On being a car guy...

The funniest thing I can hear about a car is "parts are no longer available" when talking about a common, popular car.

Especially wear items.

Perhaps Ford stopped stocking them, but Autozone has them.  Betcha, betcha.  Nine times out of ten they are identical quality and cheaper too.

I'm a hot-rodder.  Parts abound!  Of course, you have to take the time to learn about your car, find out what other lines used the same part, become buddies with the local junk yard, make contact with a club or forum about your car, etc...

A good example would be the front wheel hubs on an '88 Fiero.  If you go to a GM dealer, discontinued.  Places like Autozone don't carry them.  If you are lucky, you can find a decent set at a salvage yard.  But nothing new, right?  Wrong.  If you join the Fiero Forum and complain about not being able to find new hubs, you will be directed at The Fiero Store and they will be happy to sell you new ones they contracted to be made.

The Pontiac Fiero was not a high volume production car.  The last year of production, 1988, has many items that are unique to it.  Luckily there's a cult following.

But some cars, like a Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Malibu were fleet queens.  There were thousands upon thousands made.  Anything that's a cop car or taxi has amazing parts support from the aftermarket.

The aftermarket routinely generates better parts than OEM too.  Front steering components on my dear B-Body are in this realm.  Moog mades a "problem solver" line that lasts as long as GM claimed theirs did.

So, if you love your car, don't give up on her!  Learn how to fix it, learn where to get parts, buy some tools, and get wrenching!  You'll save tons of cash in the long run too.