Dartvader

The subject is any and all automotive repair parts, all the way to , and including engines and transmissions. I am interested in AC compresors at the moment, as my other post would suggest, but all parts are on topic. Would you buy a rebuilt starter, or go new? Would you go rebuilt transmissions, or buy new? Would you rebuild an engine, buy rebuilt (Jasper maybe), or buy new. Would you buy a new AC compressor, or buy a rebuilt unit? The savings can be significant with rebuilt, but as I said in my AC compressor post, I have given up on rebuilt starter motors after having 3 bad ones in a row in order to finaly get one good one installed. I no longer buy a rebuilt starter motor. Generators? New or rebuilt?Clutches? New or Rebuilt?

Wayne88

I'm no expert, but I'd spend the extra & buy everything new accept the engine, I'd have that rebuilt by someone who knows what they are doing--If there is such a person.

The transmission, I don't know .

Mr Mojo

All depend, things like alternators and compressors I've always bought rebuilt or reman, but power steering pumps, steering racks and stuff like that, I'd buy new.

Actually I'd buy new if available and I had the time to wait for it, but if I need it yesterday, I'll take what I can get.

Corvette Kid

It really depends on the component and how it is rebuilt. Some rebuilt products can be better than OEM due to improvements in design of certain parts, etc. You really have to know the vendor and the product to be sure, there are so many possible variables. Some of the things passed off as rebuilt are simply "fixed" and not always very well at that. Cheaper rebuilt units use inferior parts and in no way will give the service of a quality rebuilt or new component. The only thing I absolutely wouldn't touch as a rebuilt is a master cylinder. I have seen way too many failures of these, regardless of the source. Even these can be rebuilt properly as they are for very old cars for which new ones are not available and even cores are rare. These are done by specialists, sleeved in stainless steel, etc. No M/C you buy for the average car will be done this way I can assure you.

vader86

Alternators and compressors, I've bought reman. but everything else as new.

corvetteronw

I use a small-town "local yokel" guy to rebuild starters and alternators. He is a biker and a street rodder and takes pride in his work. He is slow, accurate and does the job right. He ain't cheap and does not want his reputation dissed at the local cruise-ins. He does good work.

Corvette Kid

I had a friend whom I could count on for these things. He was not just an excellent rebuilder but a literal genius and perfectionist on these components and the related electrical. I learned a ton from him over the years on this stuff. Unfortunately he passed away a couple of weeks ago at way too young an age. Thanks for everything, Randy.

Morley

Engine...New
Transmission...Rebuild, all of the good transmissions are rebuilt to better than factory specs.
Alternator...rebuilt
Starter.....rebuilt
Water pump...New (no one seems to be able to rebuild one to last more than a year or 2.)
Brake calipers...new or rebuilt myself.
Master cylinder...new if I can find them.
Differentials...new..aftermarket.

Thats all of the "big" things I can think of

ClarenceT

Well, life tought me to buy new for these aluminum master cylinders... It's not the seals that wear, apperantly the bore becomes too big... I'm running a reman alt, but it's my 3rd - the first two quit. So it's a hit and miss sometimes.

My motor came out of a wrecked vette (hence my mystery cam! ooooh!) so i guess that counts as "used" - but for the money it was a pertty decent deal, although with all the oil it's been burning lately, I'm starting to think it wasn't just my leaky injectors that washed the walls....


I guess it's just a function of how much $$ you got for something at the time, versus how badly you need it...

Dougs 90

Great! I just had to put in a reman Master Cylinder as it was all I could get my hands on at the time. But I got a brand new one from a member here for insurance shortly thereafter when I heard the issues about the reman ones. Guess we will see, but please tell me they just start leaking and dont go into catastrophic failure!



Doug

SunCr

I could be wrong, but I always thought there wasn't any new OEM alternators for any GM - everyone is a rebuild. I remember Car & Driver getting stuck with a crapped out alternator in a new C5 and writing that they had to wait until AC Delco could rebuild one - there was no inventory with all the new going for production only. I have had my best luck with the AC Delco rebuild, but I quit counting at a dozen.

I generally try to stay with new and OEM, but there are little things now out of production that makes it difficult to keep it looking the way I did when I bought it: Delco dropped the Green Eye in the battery about 2 years ago, the original oil filter is gone, the a/c Accumulator now has 2 low side fittings instead of one, and the plug wires have a 45 degree boot on the #6 instead of the 90 degree that was OEM for '89.

Dartvader

How about the AC compressor? I could swear earlier in the day, there was a post on this thread by someone who said they put a reman AC compressor on their BMW ten years ago and it was still going strong, but now I can;t fint that thread. Did I just dream that? Maybe my eyes are going bad. (No doubt about that)!

Corvette Kid

Don't worry if it's working well. I'd rather have a known, good used one than a reman, anyday. You've got the new for a back-up. Keep your fluid clean and catastrophic failure is highly unlikely.

Dougs 90

I meant to say reman, not used........

but at least I have a back up and it does seem to be holding up, I did give it a lil bit o exercise the other day!


Doug

mikeb

Most parts I'll buy new, only for the dependability/warranty. The only exception I've made recently is for a AC compressor for my daughter's car ("96 Sunfire). On this unit I purchased a salvage yard unit for $75.00/30 day warranty(got a 2002 Cavilier unit). I purchased the car in Feb. and wasn't sure if there was more problems than just the compressor. (Now that I've replaced the unit and it works good, if it should expire while my daughter still has the car, the replacement unit will be a remanufactured unit)

Comparing prices at Napa and Autozone, Remans were $200.00 and new compressors were $400.00 plus, both units only had 1 year warranties, so I would have used the remanufactured over the new unit because of identical warranties.
My nickel's worth.
Mike