Poor quality parts ruining the hobby for me

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I just finished up a 69 roadrunner for a guy and learned any thing from OER should be sent back. Bad fit and materials

Agree on OER as a new radiator was supposed to be an exact replacement but had mounting holes drilled in the wrong spots and no brackets on the side to hold overflow hose and shroud. But OER is not alone. I'm on my third attempt at a brake distribution valve after two bad ones from Inline Tube and a second master cylinder after the first bad unit from Rock Auto. And, I haven't even put the car back on the road yet - these parts were so bad they leaked or failed after installation. Yes gentlemen, I also followed every tip on this forum about installation. Just ridiculous.
 
Give the list of what you need ,Perhaps ...he can source quality product for you.
Ballast resistors, ECU's, voltage regulators, alternators, starters -all parts that fail much more often than they used to. PLUS you cannot get some of these parts at parts stores anymore- they have to order it, which is just as fast if i order it through rockauto or ebay

as for alternators and starters -for my other used cars, they are good for 2 years, maybe a little more on the salt coast of corrosion. We replace ground wires out here, and often in florida near beaches.
 
I'm on my 3 rd master cylinder , the first two , " brand new" , not reman, not worth a ****.
hopefully 3's a charm , because brake fluid isn't exactly cheap
 
My new master cyclinder leaked from a bolt on the bottom, so I fixed it instead of ordering another that might leak also.
 
How much of the problem do you think is "Counterfeit parts"?? Was a problem decades ago, companies tried to police the problem, just too much money to be made for it to stop, AND lack of prosecution if they; the counterfeiters; are caught.............
 
My '95 Ram 3500 Cummins I bought new, it was made in Mexico, the front wheel bearings fell apart at 100,000 mi which I was told was "normal" for those models and years! It had ate a spindle too, all this was replaced at 2005, has 220,000 mi now, and still going. I have no idea what was the maker of the second set of bearing, I will just drive it till it goes..
I say, parts bought now days at auto parts store is a crap shoot, and buying a certain brand does not guarantee success!!! I have done sets of brakes ( 9 and 10 in.) in last 3 years and no problem, but lucky, VR another story!
 
Would an Edelbrock water pump last 100,000 miles? No, yet they are MORE $$ than OEM. That goes for alot of our parts. After market is not always better. You buy a reman alternator when your $3 brushes and $2 bearings go out? Open it up and change them! MC, same thing, just get some seals. You wouldnt buy a new motor if the bearings went out would you? My 65 FSM shows you how to take apart a power brake booster! But try finding parts for that.....It is what you make of it.
 
Would an Edelbrock water pump last 100,000 miles? No, yet they are MORE $$ than OEM. That goes for alot of our parts. After market is not always better. You buy a reman alternator when your $3 brushes and $2 bearings go out? Open it up and change them! MC, same thing, just get some seals. You wouldnt buy a new motor if the bearings went out would you? My 65 FSM shows you how to take apart a power brake booster! But try finding parts for that.....It is what you make of it.
the first m/c I took apart and no amount of seal would seal up the shoddy finish in the bore. after 24 OZ. of fluid through the second one , the air never went away , finally the 3rd one , and yes the CHEAPEST one in stock , bled solid after the first 5 strokes of the pedal.
 
the first m/c I took apart and no amount of seal would seal up the shoddy finish in the bore. after 24 OZ. of fluid through the second one , the air never went away , finally the 3rd one , and yes the CHEAPEST one in stock , bled solid after the first 5 strokes of the pedal.
Exactly! Would your old one clean up with a $8 hone job and $5 pistons? you could probably produce a better finish with that drill mounted hone than the aftermarket one. And you would be the final inspector......
 
Our old cars are here to put parts on, because they were made when America was the number ! manufacturer, unfortunately now everything is made outside the US and quality is a foreign word....
 
Well, gee...since everything after market is junk, I guess we all just better fold up our tents and get out of the hobby.

Seriously, good parts are out there...you just have to look carefully for them and be prepared to pay for quality.

Good quality parts use to be run of the mill at regular price. Now you have to pay out the *** if you want something that will last over a year. It's ridiculous when a 100k mile used part is more suited to last than a brand spanking new one. And Mopar repop parts are not cheap, even for the Chinese garbage that is on the market. I had a $300 repop dash for my 62 (tiny little eyebrow) peel back after ONE DAY! I've even had made in the U.S.A. parts like Holley fuel pumps leak like a sieve right out of the box. Gauges fail after one days use. It goes on and on.
 
I've even had made in the U.S.A. parts like Holley fuel pumps leak like a sieve right out of the box...

Even the import Holley designs do that....
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"Pump doesnt work
Bought pump installed on car would draw fuel from tank so gravity prime lind and pump just pouring fuel out of bottom. Was against a time line so had to go pick up and over pay for new holly to get on road"
"Immediately Leaked
I bought this hoping to save a few dollars. Got it installed and plumbed, put fuel in the tank, and immediately noticed it was leaking from the pump body. I checked all my connections and everything was good. I removed the pump and took it apart, and found THEY FORGOT THE GASKET during assembly. The casting was also terrible and could have leaked even with the gasket. I RTV'd it up and tried to make it work, but when i put voltage to it, it seemed intermitant and still leaked.

So... I went and bought one that was MADE IN USA, that worked the first time, and was easier to install." Good for you for finding one that didnt leak.
 
