hi sages- a recent discussion of reman or rebuilt parts with sl6 dan and other mentors caused me to be much more careful in considering what to buy. will be doing a waterpump replacement(leaking) this week on my 80 volare. has the original blue paint so i think it is the original (only 69k miles). due to a recent bad experience with brake pads plus the bad press on this forum, i have eschewed chinese parts. actually foreign made parts are very common. one has to inquire about american made parts and they are not always easily available. ok now to the chase with one question - has there been the same general bad experience with parts from mexico. i notice lots of remans from there. other countries of origin include indonesia, malaya, taiwan, vietnam, even england. curious too about how you can have a truly new waterpump for a sl6. wasnt the last new sl6 engine 87. wouldnt think chrysler or others would still be making new water pumps. would appreciate being cleared up on this and whether parts from mexico are better. thanks tons bob f

actually they made /6s til 91 for Mexico and industrial apps; they don't make a Ford 300 straight 6, or an LA series 318 either any more, but those were the last 2 waterpumps I've had to buy; and the counterman offered me "New or Reman" options on both of them not too long ago;
NO, Chrysler probably won't have any NOS ones around yet but try the local parts places and ask if they offer the option; everyone knows, that even though it was almost 20 years ago the /6 was made, when they WERE made they made millions of them; they were a very popular engine in their day so it's worth a few phone calls to see.

I'm very interested in any survey of the quality of rebuilt parts; it seems that every time I need something, it comes from a different random point on earth. The Auto Zone "Factory Air" line parts that I've twice tried didn't fit w/o a lot of kludging, so I avoid that brand. I also recommend inspecting every part before you buy - do not believe the box when it says "Made in USA". Opening both NAPA and Pep Boys boxes that said that on the outside provided parts made elsewhere and labeled as such on the inside.

I think we are reaching the point that most companies aren't going to be offering top quality repair parts for our motors/cars, unless you have a muscle car like a barracuda or a duster. Let's face it, slant sixes, while millions were produced, don't have the market share of a small block Chevy, and the number of these vehicles on the road gets smaller every year. There just isn't the demand anymore to keep putting the money into the manufacture of these parts. So we are stuck with cut-rate junk from cut-rate companies. Far better to learn how to refurbish and maintain original parts or adapt parts from newer vehicles/other applications.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

GMB waterpumps,made in Japan,new.I've had really good luck with them starting years ago when I was playing with import cars n trucks.The last 2 I've purchased for slants still are stamped(molded)made in Japan but who knows anymore,seem to be fine though.

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

I have had luck finding new parts for my Sl6s. I order them through Fast Undercar in Portland, OR. The waterpumps for example are labeled the "prestone" brand, but so far I haven't had a problem with them.

Might take a look on Rockauto.com and see what they offer. Looking at it right now, it seems that they have a few options for new ones. The A-1 Cardone which is labeled as a rebuilt is one that alot of the chain stores around me carry, and they absolutely suck.

They even list one from Bosch, which seems a bit wierd...

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

That's what on my Duster's slant right now. Looked like a pretty good quality unit, hasn't leaked yet and the gaskets that came with it weren't paper thin either.

We'll see if it's started leaking at all after I get home (and the car's been sitting for 8 months at that point).

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Years ago I bought a water pump from advance for a caprice ,because it was a little cheaper , put it on and it run great until it warmed up.I was driving down the highway and the car started bucking. Stopped a bit went home,I then took off the water pump ,trying to figure out what I did wrong, finally took a gallon of water ,and poured it through both sides, low and behold, one side of the water passages was not machined all of the way through


Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

Beware of "assembled in USA". That is not the same as "made in USA".

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I've had generally good luck with parts from Mexico. My pecking-order of preference for where my parts come from goes something like:

1) US
2) Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe
3) Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia
4) the rest of the Far East
5) Space aliens
6) Unearthed from a landfill
7) China

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Just curious (I'd like input from more people BTW) where does Aussie fit in --- no products in particular------ but more in general; (we all know how good, about anything that comes from China, is---- NOT!)

I quibble and differ a little with your list; I think you put US alone in the top slot because that's what your particular brand of patriotism drives you to do, not based on any objective engineering/quality factors, and I think your 2nd group is too congested. By all means, prove me wrong: What objective difference do you find, overall and in general, between parts from the USA and parts from Canada? Didn't think so!

Here's my list. Countries under any given number are considered equivalent.

1. USA, Canada, Australia, Western Europe, Japan.
2. Mexico, Eastern Europe, Argentina, Brazil
3. Korea (real hard to choose not quite to put this as a #2 yet)
4. Taiwan
5. The rest of Asia except for China
6. Space aliens
7. Landfill
12. China

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Uh, what about 8-11?

Are they

8. Wonka brand
9. Ferengi
10. Dr. Emmet Brown, Inc.
11. Hasbro, Tonka, Mattel
?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Yeah, pretty much!

I left out India. It's on the same line with China.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

What, no Tatas in your future?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.