Don't you just love it when they tell you they got one.....you go there.....and it ain't there? Been there, done that! I'm glad you were able to finally get yours!

Well, I guess you can add one more ability to the "frankentractor" resume now: Jump starting Mack Trucks! :^)

Our small town still has a few parts suppliers with counter people who know what to look for without needing to search parts books or computers. Priceless knowledge gained by working the counter for years.
Need a starter for a '63 Impala? Emmett goes around back and returns with the correct part.
Ah, the good old days. -G-

....Mike

Is that the same Emmitt that works at Babcocks in Wisconsin?

I do a lot ($2200/mo) of business with Advance and their software is pretty decent when looking up by part # or cross referencing an MTD drive belt. They have the latest Windoze software and are able to find some oddball stuff. It depends too upon who is working there, the SM can't even look up a halogen headlamp and has to look up the same thing day in and day out. I mean 679 pads fit an F-150 and a Tecumseh carb kit (631021B) isn't something you need to look up.

Yes, but if you read my post, what they told me was total crap. ths short of it was:
do not have a 34.99 atl. by looking up truck model .(phone)

then:
DO have it by part no. i gave them (phone)

10 minutes later:
do NOT have it by part no. (in store)

2 minutes later?
DO have it by truck model (in store)

I go to advance not expecting the most knowlegable counter people, and not expecting the best parts. Most seem to last about a year that i have bought.
I always say ADVANCE is the best place to go if you need to replace a part on a vehicle you are about to sell.
But too, i have bought MOOG TRW, and other brand name stuff there that didnt last either. SO i blame a lot of it on crappy manufacture of parts by what used to be decent companies.
Seems most stuff is made/rebuilt in China/Mexico, and none if it is worth bringing home.