I ordered this kit from the TKO recommended "Toyota Parts Deal" for $16.49, shipping was $10.85 via USPS.
I found it interesting that the company is in CA, while the kit is being shipped from MA. 
Expect delivery tomorrow. 

TKO - I agree with you that many local businesses don't seem to want to deal w/individuals.  Whether it's auto parts, electrical, pluming, etc. suppliers.  I guess they just don;t need the business as it doesn't help their bottom line all that much. 
 

TKOPerformance wrote:

BobE wrote:

I ordered this kit from the TKO recommended "Toyota Parts Deal" for $16.49, shipping was $10.85 via USPS.
I found it interesting that the company is in CA, while the kit is being shipped from MA. 
Expect delivery tomorrow. 

TKO - I agree with you that many local businesses don't seem to want to deal w/individuals.  Whether it's auto parts, electrical, pluming, etc. suppliers.  I guess they just don;t need the business as it doesn't help their bottom line all that much. 
 

Its probably shipping from the nearest warehouse to you that has them in stock.  It seems all car companies have a bunch of warehouses scattered around the US for parts.  Each one is supposed to service dealers in a certain territory, unless that warehouse is out of stock and it ships in from another one.  Worst case it might have to come from the manufacturer, and yes, I've gotten parts shipped internationally from Japan for my Subaru before. 

I hear you on the local businesses too.  The crazy thing is that I live in the 2nd smallest state in the union.  If normally there are 6 degrees of separation, around here its more like 2.  With everyone knowing everyone it doesn't take long for information to travel, and people are always going to talk about getting price gouged.  I read somewhere years ago that a study showed a dissatisfied customer would cost you 72 customers over the life of your business.  In my business I try to live by that, and after hundreds of jobs over the years you'd be hard pressed to find 3 people who weren't happy with me.  Most of my business comes from previous customers.  I guess the guy selling parts doesn't much care how short sighted it is.  Its not his business.  Though, if they fold he'll be unemployed nonetheless. 
 

I used to buy all my Jeep parts from the local dealer. They had a website that had good prices on all their Jeep parts. Even gave you a discount if you mentioned the Jeep club you were a member of. Five years ago the website was removed and you had to pay list price and no club discount. Now I don't buy any parts from them. 
Most dealers don't have websites for parts anymore. You either call the parts department or fill out a form and they call you.
 

Last edited by KeithP (9/18/2024 4:12 PM)

KeithP wrote:

TKOPerformance wrote:

BobE wrote:

I ordered this kit from the TKO recommended "Toyota Parts Deal" for $16.49, shipping was $10.85 via USPS.
I found it interesting that the company is in CA, while the kit is being shipped from MA. 
Expect delivery tomorrow. 

TKO - I agree with you that many local businesses don't seem to want to deal w/individuals.  Whether it's auto parts, electrical, pluming, etc. suppliers.  I guess they just don;t need the business as it doesn't help their bottom line all that much. 
 

Its probably shipping from the nearest warehouse to you that has them in stock.  It seems all car companies have a bunch of warehouses scattered around the US for parts.  Each one is supposed to service dealers in a certain territory, unless that warehouse is out of stock and it ships in from another one.  Worst case it might have to come from the manufacturer, and yes, I've gotten parts shipped internationally from Japan for my Subaru before. 

I hear you on the local businesses too.  The crazy thing is that I live in the 2nd smallest state in the union.  If normally there are 6 degrees of separation, around here its more like 2.  With everyone knowing everyone it doesn't take long for information to travel, and people are always going to talk about getting price gouged.  I read somewhere years ago that a study showed a dissatisfied customer would cost you 72 customers over the life of your business.  In my business I try to live by that, and after hundreds of jobs over the years you'd be hard pressed to find 3 people who weren't happy with me.  Most of my business comes from previous customers.  I guess the guy selling parts doesn't much care how short sighted it is.  Its not his business.  Though, if they fold he'll be unemployed nonetheless. 
 

I used to buy all my Jeep parts from the local dealer. They had a website that had good prices on all their Jeep parts. Even gave you a discount if you mentioned the Jeep club you were a member of. Five years ago the website was removed and you had to pay list price and no club discount. Now I don't buy any parts from them. 
Most dealers don't have websites for parts anymore. You either call the parts department or fill out a form and they call you.
 

You know, another thing I've noticed is that a couple years ago the parts diagrams available online for seemingly every manufacturer went from being very good to vague.  They used to list every fastener, clip, etc.  Now none of that is shown and its very hard to track down without going to the dealer, who apparently has the real diagrams.  Now, you could just get the part number at the dealer and still buy everything online, but that's a PITA.  Interestingly, the part numbers for everything are still in the online system; its just impossible to find certain parts without the part number. 

