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MG MG Y Type - Remanufactured parts quality.

I have respect for the retailer, so will take this up with them privately - but here again is what we're up against if we hope for some sort of minimum standard in repro parts manufacture:
YA rear bonnet hinge support - original is chrome-on-brass, with holes 1 3/4" centre to centre, matching the captive nuts in the bodywork. The shiny new diecast reproduction, not cheap at 35 Pounds ex. GST, has holes 1 5/8" centre to centre - I can't elongate the holes because there would be no metal (or strength) left. The overall dimensions of the new part do not match the original (see pics) - so both appearance and function are compromised.
Do retailers hold suppliers to account to make sure that a so-called replacement part actually matches the form and the function of the original? We mostly order parts based on a photo, so cannot "look and feel" before we buy.
I have a repairable original for this particular piece - but in this part of the world, rechroming is hideously expensive.
Words like disappointing and frustrating spring to mind.
Just sayin' ........... I still love my hobby!
John.


J P Hall

... another angle.

J P Hall

It's a common problem John. I have seen so much of this that I prefer to refurbish original parts, if possible, as I find the quality so much better. A bonus is that the patina is more in keeping if it is not overdone. I think what is maybe happening is that even the aftermarket parts available at the time when the vehicle was in production, or soon after, were controlled by the same quality control as the original parts. This maybe because they were actually produced in the same factories, or on the same line, as the originals, or because there were still so many cars on the road that poor quality soon got them a bad reputation. Now so long after they were current these checvks do not operate any more. A particular problem occurs with electrical pats where modern vehicles do not even use technology like distributors any more. A particular bugbeat of mine is when the "new" part is produced with modern, metric, threads leading to problems down the road if we forget whete we have used the foreign nuts or bolts or even immediately if no metric nut is supplied for the incorrect metric shaft thread they have used and a damaged thread occurred when tying to fit the correct BSF thread. Yes i did that so beware modern reproduction water pumps! Unfortunately not all parts can be resurrected but remarkably many can.

Regards
Ian
ian thomson

I agree,

I was amazed when I bought a pair of re-pro knockoffs from a friend. They were unused and looked perfect. I started to hammer them on to my TC with my copper hammer and the knockoff ears developed a different pattern with each hammer blow, well before they were tight! I have been hammering the originals on and off TIGHTLY for over fifty years and they have not distorted at all. The two which were perfect in 1965 are still perfect. The two which had been slightly damaged by a PO using a steel hammer, have no added damage. Unfortunately I do not know the source of my re-pro knockoffs or I would make a suggestion to them and send them a photo of a perfect, well-used, un-marked original.

Re-pro parts worry me particularly where safety is an issue.

Bob
R L Schapel

Hey John & all, I recently purchased that part, the rear bonnet support, for my YT. It came from NTG services. They have replaced the original rubber inside with nylon. The hole in the nylon was too small for the bonnet rod. It was easily reamed out and the part seems to work and look fine. Cheers, Tom
Thomas McNamara

The repro. knock offs are a good case in point Bob. They are made of bronze, whereas the originals were steel. The steel will take the hammer (pun intended) but the bronze will not. I try to find originals and refurbish them as a result.

Ian
ian thomson

This thread was discussed between 08/04/2019 and 30/04/2019

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