[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

All body and mechanical people state 'the aftermarket stuff is crap' regardless of the quality of the aftermarket stuff, it sets up the narrative for the 'learning process' they go through during the job.

Even original stuff from another car (or even same car) would give those same people the same trouble, because the factory stuff wasn't perfect either.

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Factory stuff wasn't/isn't perfect, but it's about 99% better than reproduction parts 99% of the time, at least in my decades of experience with many makes and models.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

Factory stuff wasn't/isn't perfect, but it's about 99% better than reproduction parts 99% of the time, at least in my decades of experience with many makes and models.

Heheh! I was exaggerating, basically to make a point, and rant a little, since every time i've heard that from someone who was going to do work for me, it took longer and costed more!

But, now that your on the subject, do you really think OE parts retain the same quality as manufacturing is shipped from the US to china, mex, and other countries? Are you telling me you've never seen an OE part fail right out of the box? Especially parts that were destine to the repair industry?

My dad from like 62-75, used to get a new car every year from companies he worked for. I remember going to the dealerships with him, and even at a young age could walk down the line of same model cars on a lot and tell that none of them were the same. The term 'dealer prep', the reason you couldn't buy and drive a car instantly off the lot, was to do final QA after coming from the factor, make sure everything worked. He was reluctant to drive cars out of the area for the first 2 months, because they went back so many times.

And I'm not talking econo-boxes, these were top models of multiple US car manufacturers. Caddys, Lincolns, Olds, top models. I remember one time we were going from upstate NY to Outer Banks, picked up a 72 Olds 98 Regency on a friday morn, because they took too long 'prepping'. Broke down in PA, towed to a local dealership, swapped the car for another new one, and it broke down on the way back. Car load of screaming kids and mother-in-law, sure that was a dream vacation to remember.

I've seen NOS parts that were junk. I've seen repop parts that were way better than they ever were from the factory. I've seen unmolested original cars that had stuff I couldn't believe ever left the factory. And I'm just a hobbyist.

Nothing is 99%, even the bean-counters on the inside can tell you that. Shoot, 80% would be great. Parts that don't pass QA on the assembly line go straight to the replacement parts warehouses, and get flushed out in that supply channel.

Take a look at Dodge these days, lunch time at the factories is party time, they get blasted and go right back to the assembly line. And those people get paid way more than the people in the parts manufacturing divisions.

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