GTO.
But then i kinda wonder if the term 'shackled up' is just being used as a generic term for a car that has the rearend in the air whether by shackles or air shocks or whatever.

[goatman65]

Why is it that everybody had a friend that had a Pontiac with a 'ram 4 Judge' motor in it.''Man,that thing would fly'. I get that story quite often.

I always get the A-holes that for some reason think i know nothing at all about Pontiacs or GTOs and they feel the need to tell me what parts 'they make' for my car and what years will fit and that 'Chevelles and Cutlass'' are the same as my GTO.

Today at a show.
One know it all had a friend that had and still has a 66 GTO with 'trips' and that he is always turning all three.He then tells me that he has a book at home that says 'don't turn all three,just turn the middle one'.He told his friend this but he won't listen.''And it WILL run. I guess he meant its fast?

Later a guy comes up says he has a 64 GTO he bought in 1970. Says he is looking for a really hard to find 64 GTO hood with the 'hole for the factory tach', says he seen a couple sell for around 3 or 4 thousand.

He also feels the need to point out to me the difference between a 64 and 65 GTO.

Another guy tells me when he was 17 he had a 66 GTO and put a 65 fender on because he didnt know they were different.

And how do these A-holes come up with 'how fast' a car is? It is ALWAYS over 120mph.
If the speedo only goes to 120 how do they know the were going 140 ? I'm sure they don't know anything about 'auto math' to actually figure it out.I always want ask when somebody tells me they're car went 1** mph one night.

Oh, told a guy my engine is a 467...he says 'Oh, it's a big block'.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by goatman65

And how do these A-holes come up with 'how fast' a car is? It is ALWAYS over 120mph.
If the speedo only goes to 120 how do they know the were going 140 ? I'm sure they don't know anything about 'auto math' to actually figure it out.I always want ask when somebody tells me they're car went 1** mph one night.

Maybe they've seen this shirt??????????????

[paint guy]

While working on my 69 vert yesterday in my driveway, someone walking thier dog stops to tell me (to his credit, he actually knew it was a GTO) he used to own one "just like it"
with a 402 with solid lifters. Yeah, you guessed it, "all original and was really fast".

[goatman65]

Two guys today looking at my car.One guy asks me what year is it,i say 65.
He looks at his buddy and says,''the one i had must have been a 65 too cause it looked like this''.