I read an article a little while ago that was talking about John Deere specifically, but it said that the sales of new equipment were making up a smaller portion of their revenue, and parts were taking up the slack.  Its seems all manufacturers may be doing this as well.  The price of new vehicles is so absurdly high fewer people are buying, so they decide to price gouge the ones with older vehicles who are trying to keep them on the road. 
 

TKOperformance, the list price on a brand new motorcraft alternator for my truck was $850. I agree parts have gotten really pricey.  I do feel like things last longer now or more so than when I was younger.  Cars are regularly hitting between 200-300k miles.  That has to affect new sales as well.

When I’m looking for Ford parts I just look up one of the online dealers.  They have pretty good break of everything.   I’ve never looked for anything other than ford parts so I can’t speak for the other many.

A high school friend was a Ford Parts man and manager his whole working career.  The Ford parts list prices were typically half of what the dealer paid for the part.  And coporate Ford was making money on the price the Dealer paid.  A dealer would typically offer 25-35% off the service stations and body shops.  
A friend was a MOPAR parts man, and stated that their price structure was the same. 
Not sure much has chenged today except the prices are higher.

Tasca is the one I almost always go to when looking stuff up.   I ended up buying my motorcraft alternator from Rick Auto for $500 and I got $75 back for the core charge.  That was a brand new not rebuilt alternator.

MS wrote:

BobE wrote:

A high school friend was a Ford Parts man and manager his whole working career.  The Ford parts list prices were typically half of what the dealer paid for the part.  And coporate Ford was making money on the price the Dealer paid.  A dealer would typically offer 25-35% off the service stations and body shops.  
A friend was a MOPAR parts man, and stated that their price structure was the same. 
Not sure much has chenged today except the prices are higher.

List price was half what the dealership paid for the part??? They lost $50% on everything they sold?

Math brought to you by Harris/Walz.

Sorry, couldn't resist. 
 

MS wrote:

BobE wrote:

A high school friend was a Ford Parts man and manager his whole working career.  The Ford parts list prices were typically half of what the dealer paid for the part.  And coporate Ford was making money on the price the Dealer paid.  A dealer would typically offer 25-35% off the service stations and body shops.  
A friend was a MOPAR parts man, and stated that their price structure was the same. 
Not sure much has chenged today except the prices are higher.

List price was half what the dealership paid for the part??? They lost $50% on everything they sold?

No, sorry for any confusion.  The dealership was charged by corporate Ford about 50% of the 'list' price.  The dealer made 50% by selling it at the 'list' price.  The dealership would offer a 25-35% discount off the list price to service stations and body shops.  So, in this case, the dealership would make 15-25% profit from the price for the part. 
Hope this clarifies. 
 

The rectangular lights are on my wife’s ‘79 F150.

MS wrote:

BobE wrote:

MS wrote:

List price was half what the dealership paid for the part??? They lost $50% on everything they sold?

No, sorry for any confusion.  The dealership was charged by corporate Ford about 50% of the 'list' price.  The dealer made 50% by selling it at the 'list' price.  The dealership would offer a 25-35% discount off the list price to service stations and body shops.  So, in this case, the dealership would make 15-25% profit from the price for the part. 
Hope this clarifies. 
 

If dealership paid 50% of list, then sold for list, they made 100% profit,

If I buy a part for $1 and sell it for $2…

They had revenue of 100% against the cost of the parts.  Profit is determined after subtracting overhead, etc.  The parts counter guys don't work for free (though sometimes we probably all feel like they should be paying us...), utilities, cost of building, etc. 
 

Looking at the photos, the one below doesn't look flat; however, the lens look better in the flat ones.  My glass H4 housing is flat but it is not as noticeable as you might think since the pattern in the glass looks vintage.

https://www.amazon.com/YLT-AUTO-Conversion-Headlamp-Replacement/dp/B09TFJXKK7?th=1

Rufus68 wrote:

Looking at the photos, the one below doesn't look flat; however, the lens look better in the flat ones.  My glass H4 housing is flat but it is not as noticeable as you might think since the pattern in the glass looks vintage.

https://www.amazon.com/YLT-AUTO-Conversion-Headlamp-Replacement/dp/B09TFJXKK7?th=1

which ones do you have in yours?

 

Well, I had to find out.
I installed the Koito headlights from Toyota.
I did a 1-4-1 swap without relays.
I didn’t check today, but I have checked in the past, I have good voltage at the lights.

A same-same comparison is a good baseline for changes.

The light patterns are similar and different.
I think either would be a good choice.

No modifications were required to install too.
7 screws per side on a ‘65.
10 screws per side on a ‘67.

The Koito headlights have a more defined cutoff and the right side of the road is well lit for signs too.
And for the price, well worth it.

Koito (left)/ Hella (right)


Hella low beam


Hella high beam


Hella (left)/ Koito (right)


Koito low beam


Koito high beam

Last edited by Nos681 (10/08/2024 10:52 PM)