Depends who the parts guy is. An older guy that has been around for ever, will a lot of times work with you, and know how to search to now where and how to get the part. Who has it and how many.
A young guy all he knows is the Internet, and what comes up on the Computer, OH, cant get it, NLA, Obsolete etc.... and they don`t want to deal with you.
The older guy lots of times will give you the part#, or if you ask.
I`ll use the # on Google and do some searching, and lots of time find the part. Of course, E-Bay will gold plate the part and the price is through the roof.
I was recently searching for NOS/OEM Lift Pumps using the part#. Some had it listed but contacting them, didn`t have it and didn`t update the Computer.
One parts guy said 2 other dealers showed it in his area, One had it, Alma Ford in Alma, Mi. parts guy had one on the shelf, paid full retail, and looked like it was on their shelf a long time.
I now have 2 NOS/OEM pumps on the shelf being patient and searching.
The old parts guys from before computers, are long gone. They knew how to look for parts, and lot of them had part# in their heads. And all they had was the big set of book on the counter.
But computer`s opened a whole big world of availability, they didn`t have access to.
Goat