[MustangSallee]

Yesterday [on the 4th around noon] I went to get me a set of NGKs for my pony, and the joker working there [as an assistant manager]asks me if it was an HO... Of coarse I answer yes, and he tells me that he would have to order them as they don't keep the iridium ones in stock. I reply thats fine I don't want those anyway I want the standard copper plugs [the V-power], I even gave him the part number. He then goes into a rant stating that I can't run a copper plug in an HO that it will burn it up and the resistor will just melt with that kind of voltage. I then tell him that he doesn't know what he is talking about and asked him to just sell me the plugs. After having to listen to this no educated half wit go on and on about how he is a 'master mechanic' and has built several dragstrip cars, and I was going to burn my engine and plugs up. Then finally he just concluded that since I have ran copper plugs in my car before and haven't had a problem that my 302 isn't an HO. So I left and [called the manager on my cell, told him the situation and gave him the part number for the plugs that I needed and wanted, he pulled them and put them on the counter for me. I came back in and this guy still continued on about how I can't have an HO and he even tried to say that the NGK V-powers weren't a copper plug anyway [which we all know that they are], and that he knows that I am not running an HO. I just smiled and 'said alright man you know it all, but the sad thing is I know what you don't and that is a whole lot more that you DO know' and left him with that thought. After a few seconds he relpied with I know that it ain't an HO. I said 'yeah OK that is why you are working here and not on cars' as I was walking out. I can't think of a single instance that a mustang was built with a 302 that isn't high output... I guess that some parts houses will hire just anyone. I really have to watch out for this guy, every time I go into this store and end up with him waiting on me it has always been a nightmare. He hasn't been able to locate a single part gasket, bolt, belt and now spark plugs] for me, yet when 'my guy' is there he can find anything I need for my 94 gt. I think that parts stores should really have a better hiring process, as they have to loose money in the long run with these guys. Selling people the wrong parts or just telling them that you don't have it and can't get it just doesn't cut it in my opinion. I know any part can be located by the right person on the job. I will stop ranting now, I just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for reading and I hope that nobody else has to encounter the same incompetents that I have had to deal with.

[HMUSN]

your car isn't an HO.

[Smoothgrandmama]

You have a lo

[Smoothgrandmama]

A lo lo. . . . actually. and those are hyperchronite metal titanium plugs. . . . . . every one knows that

[Bullitt95]

Actually MustangSallee, there were 302's built that are not HO but yours isn't one of them. Don't you just love smarty pants sales guys?

[MustangSallee]

Originally Posted by Bullitt95 Actually MustangSallee, there were 302's built that are not HO but yours isn't one of them.

I knew there were non-HO 302s out there just didn't think they ever made it into Mustangs...I guess I learned something new today.

Originally Posted by Bullitt95 Don't you just love smarty pants sales guys?

All of the employees at any of the parts stores in my town are 'mr./mrs. smarty pants', I really wish they would keep it professional and leave their personal opinions out of it. Expert advice is one thing, but comments and/or 'their' personal preference is something that nobody wants or needs from them.

Thanks guys for the replies and reading my rant on the 'parts guy'.

[Smoothgrandmama]

No prob newb

[r.barn]

The "HO" 302 ...... which is nothing but a 302 with a cam that has the 351W firing pattern ...........
first went into the Mustangs in 85 or 86 if I remember right.

after that they all had 351W or "HO" firing patterns.

[FaStStAnG5-0]

what i hate is the auto-zone in my town hired a high school chick that knows absolutely nothing, but thinks just because her daddy is a drag racer in town that she is the most car knowledgeable person out there... not bad on the eyes, but when you need the little packet of dielectric grease on the shelf behind the counter & she has no clue........ i rest my case.

[burnout5.0]

Originally Posted by r.barn The "HO" 302 ...... which is nothing but a 302 with a cam that has the 351W firing pattern ........... first went into the Mustangs in 85 or 86 if I remember right. after that they all had 351W or "HO" firing patterns.

The '86 was the first year of the HO and also the first year of fuel injection.

