Hot Rods Maybe it's not the new guys' fault..................

I was working on a customer's project car today installing the shifter he supplied and while I was trying to make it fit and work correctly (it does neither) , I got to thinking about the Hurst Super Shifter I installed in my '67 Vette back in the 70s - it was a very nice piece, fit right, had nice shift rods, bushings, heavy shift arms, the adjuster fit in tightly and aligned everything correctly - none of which the shifter I'm trying to make work now has. It's one of the big box internet guys overseas copies, and everything about it is crap. Got me thinking about the sad fact that some of the younger (and not so younger) guys might have never had a chance to experience hot rod parts that actually fit their particular application, were high quality, and had some real customer support if there was a problem. Today, when a shift arm made of 5mm plate (not 5/16 or heavier) has 8 slots and holes in it to make it "universal" it just means it doesn't fit anything correctly.
So much of the stuff available today just isn't quality parts, but for a lot of people out there it is what shows up in the catalogs that get sent every month, and they've never actually seen real , well made hot rod parts - and sometimes their vehicles reflect this issue. Maybe it's not really their fault......................

 

Sounds like the old Spark-o-matic universal shifters,I thought they we OK until I used a Hurst shifter,huge difference in quality and operation. HRP

 

The world acceptance of mediocrity, it's predominate in all products, and all trades.
We, as a whole (at least as far as the corporations/manufacturers are concerned) demand the lowest prices.
Quality or low price..you can't have both.

 

Agreed. Unfortunately it is getting where you can't buy quality at ANY price.

 

It's almost as if the conglomerates that buy the old companies, think that they are in it to make money, not good products.

 

Funny....even running a stock Studebaker in the early 70's....I got the same same line - " it's universal" and should fit....so a little work and it did !

 

Manufacturers realized a long time ago, that if you make something that'll only last 5 years or less, you get an instant repeat customer. Sadly, the world has grown to accept this crap. Growing up, between 6 and 16 years old, I only had 2 bicycles. Now a days, parents are buying a new one every year. Because they have to!

 

I feel your pain with the bikes. When I was a kid I had a 20 inch til I was about 11, then a 26 inch I rode until I got my license. I have 5 grandsons and it seems like they go thru bikes like crazy. At least they are getting old enough to use their junk bike parts to cobble up a junker to ride for awhile. Gives them something besides video games to do and saves their mom and dad (and me)a few bucks and teaches them a little wrenching. And yes, most of the new bikes are junk from the China factories!! Maybe I should dig out my old Columbia to show them what a real bike looks like!!

 

The one from our Western Auto Store was called the "Mystery Shifter" that came with stick/ball and boot for $11.95 then turned out to be a Mystery....

 

Don't get me started on offshore replacement parts. I am building a 57 Chevy for a guy and he has over 10K in aftermarket parts and maybe 1 or 2 parts bolted on with no issues.
High quality prices, low quality parts. Broke the little gold front fender louver trim pieces taking them off the cardboard they came on unscrewing the nuts with my fingers. The label said proudly made in the USA. Could barely tighten them with a1/4 inch nut driver. After they sent the second set.

 

I looked at the price of new Hurst shifters a couple of years back... where is the shifter from my '65 Chevy? Dug that out, mouse turds and all, it still shines as a quality piece. Put it on my M20 and it shifts like a dream.

 

There are quality parts out there, but you are correct about the universal fit, offshore bull shit.

 

HRP : That's the exact thought I had as soon as I read the OP's post!

 

EVERY issue that I have had on the Produce Truck has been crappy, brand new parts. I go above and beyond and try and buy the best parts available to improve reliability. It doesn't matter, manufacturers deal in volume. If 2% of folks return their stuff, they win.
Here's another example, your cell phone. You pay $600-800 for something that dies within 2 years. People accept it and move on. If you had a TV or a stove that you had to replace every 2 years, you would be pissed. People are too complacent aand don't push back enough.

Here's a list of things that have been faulty since I built the Produce truck.

1. Alpine Power Amp for stereo-never worked
2. Optima Battery-Lasted 3 months
3. Water Temp sender-lasted 650 miles
4. Key switch-lasted 4 hours
5. Pertronix distributor-2 1/2 minutes
6. Howards Roller lifters-suspect bad -no oiling, can't prove it yet.
7. Bob Drake Ford script gas cap-Leaks like a sieve.

 

The "Universal" cheap Hurst is a pile of crap. It works just barely. Had one in my 54 to get it on the road.

