Mark Hofmann wrote to Roy Witt:


 RW>> I'd trust it if it was a NIB genuine GM fuel pump. There are others
 RW>> online
 RW>> for a mere $62 and change which I'd question the origin of and the
 RW>> 'rebuilder' origin if that cheap one is a rebuilt pump.

 MH> Speaking from experience in dealing with cheap parts, go with the
 MH> more expensive trusted part.

I wouldn't go that far...like an engineer told me once; when they receive
bids for work from vendors, they throw out the lowest and the highest bid,
then consider all of those inbetween.

I always look for a bargain when it comes to buying parts, but almost
always reject anything made in China. It used to be that way with Japanese
parts some 40+ years ago, but they have come a long way since. Even they
don't buy Chinese parts, but have their's made in South Korea, where labor
is cheap and Japanese quality requirements is followed.

 MH>   Especially when the work involved to replace the part is extensive.

I had replaced the starter in my 72 Chevy Cheyenne with rebuilt starters
from a local parts store. They lasted about a year and then failed. The
starter was cheap enough to buy, but the labor to replace it was mine and
I don't like to do any more than I have to.

 MH> I was burned by "Made In China" wheel bearings that I installed in my
 MH> Monte Carlo years ago.  They lasted just a month or so over (1) year
 MH> before falling apart.

That's about right. 8^)

 MH> After re-replacing them, went with a "Made In USA" Timken bearing,
 MH> and been going strong for 3+ years and counting.

You could have used a Japanese bearing and had the same quality, but less
cost. I used to rebuild IBM hard drives (12" discs) and used a Japanese
bearing in place of the original. They were just as good. The bearings
that IBM used had to be bought in matched pairs and cost an arm and a leg.
I used non-matched bearings and had no complaints.

In fact, this was for the outfit where I aquired 'Bertha' an old milling
machine that came in handy for machining automotive heads as well as the
deep sea sonar heads I made for a local company in San Diego.

 MH> Costs about $40 more than made in China garbage, but that is a small
 MH> price when you consider it takes hours each time to replace.

Buying American is good practice, but good American is sometimes hard to
come by. I always try to buy American, but there are things that just
aren't made here anymore.


         R\%/itt


--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012
--- D'Bridge 3.92
 * Origin: Bow Tie Racers, Been There, Done That! (1:387/22)