Wonder Bar

Me:Oh..you dontcarry the GREENones? I will take one of those BLUE ones there..

---Ya, the green ones are PoweRated Gates belts (for industrial apps and high stress apps like garden equipment) and the blue ones are usually Dayco branded.

Same type of belt that they compete with each other on.

I believe AZ carries Dayco.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Im still trying to figure out the proper methiods for him to put his entire thrid gen in his rectum. Then reassemble it up there.

Ohh wait, it's probably a Hot Wheels or a Matchbox. For someone like Smite Man it aught to be a pure slip fit. Charles

pissed

Most Auto-Zone empolyee's do not know how the cross referance works, or that it exsists.

Back when I had a buddy who worked there, I knew most of the comands for their systems (which use RED HAT Linux). I also used to have a list of passwords. Used to freak them out there when I would lookup what I needed at an un-used terminal, then tell the idiot behind the counter what shelf and bin to go to.

Auto-Zone & most "Discount" type parts stores don't care if the idiots that work there know anything about parts, let alone how to make sure the cu stomer has the correct part.

Charles

pissed

Joe:

You should know 60% of parts counter guys at parts houses are failed mechanics. They may not be able to explained how to install a part or how it works. But a real parts guy will know his parts. He will know what fails often, what parts people complain about, and when a part doesn't look right.

I have always made a point of getting to know the people at the local parts houses. One of my old drinking buddies (a semi-decent mechanic, and one hell of a parts guy) Manages one of the major Jobber parts houses. If I need a part ordered on Saturday before closing, and there first thing on Monday, he does it for me. No need to put a deposit down. If I want it delivered, and im not at the shop when they shop up, I just pay my tab later that week.

Yet even at that, you occasionally run in to problems. Case and point, a 1969 Buick Electra 225. A Customer had one in about #3 Driver shape. Yet he wanted Front Disk Brakes on it. I got the Correct spindles used (67-69 Buick Full size, Excluding 1968 Rivera). Complete with disks,calipers, control arms for $100. They had been sitting for 20 years. I did my home work and got conflicting numbers on some things. One book stated only

3000 were made from 67-69 with disk brakes, another book said 3000 per year were made. So a bit rare any way to look at it.

I thought to my self, well someone should have a set of new rotors, or a set of tunable used units. I found some NOS rotors for $200 each, and that was it. I cross referenced the part numbers my self even and went to all the local parts houses and stores. All the rotors they gave me were A-body units. I even double checked my numbers, thru 4 different books.

Another item I couldn't locate was a set of brake pads for it. The clips were a standard item, but the pads were not. The caliper rebuild kits used to be a standard stock item, but not any more. Yet my local NAPA could special order them.

Some items no matter how well researched, and how many vendors you try are almost impossible to get. Charles BTW: after 3 months of searching I gave in and put 1969 Olds 98 spindles & disks on the car. I still lose a little sleep over it.

Sounds like me when ordering parts for old Sears/Craftsmans lawn mowers. Most of the ones I have had were made either by MTD or Murry. My Rear Engine riding mower (30 inch cutting deck), thou made by murry, does have a few Sears/Craftsman special parts. Yet nothing that a Murry doesn't still make.

Any more I just figure ouit the manufactor of the mower. Cross Referance the part number, write it down. The go to the counter and tell them what maker and part number I want. Occationally I get "We don't have it in stock, but we can have it next week."

Counter People are the same no matter if it's lawn mowers, industrial supply houses, Heavy Trucks, or Auto Parts. Charles

Charles:

The turnover rate is probably every three years on the counter, on average.

Most times, you have kids behind the counter now. Perhaps kids doing it after school, maybe they own a rice rocket with some stickers and working in an auto parts store seems "cool" to them over working in a pizzeria or flipping burgers to make cash.

You can see most of them don't know shit. That is why I say, "Go to the back and pull this part #". Then I check what he brings out. I have seen them transpose numbers and bring out TF289 instead of TF298. That is why I check everything before leaving to avoid a double trip.

If I go to Sears, I tell the guy specifically what I want. "Do me a favor, punch this stock # in your computer and let me see if you have it". I look at what the computer says. Then I look for the item myself. I know the layout of the store well enough to find what I want.

All he has to do is ring it up and take off my discount coupon. I usually get a young girl in the Sears tool area and she's pretty sharp. Even the manager knows of me there and usually jumps in and does what needs to be done. That's one reason why I shop there.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Charles:

Regarding your Sears question, my computer froze.

I have an OEM list of who makes what for Sears. Basically, the first three digits of the model # tell you (123-45678 as an example). 123 is the source code.

If the Sears model # starts with (must look on the unit, not in any sales literature, because those only use the short Sears item/stock #):

917 or 131 is American Yard Products (AYP) which is owned by Electrolux. for help.

502 or 536 is Murray, 1-800-251-8007 or

143 is Tecumseh for engines and transmissions.

500 is Briggs and Stratton for engines.

Once you know the true OEM, it's just a matter of going to

and then "parts" on the left of the website and plugging in the model #.

Now that you know who the true OEM is, you also know what their part # is. Use the Sears website for research and then save money by taking that part # to a place dealing in that OEM. Walah, you save money and get the SAME part.

