<VV> Replacement part quality
Eric S. Eberhard
flash@vicspdi.com
Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:30:41 -0700
I am not in the replacement parts business but I have fooled with cars for
a very long time and purchased from most of the major vendors.
Things have changed a lot since our Corvairs were made. For example, my
owners manual says to change oil every 1,000 miles!!! "GM didn't do things
that were unnecessary" --> mostly true, but they were considering the
technology in 1962 (the 1,000 mile interval reflects on oil technology of
the time). I bet nobody changes oil that often on their vair now using
modern oils.
Metal technology has also changed a lot. Perhaps stronger metals are
available for reasonable prices and thinner works fine. Or perhaps GM
designed it to last 10 years and the replacement lasts only 5 years ... but
is cost effective. Most vairs now drive few miles and there is no need for
super-strong engineering. There are separate consideration for cars that
drive a few thousand miles a year versus 30,000 (yes, some vairs are driven
that much, but I wager they are a minority). Same engineering as 1962 is
not always the best.
Clark's states specifically differences in metal technology on many of
their items (badges are made with softer metal for reasons they explain,
and headlight bezels thicker for reasons they explain). Most vendors
disclose differences from original (I do find Clarks to be very thorough in
this area).
My point is that each vendor has to make a choice -- what is a reasonable
price-point, how will it be used, how does using modern material affect the
design, what they believe is the "best" compromise, etc. If they disclose
this (most do) and if each vendor is different (they are) then we get a
CHOICE which is good.
One thing I can assure you -- if there was a hot market for the thicker
bracket, someone would be making it!
As an aside ... I had a nice NOS muffler bracket on my Spyder. One day it
broke and on the way off smashed my NOS rear grill and re-arranged the
bodywork. Ughhh! (at the time I had more choice words). I replaced it
with Clarks ... which they disclose it is not exact, but it has held up
longer than my NOS one ... perhaps the new design is better, it certainly
is adequate. Since I am anal I bought another NOS bracket that sits in my
parts bins in case I need it to be concours again some day.
At 11:07 AM 7/29/2004, Ron F Hinz wrote:
>I do agree with Eric, the parts from the vendors do keep our cars going
>quite well and with a minimum of fuss. The vendors are certainly doing a
>hard job well, no complaints there. My point was that if someone made a die
>for the muffler brackets and it works fine with 1/32" stock, would it also
>work OK using original thickness stock of 1/16"? GM didn't do things that
>were unnecessary. Does concours check these things? Should they?
>RonH
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Eric S. Eberhard" <flash@vicspdi.com>
>To: "corvairs" <lonwall@corvairunderground.com>; "Ron F Hinz" <ronh@owt.com>
>Cc: <VirtualVairs@corvair.org>
>Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 11:35 AM
>Subject: Re: <VV> Replacement part quality
>
>
> > I have ordered form many of the vendors and have found them all helpful
>and
> > honest with good quality parts. I have over the years had a problem or
> > two, the vendors always make it right. And this is key -- of course not
> > every part is always perfect, but if the vendor makes right it is not a
> > problem with me.
> >
> > Price and selection and competition is excellent for Corvair parts versus
> > other older cars. We are lucky to have so much variety at fair prices.
> >
> > Anyone that writes a letter and does not sign it and does is not specific
> > has no credibility with me, and should not with anyone else.
> >
> > At 10:35 AM 7/29/2004, corvairs wrote:
> > >You're referring to the guy with the letter in the latest Communique. The
> > >fact that he whines all over the map, doesn't give specifics and won't
> > >sign his name ought to tell you something. For our part NONE of our
> > >mechanical parts are made in third world countries. These days most
> > >appearance parts (mirrors, trim, die cast cars etc) are made in Taiwan,
> > >Jamaica, Red China among other places. That's just how it is. If he had
> > >been specific as to which parts he was whining about and where they had
> > >come from there might be a basis for a rational dialogue.
> > >
> > >Reproduction parts for Corvairs (done by vendors at least) are of good
> > >quality with few exceptions - and they are INEXPENSIVE. Much more
> > >inexpensive than they usually are with other makes. The aforementioned
> > >letter reminds me of an experience we had with a gentleman down south of
> > >us a few years back. This individual ordered about 40 various items from
> > >us then returned nearly all of them with a lenghty letter explaining why
> > >they were all "crap". Problem was, nearly none of the parts were
> > >reproductions - all were USA made (and top of the line too - are AC spark
> > >plugs "crap" for example - are Seth's spark plug wires "crap"? I think
>you
> > >get the idea). With only minor exceptions, his letter was full of
>outright
> > >nonesense and observations that no rational person would ever even
> > >contemplate. Turns out a little later we found out he was a new
> > >"competitor". (No it wasn't Dave) Still didn't make him or his actions
> > >sane, in my opinion.
> > >It would be interesting to know who wrote the Communique letter and where
> > >he got the parts from (and which ones) and if the boy is grinding a new
> > >axe or.......... . Lon
> > >
> > >www.corvairunderground.com
> > >
> > >Ron F Hinz wrote:
> > >
> > >>I recall a recent message in which the writer complained about the low
> > >>quality
> > >>of many replacement parts.
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights
>are
> > >the property
> > >of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
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> > >_______________________________________________
> >
> > Eric S. Eberhard
> > (928) 567-3727 Voice
> > (928) 567-6122 Fax
> > (800) 569-1122 Denver Office (I am never there, you can leave a
> > message)
> >
> > 928-301-7537 -- you may call any time day or night, I turn it off when I
> > sleep :-) Please try to use a land line first (reception often poor).
> >
> >
> >
> > http://www.vicspdi.com
> >
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> >
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> >
> >
Eric S. Eberhard
(928) 567-3727 Voice
(928) 567-6122 Fax
(800) 569-1122 Denver Office (I am never there, you can leave a
message)
928-301-7537 -- you may call any time day or night, I turn it off when I
sleep :-) Please try to use a land line first (reception often poor).
http://www.vicspdi.com
Completely updated web site of personal pictures with many new
pictures! Includes horses, dogs, Corvairs, and more.
http://www.vicspdi.com/ourpics/index.html