Duralast from Autozone

[fred69vert]

I've had a Duralast alternator in my bug a year and a half ago and it's still running strong. I have been amazed at the number of old beetle parts they have in stock.
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I'm not losing my hair, it's just retired and relocating further south.

1969 VW convertible, "Heidi"

[davidw99]

My Duralast battery from AZ is fine after 7 years. Only 12,000 miles though.
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Dave

'73 Saturn Yellow Sports Bug that has undergone a full pan off restoration. "Herbert IV."

'67 Sedan. "Bellamy." Currently being "refreshed" and recently repainted.

[sb001]

Welp, bad news--
After years of buying my Bosch wires at AZ, they have decided their Duralast wires are more important to stock.
Bosch wires not available in ANY store anymore, and not available to order. Thanks AZ!
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Tim Donahoe]

Well that's a drag.

In 2013' I mentioned in this post about buying a set of Duralast plug wires. They failed and I had to replace with Bosch.

I should have known better.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[sb001]

[hotsam]

Autozone is usually ok if you don't get the cheapest version of whatever you're looking for.

I rely on Amazon for a lot of things, if I don't mind waiting a day or so.

I use RockAuto occasionally, but more to look up part numbers than anything else.
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1968 Beetle

[joeyk803c]

I haven't used AutoZone parts in quite some time, but the major company (Federal Mogul) that supplies their parts also supplies Oreillys. I've been working for O'reillys for over 2 years now, and I can get a decent amount of parts for old aircooled bugs. Motor mounts, plugs, wires, steering parts, etc. I use their Import Direct wires on my 71 1600 DP motor, with NGK plugs and my "in-house" brand Richporter electronic distributor. I also use an outside vendor that can also get some harder to get parts. I rebuilt the drums on my 74 with parts from my work. I converted over to '72 ghia disc brakes with Oreillys calipers, bearings, and rotors. Got my pads from Napa for cost reasons ($22 at Napa, $60+ through my vendor). Held up for almost a year now.

The Import Direct part is O'Reillys line of import replacement parts. A majority of parts are factory replacement (well as close as they can be to older parts). Newer imports, most are factory parts.

I've heard hit and miss about AutoZone parts, though I can't say personally.

[Zundfolge1432]

[quote="joeyk803c"]I haven't used AutoZone parts in quite some time, but the major company (Federal Mogul) that supplies their parts also supplies Oreillys. I've been working for O'reillys for over 2 years now, and I can get a decent amount of parts for old aircooled bugs. Motor mounts, plugs, wires, steering parts, etc. I use their Import Direct wires on my 71 1600 DP motor, with NGK plugs and my "in-house" brand Richporter electronic distributor. I also use an outside vendor that can also get some harder to get parts. I rebuilt the drums on my 74 with parts from my work. I converted over to '72 ghia disc brakes with Oreillys calipers, bearings, and rotors. Got my pads from Napa for cost reasons ($22 at Napa, $60+ through my vendor). Held up for almost a year now.

The Import Direct part is O'Reillys line of import replacement parts. A majority of parts are factory replacement (well as close as they can be to older parts). Newer imports, most are factory parts.

I've heard hit and miss about AutoZone parts, though I can't say personally.

[/quote

I used Oh Really's about a dozen years ago for brake calipers for a 71 bus,was amazed at the price less than twenty bucks apiece with a core. They carry a few parts I like including self etching primer in spray can. Advance auto carries rebuilt Motorola alternators for about 60 bucks with a core. It's hit and miss concerning Bosch now. They have factories all over and quality varies from good to shit. Beware. Also keep an eye on the people working at these places, I ask for a length of fuel hose and the man handed me vacuum hose, guess all hoses are same to him.

[ROCKOROD71]

Been rockin an oil filled, China-made, AZ coil for over a year now. No issues yet but it DOES get hot after a while. When it blows up I have some rags and a used German coil ready to go!
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[kokanee]

I have been running duralast starter for a auto type 3 in my gbja for over a year still going strong

[Old n' slow]

Duralast battery 9 years old now.....only reads 11.7 on my voltmeter after sitting a day. Still starts the old 69 in any weather.
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Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .

[theKbStockpiler]

I worked at AZ for longer than I'd rather state. My findings are from using their parts and what customers told me. Opinions are not VW specific.

-Wells Engine Management, Fuel and Ignition parts; A third of the price as originals and last a third as well. Their high priced ignition parts are as good as BorgWarner select which I think is better than bosch or Standard.

-Alternators/Starters; If you can find a better alternator/starter at any price let me know. I have only had one higher priced alternator last as long.

-Brake Calipars are good enough at a low price. Wheel cylinders can be iffy. Masters can be garbage.Hoses are the same as other chains and are fair.

-Engine Mounts are Chain store quality, okay.

-Harmonic Balancers are iffy. They can hold up or fail quickly.

-Radiators and gastanks are decent.

-Batteries are at least as good as DieHards and Delcos, most likely made by JonsonControls.

Brake shoes are good. For pads I would not get anything lower than Golds and anything higher is not as good or not worth the extra money.

-Drums are decent but rotors can either be good or junk.

-Belts; you get what you pay for. The same goes for wheel bearings.

-Internal Engine parts; Depends on the brand.

-Half Shafts are marginal but you get a lifetime warentee. Customers said they hold up fine but some are stiff while others are sloppy.

Other rebuilt parts are as good as the rebuilder is at that point. Cardone used to be excellent but I have had their stuff fail in a short amount of time.
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My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask.

[sb001]

Getting ready to test out a new (remanufactured) Duralast autostick starter on my bug since mine gave up the ghost this weekend and the Duralast is close by, in stock and only $50 with core.
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[67rustavenger]

[74Shovel]

I’ve had a Duralast starter on my ‘78 Vert for about a year now, and have not had any problems. They had one in stock when I needed it, and the price was right. I drive my Bug almost daily, and am very happily. I’m retired military, and they give me a 10% discount on just about everything I buy there.
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Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

'78 Super Convertible

[sb001]

This is the first time I've ever had to replace the starter. The one I took off is genuine Bosch Made in Germany. It's lasted for at least the 10 years I've been driving this car since I got it from my folks and I kbow it was on there years before that. Hell it might be the original as far as I know. Can only hope the Duralast gives me as much usability.
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Zundfolge1432]

Do not surrender that OG starter as core, save it it’s better than anything currently available. I have plenty of standard cores to give them. I have an excellent rebuilder here in town able to return your German starter to service for another 50 years.

[wcfvw69]

[sb001]

[sb001]