OT: Useless gossip!

So I wandered into NAPA to see if I could get a better price than from a car dealer and found out it was unavailable. But I was told that was common with a lot of GM parts right now, especially the little ones that break regularly. GM won't give up the patents, I was told, and so NAPA can't find aftermarket suppliers for the parts.

It's part of a plan, see. GM is going broke, and Ford is looking to buy GM. But GM is holding on to the intellectual property, angling for a better price tag in the buyout. GM didn't do a hybrid, and that hurt 'em, bad. But Ford is gonna keep the GM stuff going after the deal, and then they're planning on cutting prices to corner the market, driving out competition from overseas.

Of course you know the feds won't stand for that. Monopolies are illegal in this country.

But as much as I'm not a Ford fan, I almost welcome the idea. It could feasibly have marvelous implications for the US economy if the cars continue to be made here in the good ol' USA.

This is what I heard from the kid behind the counter. I'm not calling my stock broker just yet. :)

What is being discussed is whether Cerebus Capital which bought Chrysler is loosing buckets of money daily and is actuall prepping to quickly sell the company.

Look at industry publications on who is spending money on research and development and who isn't and you can quickly see who is going to be in business and who is not long term.

GM has and is developing all sorts of alternative fuel, electric, fuel cell vehicles etc. You can buy a hybrid Tahoe or Yukon right now in any GM dealership.

If you need a fuel line, buy a fuel line from somebody who has one or make your own. My NAPA store has some of the finest people and parts of any place I shop.

I'm still not sure what a bad fuel line to do with the future viability of world wide vehicle mfgrs.

Is this a car question or an incompetent kid's speculation????? ??

In regard to what you were told, i.e. " . . .I was told that was common with a lot of GM parts right now, especially the little ones that break regularly. GM won't give up the patents, I was told, and so NAPA can't find aftermarket suppliers for the parts. "

I don't believe any of it. NAPA doesn't search for obsure slow-moving parts - they strive to stock common items that make them fast money. You might find a person that owns a NAPA that is more helpful - but if so - that's due to that person, not NAPA. GM, Ford, et. al. are required by law to keeps parts available only for 7 years - and no longer. Considering so much is subbed out, and they make so little themselves anymore - they drop many parts after awhile - and I don't blame them. I don't believe patents have much to do with any of it - and if they did, NAPA wouldn't know anyway. I find many parts that NAPA says are unavailalble - yet go down the road and PartsAmerica or Carquest can get them. And, with the latter - they are not in business to sell obscure parts either. I often find parts that none of them say are available - I've yet to be stumped yet. If a part is not mass-produced for public sale, there is usually somebody somewhere making them on a small scale.

First one I had seen.

Dave

There are kits available to custom make MANY types of fuel lines.

Find an idependant repair shop with the right kit, and they should be able to make up what you need.

For axamples of a couple of the kits, take a look at the following ebay auctions...

#300146675216

#170107601333

#270221779229

#120234700221

Oh, yeah, and Rots of Ruck, Ford!

Dick Handcock