Delco Quality Sucks!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 281
Likes: 4
From: Holbrook MA
Delco Quality Sucks!
The tail light socket was junk on my 77, so I went onto Rock Auto and looked up a replacement...they had a few different manufacturers but I went for AC Delco because it was a name brand and I expected quality. Rock Auto had their usual fast service, but when I opened the box, I found the locking ring had seperated from the rest of the socket. It was obviously poorly glued at the factory. I didn't want to wait for another, so I glued it back together, climbed under the back bumper, and I spliced the new socket in. When I hooked it up, it didn't work. I got out the test light and started checking wiring. I found I had power to the socket, but if the wires were wiggled, the bulb would come on and off. What a waste of time, now I get to do it all over. Crap.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
i just had a rant on the olds website about this very thing.dorman window regulators with no mention of dorman anywhere.on the box with different #'s is the hollander brand.made in china though engraved proudly across the regulator frame.same with the hub/bearing assembly.you pay extra for the big names,timkin,bca,national and get the bearings made in the better part of korea.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,953
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Delco (manufacturing) doesn't actually exist anymore. It's just a marketing name nowadays, put on parts sourced from everywhere in the world.
Delco used to mean something to a lot of us.
Delco used to mean something to a lot of us.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 46
From: Hebron IN
Put a new AC Delco air conditioning hose set on yesterday and it has made in Mexico stamped on it.
Trying to get the loop near the condenser without the hose kinking is next to impossible.
Something tells me it won't last 36 years like the original but on the other hand I'm glad it's available at a reasonable price. Last year I couldn't find an AC Delco replacement and brands on ebay were in the $300 range vs. $96 for this set.
Trying to get the loop near the condenser without the hose kinking is next to impossible.
Something tells me it won't last 36 years like the original but on the other hand I'm glad it's available at a reasonable price. Last year I couldn't find an AC Delco replacement and brands on ebay were in the $300 range vs. $96 for this set.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
GM doesn't manufacture anything anymore. They just 'assemble' stuff they buy from the least expensive source...sort of like the Federal Government. Anyone thinking they are getting American Made products when they purchase something in a box with an "AC" or "Delco" label is deluding themselves.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 46
From: Hebron IN
When we buy a brand new GM vehicle, are these the same parts they're using on the assembly line or is there a higher quality line of AC Delco?
Do we really have items such as harnesses and sockets from China being put on our new cars? Or worse yet things like air bag systems and seat belts?
Do we really have items such as harnesses and sockets from China being put on our new cars? Or worse yet things like air bag systems and seat belts?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
I've done a bit of research on that and the US made percentage on a new domestic car is surprisingly high. Often in the 70-80% range.
Replacement parts, especially when the car is a few years old, are usually farmed out to lowest bidder (China, India, etc).
Replacement parts, especially when the car is a few years old, are usually farmed out to lowest bidder (China, India, etc).
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
I'm a parts guy at a GM dealer. Parts boxes and bags have "Made in" locations from all over the world. As I look up parts there is usually only one choice for model specific items, OEM. However, anything AC Delco makes a 2nd line parts for, I get a choice... GOOD BETTER BEST. BEST is described as OEM/assembly line quality, BETTER is "AC Delco" ,GOOD is AC Delco ADVANTAGE (READ CHINA). Gets confusing for customers as every single thing has AC Delco on the label.
Most times AC Delco is supplied by Raybestos... brakes, suspension etc. I get vendor X reference #'s and they usually go back to Raybestos, TRW, Transbec etc.
I looked up a crated 90's ZR-1 engine for a guy building a home built airplane, the motor was 50 grand and I had to get it direct from the manufacturer, Mercury Marine. He passed on the motor BTW...
Most times AC Delco is supplied by Raybestos... brakes, suspension etc. I get vendor X reference #'s and they usually go back to Raybestos, TRW, Transbec etc.
I looked up a crated 90's ZR-1 engine for a guy building a home built airplane, the motor was 50 grand and I had to get it direct from the manufacturer, Mercury Marine. He passed on the motor BTW...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
What I said was "...from the least expensive source". Sometimes those parts are made in the USA. But, I suspect that most of the detail parts are made on foreign soil. The engines, seats, steering, etc. may be assembled here in the US (so they don't have large item shipping costs), but those sub-contractors to GM likely buy the components for them overseas, as well.
Why do you suppose the US has a 9% unemployment rate? Primarily because the US car companies are buying many (if not most) of their components from overseas. The trickle-down economic benefits from large US mfg. companies procuring from US sub-contractors, and on down the line was a substantial parts of our economy. Much of that is now gone...and won't be back (no matter what 'plan' Mr. Obama/Congress proposes). Someone who has the info should inform us of what percentage of the US 'Gross National Product' (GNP) is associated with auto production now as compared to 10 years ago.
Why do you suppose the US has a 9% unemployment rate? Primarily because the US car companies are buying many (if not most) of their components from overseas. The trickle-down economic benefits from large US mfg. companies procuring from US sub-contractors, and on down the line was a substantial parts of our economy. Much of that is now gone...and won't be back (no matter what 'plan' Mr. Obama/Congress proposes). Someone who has the info should inform us of what percentage of the US 'Gross National Product' (GNP) is associated with auto production now as compared to 10 years ago.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Sep 9, 2011 at 10:59 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,953
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
GM doesn't manufacture anything anymore. They just 'assemble' stuff they buy from the least expensive source...sort of like the Federal Government. Anyone thinking they are getting American Made products when they purchase something in a box with an "AC" or "Delco" label is deluding themselves.
Several years ago GM divested themselves of most of their component manufacturing divisions, which re-formed as an independent corporation (DELPHI: Delco, Packard, Harrison, Inland, et al). The former Delco engineering/manufacturing expertise is now at DELPHI. GM still owns the Delco name, and puts that name on parts sourced worldwide.