The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop New parts that don't fit

Maybe it is just me. I feel disappointed when you spend money from a supplier and it will not fit. You call and get a person that says you will have to make it fit due to the holes will not line up or even close. The item is not listed as to that fact you will have to modify to fit.
Ok now I feel better however it is disappointing to me. The item that I am talking about is a hood hinge.

It's not just you. We had the same problem with the 'new' hood hinges. Once installed, the hood would not fit. We had to reuse the original hinges.
RdsLessTaken/Don

http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/RdLessTaken/library/

Frustrating indeed and I don't have a solution other than send the part(s) back. Then you have to deal with the situation of which is better, a part that can be made to work or no replacement part at all. FWIW I prefer to use OEM parts when possible even when it cost more to do so.

Yep, I got a lot of parts that didn't fit when they were supposed to be "made to fit" my truck. Even the headlight adjusting screws and springs that were advertised as being specifically made to fit my truck were 60's corvette parts with a label saying 41-46 Chev truck directly over the Corvette label on the bags. That was from a "reputable" gm truck parts supplier too.

Anyone can buy a part. The real reward comes from fixing the old part. I have gone to extreme, to the point of ridiculous measures to repair really worn out original parts. The most memorable was my door latches. If you can fix one of those babies, you can fix anything.

After having tried to get three different new door latches to work I finally repaired the old ones and life is good.
NOS is great if you can find them but, getting less and less likely.

When dealing with Ting-Tang Junk, you have to be a machinist,sheet metal expert,mechanical wizard, and overall magician.
Most people just accept the crap they get and fight it to the end till it works.
That's the part that takes the fun out of working on these old trucks.
Get on the phone and let the supplier know youll be sending it back,,at their expense.
Theres plenty of good,used parts still out there to be had.

Not trying to pick on anyone, just trying to save someone a little frustration.

From Jim Carter Truck parts (I was ordering parts for my 55 first series)

The glass top fuel pump works fine but the fittings are parallel to the engine block ( you will have to bend your fuel lines to make it work)

The oil filter cartridge ME289 will fit the canister just fine but the rubber gaskets that are supplied are too small.

The exhaust pipe donut ME526 was too small to fit around my exhaust pipe. The one I subsequently bought from Car Quest fit perfectly.

These are small items I know, I bought a lot of stuff from Jim Cart and most everything was fine.

Joe

Joe,

Your problem with JC's ME289 and ME526 sound like quality issues (assuming they were meant for your canister and for your 2" standard 2" A-D Chevrolet truck exhaust pipe diameter).

What is the fuel pump part number? Some year fuel pumps had fittings parallel to the block and other year fuel pumps have fittings that are not parallel to the block.

I can tell you worked on an AD and not an Art Deco. Good luck finding used stuff to replace missing parts for Art Deco trucks, especially if you're missing something that's GMC specific.

I guess it would be difficult to fix what you ain't got.

My point was that at least in this area, parts for AD trucks are easy to find, so it's easy to find an old part to fix. The Art Deco trucks are much harder to find parts for though, and sometimes it's impossible and you have no choice but to buy a new part. In that case you rely on the vendor to sell what they say they're selling and it to fit as it should.

The parts they sell for AD trucks generally are not bolt-on ready, and the used parts that you say are easy to find usually are in need of serious repair. My point is, unless you are able to effectively lobby the U.S. sellers of foreign-made parts, you are stuck with what they offer, and need to develop the skills necessary to make whatever you can get your hands on to work (crappy re-pop or old worn parts). If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Gosh I did not mean to hit a nerve. It is the center hinge on my hood on a 39 pickup. I do not have enough of original to make it work. This hinge is the life blood to hold hood on truck. I have looked every where I can think of for replacement. I did purchase part from supplier to continue getting on the road. I do not want to throw anybody under the bus as I feel without our suppliers where would we be!!!!! My only complaint was the take it or leave it attitude I got from person I talked to.
Remember it is just for entertainment right and not end of world folks.. Mileage may vary but have a great day as you only get 1 shot at today
Ed

Well said.

Ed, try a post in the parts wanted, someone probably has an unused hood laying about

Bill

Yeah the problem is everything is from there. Even your band aids.

That's exactly why I spend a lot of time in scrap yards looking for halfway decent parts. My favorite was a valve cover for my 47. I spent 3 hours digging through old cars and trucks until I found one that was not rusted through. Along the way I always learn something new such as how these trucks from the dealer had the option of washer sprayers. I have owned two 47 chevy trucks and got both of them at the same time. One was so rusted out that it was a salvage job like no other. I pulled the engine out against my families wishes and saved the knee action shocks so I would have a second set just incase I find another truck that uses them. I also spent the time and saved the dash though if it had been any other year and that would not have happened but 47 had a unique column cutout later years were deeper. In the end it all comes down to if you can find it or salvage it. Every curb I can get on price I take and if I can also insure my parts fit I do. My next trip to the salvage yard is for an oil pan. I know I can buy that from people on hear but I feel like I'm saving it when I pull it out of a feild. For $5 I'm happy about price and I can walk our and take what I want no worry about some mechanic ruining what I want by accident. A few years ago I got some sun visors for my civic and the salvage yard would not let me take them off. The mechanic stained them with grease and runined them. They lost a customer over it because I could not get them to take them back. I suppose that's what happens when you try to take the cheap way sometimes. I could have shoved the extra $50 out and got new ones but these were in really good shape until they got stained. I have made some cool finds doing this though. Vendors don't sell everything because not everything is reproduced and it's what is not reproduced that makes an old car or truck stand out in the way of originality.