Even the import Holley designs do that....View attachment 1715196103

"Pump doesnt work
Bought pump installed on car would draw fuel from tank so gravity prime lind and pump just pouring fuel out of bottom. Was against a time line so had to go pick up and over pay for new holly to get on road"
"Immediately Leaked
I bought this hoping to save a few dollars. Got it installed and plumbed, put fuel in the tank, and immediately noticed it was leaking from the pump body. I checked all my connections and everything was good. I removed the pump and took it apart, and found THEY FORGOT THE GASKET during assembly. The casting was also terrible and could have leaked even with the gasket. I RTV'd it up and tried to make it work, but when i put voltage to it, it seemed intermitant and still leaked.

So... I went and bought one that was MADE IN USA, that worked the first time, and was easier to install." Good for you for finding one that didnt leak.


I switched to MFI in 1988 because I was sick of dealing with fuel pumps by Holley. They were kink back then. I finally fixed them by using high quality brushes in them and had an engineer friend develop a bypass system to keep the pump from loading up and heating the motor and melting the brushes. Even the best brushes I could find.
 
I bought a napa ignition switch for my dart sport. From day one as I turned the key it felt rough. I thought it's new need to use it to let it "smooth out". Yeah right. Half a year went by and still rough. Also sometimes it would start sometimes not. Eventually it smoked and took a dump! Not even a year gone by. So went to several auto stores guess what all made in taiwan. Napa one happened to have box taiwan! So frustrated went on ebay found one by standard ignition. Said made here in the states. 2 or 3 years later she is smooth and no drama. Also came across some nos mopar ignition switches but were a little pricier.
 
The Summit manual water temp gauges works ever now and then, ( mostly then) It was cheap so what do I really expect!?????
 
The Summit manual water temp gauges works ever now and then, ( mostly then) It was cheap so what do I really expect!?????

haha ! I'm on my second one of them too lol

Haha! I forgot I bought one of those piles of crap as well. Worked fine for 30 minutes then stopped working fine. It was dead but every once in a while it would come to life. Threw it and the mech oil pressure gauge in the trash and replaced with electric Autometer gauges and no more problems.
 
Even the import Holley designs do that....View attachment 1715196103

"Pump doesnt work
Bought pump installed on car would draw fuel from tank so gravity prime lind and pump just pouring fuel out of bottom. Was against a time line so had to go pick up and over pay for new holly to get on road"
"Immediately Leaked
I bought this hoping to save a few dollars. Got it installed and plumbed, put fuel in the tank, and immediately noticed it was leaking from the pump body. I checked all my connections and everything was good. I removed the pump and took it apart, and found THEY FORGOT THE GASKET during assembly. The casting was also terrible and could have leaked even with the gasket. I RTV'd it up and tried to make it work, but when i put voltage to it, it seemed intermitant and still leaked.

So... I went and bought one that was MADE IN USA, that worked the first time, and was easier to install." Good for you for finding one that didnt leak.

The issue with mine was a crooked gasket, gas was pouring out. Took it apart and reset the gasket and no more issues. If it would have caught a spark the car would have burned and i would have broke it off in Holleys a$$. I'm done with their products, their regulators suck too.
 
Bought a Raybestos brand bearing and hub assy, for premium dollars. It had to be ordered. When it arrived, it was the exact same thing, even the paper work in the box, as the cheap parts store brand. I called Raybestos to complain, about paying premium price for the same part that I could get for about half. They told me, they don't make the bearing/hub. They just license the name, to someone else.
 
Try buying Harley replacement parts from the dealership....black oil filter, $15......want the chrome one? $40
 
Try buying Harley replacement parts from the dealership....black oil filter, $15......want the chrome one? $40
Only really bad part I`ve run into was a ford relay from o`reillies. Lasted about 1 yr or so, found the Chrysler relay that was in the basket when I got my basket case 68 fastback. Installed it and hooked the n/starter switch up, all is good now !
 
Even the import Holley designs do that....View attachment 1715196103

"Pump doesnt work
Bought pump installed on car would draw fuel from tank so gravity prime lind and pump just pouring fuel out of bottom. Was against a time line so had to go pick up and over pay for new holly to get on road"
"Immediately Leaked
I bought this hoping to save a few dollars. Got it installed and plumbed, put fuel in the tank, and immediately noticed it was leaking from the pump body. I checked all my connections and everything was good. I removed the pump and took it apart, and found THEY FORGOT THE GASKET during assembly. The casting was also terrible and could have leaked even with the gasket. I RTV'd it up and tried to make it work, but when i put voltage to it, it seemed intermitant and still leaked.

So... I went and bought one that was MADE IN USA, that worked the first time, and was easier to install." Good for you for finding one that didnt leak.

Oh boy! Now I'm a bit worried. Bought a new Carter brand electric fuel pump last month. Sure hope it works and no leaks. We'll see.

Best regards,

Harry
 
Bought a Raybestos brand bearing and hub assy, for premium dollars. It had to be ordered. When it arrived, it was the exact same thing, even the paper work in the box, as the cheap parts store brand. I called Raybestos to complain, about paying premium price for the same part that I could get for about half. They told me, they don't make the bearing/hub. They just license the name, to someone else.
your buying the warranty only. Same part, but lifetime warranty....happens all the time. Get the 90 day for half price.
 
Oh boy! Now I'm a bit worried. Bought a new Carter brand electric fuel pump last month. Sure hope it works and no leaks. We'll see.

Best regards,

Harry
not a prob with Carter. Although anything can be defective. 4% of electronics were bad OOTB when I worked at Circuit City. We saw far less because we didnt take back half the stuff as the factory would handle it through its channels. Try returning a refer to CC. Some of the bottom shelf **** like Broksonic VCR's were so cheap that we didnt even repair them. Put it in the crusher and give them a new one...."Non RTV (return to vendor) field destroy..." They were a simple transport built on 1 PCB and a power supply, all the least expensive crap the manufacturer could source. weighed about 2 lbs.
 
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