The trouble with repro parts

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Mon Jan 12, 09 12:19 am

Its the same with all the repro stuff, I bought 4 doors, hood, 4 wings and a decklid, all new repro stuff for Billys Beetle. Not one thing fit right!

Now I know why all good old or NOS stuff is so expensive.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Jan 14, 09 9:57 am

They can't even get the stock replacement parts right.

I spent a bit of time last night trying to fit a new water pump on the Jeep. First of all the hole for the hot water pipe was not threaded properly. I ended up damaging the pipe fitting but luckily by cutting it shorter and re-tapping the hole I got it to work.

Then I found the new pump would not fit behind the power steering bracket.

The old pump has two machined "ears" where the PS pump bracket fits on top. the new pump is not machined here and the ears are thicker.

I will have a go at it tonight with the angle grinder.

I wouldn't care but the dealership has to order these parts in (they will not stock stuff for the older cars) and it cost me £100 + VAT for the damn thing. I can't take it back because I have sold the Neon and have no working transport now.

Plus I also mashed my thumb. That put me in bad fettle I can tell you.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Jan 14, 09 1:43 pm

some stuff just doesn't fit because its badly copied and made

some stuff doesn't fit because the car you are fitting it do is badly made

beetles never seemed that bad i.e good quality control at the factory but i know the orginal set of doors bonnet bootlid always fitted better than any other

guess they had a choice at the factory

if my charger is anything to go by then fit and finish was never an Aussie Mopar strong point. take off the rain gutter trims and i could have cut a better roof panel using a knife and fork.

and I have heard that the US factories were worse.

although modern engine parts for modern cars should not have this issue.

Urethane/Nolathane front suspension kits....yes suspension is great but all the metal it bolts to snap off how many people had to have that happen....

I can't belive that out of all the new crossmember/tubular front end kits availble today that only the Altercation kit is really suitable for street use.

i.e someone is legally allowed to sell a supposed upgrade to the front suspension of a Mopar knowing full well that under daily driver use it will fail long before the original agricultural but solid stock items would.

its madness and much more likely to cause accident than a lens or door handle that doesn't fit

Mind at least someone is making stuff for your cars!!!!!

Dave

latil · Post by **latil** » Wed Jan 14, 09 1:58 pm

I find the big bits usually bash or bend to fit,it's the little bits that have to be right.

vipergts · Post by **vipergts** » Wed Jan 14, 09 3:01 pm

The same wherever you go, E Type bits, Triumph bit I'm having a nightmare with. I re use everything where poss but sometimes parts are beyond repair.

Charger · Post by **Charger** » Wed Jan 14, 09 3:30 pm

I have just fitted new turn signal lenses/hoods to my front turn signals, 70 Charger front turn signals are the same as 70 – 74 Challenger, they are oval shaped, the oval is very slightly different to the original, probably about 1mm short top to bottom but they do fit and seal ok

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Wed Jan 14, 09 11:05 pm

Dave wrote:They can't even get the stock replacement parts right.

I spent a bit of time last night trying to fit a new water pump on the Jeep. First of all the hole for the hot water pipe was not threaded properly. I ended up damaging the pipe fitting but luckily by cutting it shorter and re-tapping the hole I got it to work.

Then I found the new pump would not fit behind the power steering bracket.
The old pump has two machined "ears" where the PS pump bracket fits on top. the new pump is not machined here and the ears are thicker.

I will have a go at it tonight with the angle grinder.

I wouldn't care but the dealership has to order these parts in (they will not stock stuff for the older cars) and it cost me £100 + VAT for the damn thing. I can't take it back because I have sold the Neon and have no working transport now.

Plus I also mashed my thumb. That put me in bad fettle I can tell you.

Oh dear, I'm just about to order a new water pump for my Jeep, which is piddling coolant on the drive. Sounds like I'm gonna have fun. What make was yours Dave? So I can avoid it!

RayC · Post by **RayC** » Wed Jan 14, 09 11:27 pm

Adam wrote:Oh dear, I'm just about to order a new water pump for my Jeep, which is piddling coolant on the drive. Sounds like I'm gonna have fun. What make was yours Dave? So I can avoid it!

Thought them Jeeps Never gave you any trouble Adam

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Jan 15, 09 10:25 am

Adam wrote:Oh dear, I'm just about to order a new water pump for my Jeep, which is piddling coolant on the drive. Sounds like I'm gonna have fun. What make was yours Dave? So I can avoid it!

Not sure. It was not in a Mopar box but had a Mopar label on it. It was what the Newcastle Jeep dealership provided.

I got it fitted last night. One of the hard bits is getting the fan and shroud out. I don't know what yours is like but mine has two studs on the top holding the shroud in. Getting the shroud past these studs (you can't remove them without removing the radiator) is damn hard and you have to bring the fan out with it.
To make it easier going back in I cut a couple of notches in the top of the shroud. That made it easy to put back together and you cannot see where you cut once it is back in place.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Jan 15, 09 12:50 pm

Thanks for the tip Dave

I remember having fun when I replaced the the drivebelt. And the radiator

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Thu Jan 15, 09 10:07 pm

A picture paints a thousand words............
An original gasket and TWO different repops - what is wrong with this picture???

Let's face it, if they can't repo something a s simple as that, what chance do we have with more difficult stuff

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Jan 26, 09 6:40 pm

Dave wrote:
Adam wrote:Oh dear, I'm just about to order a new water pump for my Jeep, which is piddling coolant on the drive. Sounds like I'm gonna have fun. What make was yours Dave? So I can avoid it!
Not sure. It was not in a Mopar box but had a Mopar label on it. It was what the Newcastle Jeep dealership provided.

I got it fitted last night. One of the hard bits is getting the fan and shroud out. I don't know what yours is like but mine has two studs on the top holding the shroud in. Getting the shroud past these studs (you can't remove them without removing the radiator) is damn hard and you have to bring the fan out with it.
To make it easier going back in I cut a couple of notches in the top of the shroud. That made it easy to put back together and you cannot see where you cut once it is back in place.

Dave, I wonder whether your dealership inadvertently supplied the Grand Cherokee version? It's a different part number. I ordered mine from the local Jeep dealership and it fitted perfectly. And it was only £50 +VAT. Made by Federal Mogul with a Mopar sticker on the box.

It's a bit academic now, but my solution for getting the fan shroud out was to remove the slam panel (only about 8 hex screws) and lift the radiator up and forward a bit - no need to disconnect the trans cooler lines. Gave me a bit more room to work too.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Jan 26, 09 6:46 pm

Cuda440 wrote:
Adam wrote:Oh dear, I'm just about to order a new water pump for my Jeep, which is piddling coolant on the drive. Sounds like I'm gonna have fun. What make was yours Dave? So I can avoid it!

Thought them Jeeps Never gave you any trouble Adam

Touché Ray

Although, to be fair, that's only the second part that's failed in 12 years. I can't really blame it for the radiator - I put a tree branch through it

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Mon Jan 26, 09 9:58 pm

Adam wrote:Dave, I wonder whether your dealership inadvertently supplied the Grand Cherokee version?

God I hope so. That's what I have.