[beheivjer]

what i hate is working in a parts store and having every one else come in being a parts expert. "my buddy did this and it worked fine" or " its a chevy 350 they are all the same" dont take this wrong there are dummies that work at some stores but they are alot more that come in to buy parts

[Bullitt95]

I think that's going to inspire me to write a book entitled "Auto Parts for Dummies".

[mustang1994bob]

lol my favorite one is "i need ___ for a 94 gt" - "is that a v6?" or even better i was ordering pistons from summit and i said i have a 94 5.0 mustang gt and the girl askes if its for a small block chevy lol, i was like let me talk to someone else

[AdderMk2]

Originally Posted by mustang1994bob lol my favorite one is "i need ___ for a 94 gt" - "is that a v6?" or even better i was ordering pistons from summit and i said i have a 94 5.0 mustang gt and the girl askes if its for a small block chevy lol, i was like let me talk to someone else

you think YOU have it bad???

Yea... I need a XYZ for a 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra

"is that a 6 or an 8"

Its a fucking COBRA dickhead.... what the hell do you think is in it!!!!

or....

I need a output shaft seal for (see above car) !

"Is that an automatic or a manual?"

[Darrell]

Originally Posted by r.barn The "HO" 302 ...... which is nothing but a 302 with a cam that has the 351W firing pattern ........... first went into the Mustangs in 85 or 86 if I remember right. after that they all had 351W or "HO" firing patterns.

The HO engines also used the E7 truck heads (after 1986) and had forged pistons. I believe the crank material was different too.

[91cobra5.0]

heres my story.....

while at the local autozone i ran into a customer that saw my 5.0 and began telling me the story of how he bought his mustang (a 94 to 98 body style) from a local dealership that was going to use the car for advertising and that they had put a big block in it....

so we go outside and he pops the hood and smack dead on the top of the TB it says.......... 4.6L and i say wow man nice, musta been hard to get that in there

[WildWill]

[shamdoodie]

at least the guy who rang you up didnt give you atv/snowmobile/watercraft plugs i went in to get plugs at Advance saturday and told the guy I didnt know what part number/brand I wanted because i had heard success with different brands/types for my car and I wanted his opinion. He looks it up, grabs the ones we agreed on (or so I thought) and I paid and left. Unfortunately he had grabbed the wrong ones. Luckily something inside told me to check the net before trying to install them. Took me 10 minutes of arguing with the guy to get the right ones because he kept telling me that is what the puter said, even though I showed him the printed off page from their website with the correct number

[Darrell]

I went to have Advance Autoparts warranty a battery for me once. They talked to me as if I was a fool. I guess because I dress nicely that means I know nothing about cars. Little did they know that I'm ASE certified. They told me my battery had 12.7 volts so it was good. I told them to load test it. The two guys looked at me like I had three heads. Again, they told me the battery was good. I told them I load tested the battery in my garage and it was junk. They refused to replace it. I left it there, told them to shove it up their ass and I would take the thousands of dollars a year that I spend there somewhere else. That was two years ago and I haven't been back since. The Auto Zone battery that I put in is still running strong

[94silverGT]

I just started at my local auto parts store and I'd like to consider myself a bit more knowledgeable (lol probably didnt spell that right!) about automobiles then your average Joe. When I read this:

Originally Posted by AdderMk2 you think YOU have it bad??? Yea... I need a XYZ for a 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra "is that a 6 or an 8" Its a fucking COBRA dickhead.... what the hell do you think is in it!!!! or.... I need a output shaft seal for (see above car) ! "Is that an automatic or a manual?"

I laughed about the cobra part but had to think for a minute about the output shaft seal. I am not, and dont claim to be, a master mechanic. Im friggin 19!!! I just dont have the experience. Im rebuilding my first engine currently, and trying to restore a Bel Air and mod my new stang, and the only experience that I have with transmissions is I helped my brother take the 4 spd out of my dads Chevelle.

To All: If the parts person is young, just remember that you didnt always know what a certain part was. But, if they insist on being an asshole, just ask em to find a water pump or a radiator for a VW bug and leave

Oh, and when they dont want to warranty your battery, they are just trying to keep their money.

I hope I don't add to the grief that autoparts salespeople have brought upon the earth and I'll do my best to make you all proud!