I have a ton of Sears items throughout the house and I've almost never bought any parts for it through them. I always skip them and go right to their source :).

I have contacted Murray in the past for owner's manuals and they have been great. They had the manual for my '65 Craftsman and '79 Craftsman snowblower and gladly sent it to me at no charge. So did Tecumseh on the engine manual.

I haven't paid for a Sears owner's manual yet. LOL.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

B&B: Beavis and Butthead Bed and Breakfast (ya reckon?) Bitch and Bitchyer

We're straying way off course!

OB: Nobody else seemed inclined (nor has the informed ability) to enlighten this group. "Wonder Bar"

"GM installed these on 1985-90 Camaro IROC-Z when equipped with the 16" diameter rims. This 'steering brace' performs two functions. First it ties the left and right sides of the frame together under the front of the car, which maintains the correct geometry of the pitman arm and idler arm during cornering. Second, it strengthens the chassis and takes stress off of the steering gear box mount. It is common, in ThirdGen F-Bodies, for fatigue and stress cracks to form around the steering gear box mounting location."

My Note: Seems to leave the Pontiac people, as far as OEM, 'stock' (for a restorer's purpose) equipment goes, out in the cold.

Pictures: This item is NOT a true NOS part but gives you the idea.....

Correcting myself: "1LEs in particular, I understand, didn't show up 'til 1987".....

1988! Here's one for sale: for yourself.

Admittedly, earlier, I just wanted to watch the B&B brother's self-righteous heads spin 'round and 'round on their itty-bitty, pencil necks..... like Linda Blair, in 'The Exorcist'. Sure enough, they didn't disappoint me..... even coated the walls with a swash of green (envious), projectile vomit. True to character?

Between boughts of sidesplitting laughter, I'm continuing to research the original, yet unanswered Wonder Bar questions. Tedious? Yes, but compared to inscesent, priceless comedy presented by the two bad boys..... hah.

Watch for me, Bathless and Badbreath..... I'll Be Back..... soon, Smiteman

Smite Evil spilled my beer when they jumped on the table and proclaimed in

Then this is goodbye, because I'm a plonkin your bad assed self.

/me rols eyes

NOI

Smite:

The group could care less if you got the rot and your left nut fell off. That's how much you're liked here.

Beyond that, it's obvious that you don't know a thing about F cars. I have yet to see you state one thing from your own knowledge. Anyone can research and post things, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to do that.

I have corrected GM's parts catalogs 1000 times in writing with the return comment cards from GM HQ to prove it. Shit, they call me when they need to write a catalog.

I doubt anyone is calling you since you don't know squat. You're a chump at best with the knowledge of a chimp on a good day.

You can try to poke fun at anyone in this group all you want, but the fact still remains that you're a nobody.

It must suck to be the dweeb of the group. You and John Tarver would make good buddies.

He's clueless like you, and we already blew him out of the water a few times by letting him stick his foot in his mouth.

You should step off this thing and get a life. While you're at it, learn a thing or two about grammar, spelling, and cars.

You have zero functional knowledge on any one of the aforementioned subjects. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Are you sure it wasn't a wonder bra:

You were looking for?

I hope this helps your hormone injection grown ta ta's!

Refinish King

He is already a SKANK MO FO!

He should have been plonked for xactly breath, where his breath smells exactly like his ass!

Refinish King

Joe:

Would this bar, if it's not a figment of smites imagination. Cure the F-body cracking of the rail at the steering box?

Please let me know?

Thanks,

Refinish King

Depends on what we are talking about. I can find the 1LE package parts in the GM EDS system I have.

If you find original sales literature, they will break down the 1LE package and what it includes.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Intuitively, I'd say no,

1LE components, on the front of the car (stiffer shocks, quicker box, beefier brakes and swaybar), amplify this cracking propensity.

The frame itself must be made of inferior materials.

1LE components..... wait a minute! I'm not convinced that this item (Wonder Bar) was part of or only available (originally) in 1LE packages.

Still researching, Smiteman

Thank you Joe.

A family friend used to work for Sears in the warrantee/service department. She used to get me the cross referenced OEM part numbers. She retired 2 years ago.

Sears here has recently closed down most of the service centers in this area. I rarely went to them. Last time I needed a carb for my mower. The rebuild kit was $20, the carb was $25 with new gaskets. I called my local mower & small industrial engine parts place. They had a back order on the carb's. The Sears service center that was 15 miles away had 4 in stock, for roughly the same price. So I went there. Ended up buying a few tools while Iwas standing around (rebuilts). Charles

The "Frame" on a 3rd gen is just thicker sheet metal then the body. Only the engine cross-member is thick steal (around 1/4 inch). The engine cross member is also removable. Charles

RK:

I wouldn't think so. I have seen tube braces added to attempt to correct the problem. I say the best fix is to split the rail open, and form a section of 1/4 plate about a foot long. Then weld it in, with a full side truck box mounting plate behind it (from in the frame of a 4x4). Charles

Yup, same here Charles. My uncle's neighbor worked there and we got the discount. Good stuff.

Since I live in NYC, virtually everything is available here. LOL :) Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...