The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk OEM or NOS Information

How do you tell the difference betewen OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacture)and NOS (New Old Stock)?
I have some door handles on my 46 1/2 ton that I do not know if they are OEM or NOS and if it is OEM is it worth the cost in having the handles rechromed ?

Warner (cvett)

it sounds like you're wondering if the handles on your truck are GM made or aftermarket - if they're the correct handles for your year what would be different? if the handles need rechroming, then they're not NOS obviously - if they look like they could take a good chrome job, it's up to you if it's worth it!

OEM and NOS are usually the same thing - NOS doesn't mean the part is repro or from an 'aftermarket' supplier, only that it's a brand new part from way back then that was never used - much/most NOS is by the OE maker, which is why it's preferable to reproduction

Bill

If they are on your truck they are not NOS.The key word is NEW,but it is old stock.

An Item can be NOS and OEM,made by the original manufacture back when the vehical was produced.

It can just be OEM being made currently.

Also,NOS does not mean it is perfect.I have been buying NOS stuff for about 17 years and I learned to ask about shelf wear.Alot of this stuff was tossed to the side,taken to the back or even thrown away when the vehical became a few years old.

Hope this helps

ps` I just love NOS stuff!!!

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacter, which usually refers to a part that was made by, or under licence from, the company who made the original part.

Don't confuse this with parts that are 'OEM Spec' which usually means that the part was not made by the company who made the original part, nor is it licenced by that company.. it just meets or exceeds the specifications set for that part by the original part mfg.

NOS, or 'New, Old Stock' is a term used to describe a part or component that has never been installed, and is generally old.

As mentioned earlier, this dosen't mean perfect or rust free, and dosen't even really mean it is still operable.. just that it was never 'used' or 'installed'.

New, Old Stock does not mean that the part is a OEM part, either.. it could be made by anybody.

Sounds like you want to know if your door handles are 'stock'.. meaning, what would have come on the truck when it was new.

My guess is that it would take a trained eye to tell the difference between an 'aftermarket' or 'repro' handle and a 'stock' one just my looking at it.. altho i'll bet a repro wouldn't weigh the same as an original.

Here is a confusing (and sometimes contradictory?) glossary of terms that are commonly used to describe parts sold by vendors or on eBay.


NOS part - NEW OLD STOCK part
This is a term used for an original, brand-new GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck) part that was never sold (usually this is a GM factory-manufactured or authorized part, sold by the dealer). This is the "gold standard" of parts. A NOS part is usually more valuable (especially if it is an original ACCESSORY part) if it is in a clean original box, with correct GM part number.


NORS part (two possible meanings)

(1) NEW OLD REPLACEMENT STOCK part
This is the term used for a brand new part that is direct replacement for an OEM or NOS GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck) part. This will usually be new suspension, electrical, lens or mechanical, etc. part made by outside suppliers to GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck), such as a bearing, brake part, electrical part, etc This will be brand new part that was never sold.

(2) NEW OLD REMANUFACTURED PART part
This is the term used for rebuilt or remanufactured part, either by GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck) or one of its outside suppliers, that was never sold. This type of part is usually associated with a steering, mechanical, or suspension part.


OEM part - ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER part
This is the term used for a part that was installed on the assembly line at the assembly plant. This part might have only been used at an assembly plant and was never offered by GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck) through their part system. Most NOS parts were made to replace an OEM part.


REPRO part – REPRODUCTION part
This is a term used for a part that is reproduced (by anyone, anywhere) for Chevrolet or GMC truck. Sometimes referred to as “Aftermarket Part”, this part is most often sold by vendors of restoration parts/products.

LICENSED REPRODUCTION part
This is a term used for a REPRODUCTION part that has been officially licensed by GM to be built (sometimes, but not always) to meet GM design and quality standards.


REPLACEMENT part
This is the term used for the part that was either made by GM (Chevrolet or GMC truck) or by some other outside supplier and it was designed to replace original OEM part. They may not look identical to the original part but they are designed to replace the original part.


FACTORY ACCESSORY (part)
This is a term used for a part that was listed by GM as an” accessory” part. The dealer sold this part and it could be installed either by the dealer or by the owner. Some examples are hub caps, mirrors, light/lamps, windshield washers, clock, radio, etc.


RPO – REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION
This is a term used for an official GM option that was ordered by the customer/dealer and installed at the factory (this could be paint color combination, trim, or other part that was listed by GM as an option).

[Corrected typos and misspellings have been made, as pointed-out by Bill. Thanks, Tim]

hey Tim - it's REPRO as in REPRODUCTION, repo's are repossessed, not poducted

otherwise, maybe that list should be parked in a FAQ somewhere for folks who're too shy to ask - do we need a list of stovebolt acronyms?

Bill