[sturgis 39]

I have found that the NAPA stores and other national parts dealers are not competitive with specialty stores like Berts and Snyders. A fuel pump for an old Chevy 216 was over $100 at a local chain store. The same pump at Speedway was less than $50. The local parts store wanted over a $100 for a six volt coil and they are cheaper Berts. The local non chain supply stores have see through gas filters for less than two dollars and the Napa store wants about $4.

The auto parts stores have different price lists and usually charge me full retail prices plus. They charge local repair shops less than full retail. O Rielly Stores seem to be more competitive than other national parts stores.

The parts stores wait for 30 days or more for payment from repair shops and I pay cash. A person would think that a cash customer would get a better price.

I think a reamer from Enco would be less expensive than one from a Model "A" store. I would try to buy one from a machine tool supplier but I do not know the size and the Ford catalogs do not tell you the size of their reamers. I was told that all of the king pins are the same size for all Ford cars that have straight axles. A friend had an adjustable reamer that we used on my kingpins. I think we honed them after the reamer operation was completed. They turned out great.

I belong to the Black Hills Model "T" club. I really enjoy the club. There are about seven machinist that belong to the club. They talk in thousands and 10 thousand of an inch and I always ask how many sixteenths that would be. There are three members that pour babbit bearings. They are kind of laid back and everybody helps everybody else. There is a lot of talent that will be gone someday.