Air Filters

[Joe L.]

I just received a couple of AC-Delco air filters that I ordered. One is an A1097C which is used for all 1990-96 Corvettes. On the end of the filter is printed "Made in China". Apparently, if one wants a USA-manufactured filter for a 1990-96 Corvette, one can no longer keep their car "all GM".

Another filter I ordered is for another car I have. It's an AC A1614C. It was made in USA. However, the elastomer seal surrounding this panel type filter is bright orange. Looks like a Fram filter in an AC box. They didn't even bother to try to hide the manufacturer by using a different color seal.

None of the above means these filters are bad. Not at all. However, it's just a reminder that things sure are not like the old days.

[Mike E.]

Re: Air Filters

In the future the term NOS will probably become meaningless at least for parts GM sells for cars manufactured in the 1990's and later.

When I bought the replacement clutch for my '01 Z06 it too was an AC Delco part made in China. It works fine...just a little sad.

Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Air Filters

In the future the term NOS will probably become meaningless at least for parts GM sells for cars manufactured in the 1990's and later.

When I bought the replacement clutch for my '01 Z06 it too was an AC Delco part made in China. It works fine...just a little sad.

Mike

Mike,
It already has. Some people just haven't gotten the message.

[Joe L.]

Re: Air Filters

Mike,
It already has. Some people just haven't gotten the message.

Terry------


Well, I'm not so sure about that. However, something interesting is going to happen for future restorers. In the case of C1-C3 Corvettes, no Chinese parts were originally used. For C4, few, if any, Chinese parts were originally used. However, for C5-C7, more-and-more Chinese-sourced parts found their way into the OEM parts content of Corvettes. So, one of these days, C5-C7 restorers are going to be looking for Chinese parts when they look for NOS original parts.

[Terry M.]

Re: Air Filters

Joe,
For guys like you, and some others who have a major parts collection, the term NOS is still appropriate, but for those attempting to gain even a part of such a collection now days that term has no meaning. It is just like "numbers matching." Sure there are folks selling NOS parts, and those searching for them -- but what are the buyers getting? Well you just found out. And increasingly other buyers are finding the same thing.

[Ken A.]

Re: Air Filters

In the future the term NOS will probably become meaningless at least for parts GM sells for cars manufactured in the 1990's and later.

When I bought the replacement clutch for my '01 Z06 it too was an AC Delco part made in China. It works fine...just a little sad.

Mike

GM uses Sachs for their clutch supplier. None of the Corvette clutches are China sourced due to the poor quality of Chinese castings.

[Joe L.]

Re: Air Filters

GM uses Sachs for their clutch supplier. None of the Corvette clutches are China sourced due to the poor quality of Chinese castings.

Ken------


The OEM clutches may be Sachs-sourced. However, AC-Delco has several different "grades" of most parts, from OEM to strictly aftermarket. Many of their aftermarket product lines are China-sourced.

As far as China castings go, China has become a major source for automotive castings from OEM to aftermarket. I expect a lot of this has to do with environmental regulations in the US which heavily impact foundries.

[Don G.]

Re: Air Filters

AC-DELCO is the service parts arm of General Motors and as such their product offerings for GM vehicles as I understand it , must meet GM specifications. However, they do not have manufacturing facilities and with the spin off of Delphi and the consolidation of their manufacturing base, AC-Delco sources products world wide as does General Motors Vehicle operations. In terms of NCRS judging, it appears that the use of our standard deductions where applicable and the CDCIF Matrix judging where standard deductions don't apply should be sufficient. However, it will make authentic restoration more difficult and deductions will increase but the magnitude of the deductions hopefully will not be significant in total. As an example, A GM Restoration part only means it will fit in place of the original part and will perform the function of the original part but needs to be judged to the CDCIF matrix and appropriate deductions made.