new vs. rebuilt

[dotcentral]

What's your opinion on new vs rebuilt components? I usually get rebuilt stuff for daily drivers, but I have heard bad things about certain rebuilt components. water pump, etc.

[willowbilly3]

Some reman stuff seems ok but after years of bolting on parts my general opinion of remanufactured parts is pretty low. Nothing compares to parts that come right from Ford. This is a little off the subject but I would rather use an OEM voltage regulator or ignition box from a junker that buy a new one from the parts store.
Remanufactured starters and alternators are a roll of the dice and I would never, under any circumstances, buy an over the counter reman carb.
Reman clutch discs seldom have the same tolerances as new ones and shouldn't even be considered in vehicles with self adjusting clutches and no provision for adjustment. I have had pretty good luck with reman brake parts and even used to prefer the reman master cylinders from NAPA because they used a stainless steel liner. I've never had any problems with the reman calipers and usually buy the loaded ones now.

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

Like WillowBilly said. It depends on what parts you're using. I used to deliver parts and one of the biggest returns are remanned carbs, starters and alternators. I've had bad results with clutches, so I just go with new. Sometimes, you can't get away from remanned. Like some water pumps or fuel pumps are obsolete and you can only get them rebuilt.

[Comet]

Although I have never used a NAPA reman. master cylinder, I will never buy a used one again. I needed to replace one for the '71 and tried to save some money because I was going to discs and an F350 MC and booster in the future anyway. After 4, yes FOUR rebuilts (all returned on warranty), I said screw it and bought a new one. Once the piston has been bored out, they never match tolerances.

[adak57]

On another side-note, there's a really good editorial in the June issue of Hot Rod magazine.

It's the Editor's Letter, by David Freiburger... about how literally everything automotive is being "duped" overseas, including basic rebuilt parts, speed parts, even supposedly OEM parts...

It's a good read... kinda tells where we're heading... what with the new "Global" economy and all.

That old saying "They don't make 'em like they used to" get's more relevant and provacative every day.

[bluef250]

On electrically parts, I like to go new OEM. If new OEM is not available, if I have a choice I would go with junk yard special that looks good (although very hard to find for our trucks). Lastly, reman's parts with the lifetime warranty. Sometime, as has been said, reman's are the only things available. Last alternator ($350) installed in van was good for a month. The bat post fell off! Got a new alternator , but ruined a whole afternoon though. Lucky we were a block from shop, rather hours from no where (of which we have a bunch of). Another option I have used is to have a trusted local rebuilder (including myself) fix the part. Generally, he installs new components and the job is done right and the parts last. Mechanical parts ditto.

[willowbilly3]

FWIW, the blue 72 in my avitar had a NAPA reman master cylinder installed in 1985 and is still on there with no problems and also the alternator was a local rebuild and it has over 125,000 miles and almost 20 years on it too. 35-40 years ago reman stuff was reliable because most of it was done on contract to smaller shops. I don't think I would put a reman master cylinder on these days. I still prefer a used OEM part from the junkyard over a reman.

[dotcentral]

I've been trying to decide wheter to just clean up my existing water pump, buy a new, or a rebuilt water pump. My short block will be coming back from the machine shop tomorrow, most everything is new or recently replaced. I had ran some stop leak through the water pump, so I don't know if that might have gummed anything up inside the pump.

It is only about a $15 difference in new vs rebuilt, but not sure which is best. I'll probably buy new, there's a life time warranty & no core charge, so I can keep the old as a backup.