The Top Three Reasons To Purchase Classic Auto Parts Online
If the only thing stopping you is whether or not you can trust the people who respond to your ad, simply get something from them in writing to say that they will reimburse you when the part arrives.
The internet being what it is these days you can sometimes find the part you want by searching your junkyard's website! A junkyard search like this couldn't be easier! You'll also be able to find the location of the junkyard and their hours. If you do query the search engines or yellow pages you might be surprised to find that there is more than one place you can look for auto parts near you. Just remember that looking for scrap metal appliances isn't much different than looking for a used car. Check the classifieds too. All of these ways of looking will save you time and money.
Auto Forums: People love to talk about their cars. More than that, the people who can and will fix their own cars love talking about how they do it. They band together and form forums much like people who are fans of the same celebrity. Auto Forums are a great place to find car parts online as most forums will have a sort of "classifieds" section for the buying and selling of car parts online. In the event that the forum doesn't list the exact part you are looking for, chances are you will connect with people who know where to find it and where to find it for the best price.
OEM parts are almost always more expensive than aftermarket car parts. That being said, the price difference often isn't that large in many cases. This is important because OEM parts are generally better for your car than aftermarket parts. The issue is not the manufacturing process of the aftermarket car supplier, but the simply fact that the OEM part is made using the same molds and manufacturing process of the original part on your car. This means it should fit perfectly whereas the aftermarket part might not be an exact fit.
OK, time to set the gap of the new plug with a gap gauge (Remember the proper gap is specified on the engine specs decal underside of the hood). You can buy a gap gauge at your auto parts store. Slide the correct thickness wire or feeler between the inner and outer electrodes at the tip of the plug. The feeler will slide between the electrodes with a slight drag when the plugs are properly gapped. If the gap isn't right, slightly bend the outer electrode until you achieve the right gap. Ensure the outer electrode is inline over the inner electrode.
So the question is why would you choose spurious parts over used OEM parts? OEM over so much more and a big factor for new model cars is that by utilising used OEM parts you safeguard your warranty as all parts are manufacturer approved (well they have to be approved for use, since they put them on their cars).
Garages set out your bill for repairs by stating the cost of the parts, and the cost of the labour to fit them. As we all know, garages make most of their money with the labour, and even car parts costing just a few pounds can end up costing you several hundred pounds once you have added on the labour costs.