NOS parts question

[Joe L.]

Re: NOS parts question

A parts counter man who I learned a lot from (now deceased) told me, when I was buying chrome for my 1970 (about 1973), that he understood that the chrome parts that were not accepted for the line in St Louis were put into SPO. I can't prove the truth of that statement, but from a business point of view it makes perfect sense. It also supports my experience in trying to get good chrome through Chevrolet parts channels. Of course this supports Jim Durham's statement as well.

BTW: You think we have a hard time. I bought a bunch of NOS chrome for a 1950 Buick I once owned. The Korean War was going on at that time and any chrome at all was good chrome.

Terry-----


I've heard that same thing, too, but I think it's all based on supposition. Most of these sort of parts were manufactured by outside suppliers. If the parts didn't meet GM standards for PRODUCTION, I think they would have just been rejected and returned to the supplier for credit. GM probably even made the supplier pay the return freight. I believe that GMSPO was simply a customer for the suppliers just like the assembly plants were customers for the suppliers. Parts sold through GMSPO are supposed to be OEM. OEM means the same quality as used in PRODUCTION.

[Andrew N.]

Re: NOS parts question

Thanks for all the reply's, you're all a wealth of good information. I started on the corvette forum and they recommended joining up over here. I admit that most of my experience prior to this car was working on motorcycles and if I needed a part I just went to the shop and got it the same day. I have catalogs from a couple of the corvette repro companies that are helpful but I know a lot of the value is derived from originality. Great explanation of NOS, I will be spending more time looking at restored original parts when available. Thanks!

[Bob J.]

Re: NOS parts question

A parts counter man who I learned a lot from (now deceased) told me, when I was buying chrome for my 1970 (about 1973), that he understood that the chrome parts that were not accepted for the line in St Louis were put into SPO. I can't prove the truth of that statement, but from a business point of view it makes perfect sense. It also supports my experience in trying to get good chrome through Chevrolet parts channels. Of course this supports Jim Durham's statement as well.

BTW: You think we have a hard time. I bought a bunch of NOS chrome for a 1950 Buick I once owned. The Korean War was going on at that time and any chrome at all was good chrome.

Terry, I agree.
I worked in a Chevy dealer in the late 60s and early 70s and heard the exact same thing coming from the GM parts rep.
I also heard the same is true of tires.
The ones that fail OEM standars are sold through the aftermarket chain. Bob J

[Philip P.]

Re: NOS parts question

I'll bet some where in the archives John Hinkley has answered this but I can not find it.
Phil

[Kenneth B.]

Re: NOS parts question

Terry-----


I've heard that same thing, too, but I think it's all based on supposition. Most of these sort of parts were manufactured by outside suppliers. If the parts didn't meet GM standards for PRODUCTION, I think they would have just been rejected and returned to the supplier for credit. GM probably even made the supplier pay the return freight. I believe that GMSPO was simply a customer for the suppliers just like the assembly plants were customers for the suppliers. Parts sold through GMSPO are supposed to be OEM. OEM means the same quality as used in PRODUCTION.

I agree with you. I am not suer about in the 60'S but 70'S on up If a few parts were rejected by the factory they ether sent the whole batch back or the vendor sent people to sort the bad pieces out & replace at there own expense. I am sure that the only place that shipped defective parts were put was up the vender's A** not as service parts.

[Joe L.]

Re: NOS parts question

I agree with you. I am not suer about in the 60'S but 70'S on up If a few parts were rejected by the factory they ether sent the whole batch back or the vendor sent people to sort the bad pieces out & replace at there own expense. I am sure that the only place that shipped defective parts were put was up the vender's A** not as service parts.

Ken-----


It's very possible that off-spec/GM-rejected parts, even those actually manufactured by GM divisions, were sold into aftermarket channels. In the aftermarket world price usually trumps quality. This is because the aftermarket is a highly price-competitive environment. The OEM parts world is different. It's not nearly as price-competitive, especially in the period we're talking about.

[John H.]

Re: NOS parts question

I'll bet some where in the archives John Hinkley has answered this but I can not find it.
Phil

Phil -

Those who have contributed to this thread have covered the subject very nicely
. This subject can become very complex when you start defining NOS vs. NORS vs. production-line vs. later AC-Delco vs. the various other iterations. What it boils down to is that you need to know exactly what you're looking for; if you don't, there are plenty of sellers out there who can bedazzle you with BS.

[Patrick H.]

Re: NOS parts question

BTW: You think we have a hard time. I bought a bunch of NOS chrome for a 1950 Buick I once owned. The Korean War was going on at that time and any chrome at all was good chrome.

You sure you don't mean Vietnam?
I know you're older than me but I didn't think you were buying much chrome around age 10.

[Terry M.]

Re: NOS parts question

You sure you don't mean Vietnam?
I know you're older than me but I didn't think you were buying much chrome around age 10.

Patrick,
I didn't mean to imply that I bought the chrome in 1950 -- the car was new then and I didn't own it new. The NOS items were made about that time, based on the dates on the boxes. I bought those parts in the late 1960s.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: NOS parts question

Ken-----


It's very possible that off-spec/GM-rejected parts, even those actually manufactured by GM divisions, were sold into aftermarket channels. In the aftermarket world price usually trumps quality. This is because the aftermarket is a highly price-competitive environment. The OEM parts world is different. It's not nearly as price-competitive, especially in the period we're talking about.

I believe GM was VERY careful about parts with there name on them. I would hate to be a vendor selling GM parts that were rejected by GM to other people. There would be a big lawsuit. I am not saying it never happened but I don't think there was much. Remember the big stink GM put up when guys started making parts after GM quit. Also I was talking about parts that were sold over the counter a GM dealers.

[Joe L.]

Re: NOS parts question

I believe GM was VERY careful about parts with there name on them. I would hate to be a vendor selling GM parts that were rejected by GM to other people. There would be a big lawsuit. I am not saying it never happened but I don't think there was much. Remember the big stink GM put up when guys started making parts after GM quit. Also I was talking about parts that were sold over the counter a GM dealers.

Ken-----

The vast majority of GM parts don't have a "brand" or, even, a part number on them. These sort of parts could be easily sold under other brands. I've even seen Delco-Remy branded electrical parts in boxes with other aftermarket brand names on them.

[John S.]

Re: NOS parts question

when it comes to buying delco parts for a C1 always look for the parts that were manufactured in the 50s. the all orange box with the black stripe will give you the best chance at getting an identical part.

[Patrick H.]

Re: NOS parts question

Patrick,
I didn't mean to imply that I bought the chrome in 1950 -- the car was new then and I didn't own it new. The NOS items were made about that time, based on the dates on the boxes. I bought those parts in the late 1960s.

Gotcha. That makes far more sense.