 

Guys, we HAMBers are no different..

Look at how many threads begin with "What's the cheapest...?" or "What's the easiest...?" or complaints about crap products and services after neglecting to research the options.

Yeah, there's a LOT of junk out there, but there's also a thing called the internet that can help filter through at least a little of it.

 

I agree. Most people are frugal by nature, its not like we all have a suitcase full of $100 bills stashed in the closet. Everybody likes a deal. It's when those deals turn sour due to low quality that we get pissed.

 

Yea go figure.

There is an upside to working with inferior parts. it makes for good fabricators. A young guy gets something that is not a pure bolt on and has to tweak it to make it work, next thing you know he has either quit or is beginning to believe that he can make anything work and soon enough he is building things that he never would have attempted if it were not for his first attempt with an inferior part.

Goes both ways I suspect.

 

I agree with Roothawg on his list of new brand name parts that fail. Comp cam lasted 150 miles, cost me a total rebuild. Pertronix ignition, never did work good, Stewart Warner temp gauge (they are now made in Mexico) Junk. Aluminum radiator, had to send it back 3 times before it would fit correctly. Master cylinder had to be replaced because it leaked out the bottom, new one does the same thing but not as bad. and what really is upsetting was the quality of the Sanderson headers. The coating was crap and so were their welds. looks some off shore product. And they weren't cheap in price just quality. I have talked to a few of these company's and all you get is the runaround. I'm sure there are more but I just can't remember them right now.

 

You are right Beamer , and then there are guys like me that didn't have enough money to buy even the cheap crap. I figured the only way I was gonna play was if I made it all myself. Turned out pretty good for me. Glad I couldn't buy everything.

 

A lot of use didn't come from a catalog world I am afraid. we scrounged and used what we could find, what we couldn't find we built. it has done us well hasn't it.

 

Since a couple of guys mentioned bicycles, I'll throw this in quickly, and then get out.
If you're buying your bikes from ANY of the big box stores, you're buying the lowest quality available on planet earth, and they'll be a bigger piece of shit next year, after they figure out a way to squeeze another 2 cents out of it. Why do "they" sell shit that bad, knowing that they will never work? Why? Cause people keep buying them. Oh, and don't fall for the name on the bike.. those names are of companies that haven't existed in years as manufacturers, but exist only to fool you, the consumer.
And yeah, I've owned a bicycle shop for over 40 years, and most shops don't sell worthless shit... but decent stuff costs more. Make your choice.... I'll shut up now, MY post is too OT

 

I always try to follow the old saying , build it dont buy it, however we all have to buy parts. Yes on alot of stuff you have to MAKE it work. Getting quality parts is a gamble. Thanks corporate america, its all about money, and numbers.

 

We used to say that the mystery in the Mystery Shifter was what gear you were in.

 

Without getting too political, I try and buy local.
I know my butcher's name. I pay a little more for meat, but I know it's not coming from a third world country.

My barber, not a stylist, a real barber with 50 year old chairs owns his building and knows his customers. I just walk in and sit down, he starts cutting because he knows what I want.

I try and buy my lumber from a friend who owns his own business.
It' s the little things like customer service that keep me coming back.

I like buying things from Limeworks. I can talk to the folks that made the parts if I have a question.
I'm just getting old and cranky.....now get off my lawn!

 

Quick Quiz...................which one is a real shift arm?

 

Quality parts are out there. They are called used parts. Shifters can go for crazy money on eBay but if a person asks around there are plenty sitting under benches. Same with other parts. Crap off shore brake cylinders? Rebuild old ones. Most parts can be rebuilt and unless you're just writing checks for your build anyone can learn how to rebuild most anything

 

General rule with aftermarket parts- if it bolts on perfectly the first try, take it off as you did something wrong. A lot of people like to blame China and chinese made parts, but the real fault falls on the consumer and the company selling the part. By buying the part, you are accepting the crappy quality. And the company can hold their product to a higher standard (which they can get out of their existing suppliers if they want it), but it will cost more and less parts will sell.

 

Quality bikes are out there, you just pay for them. I'm over $2,000 into my mountain bike and i bought the Santa Cruz Blur LT frame used (600), the fork was a new takeoff (300), i bought a new drivetrain (shimano XT, $600 on sale), Disc brakes (xt, $150 on sale), Wheels ($400), seat + post (220), stem and carbon bars (140 on sale). Tires ($80).

That said, ive thrown myself down pikes peak on that bike 4 times now and its had no issues.. I ride the hell out of it. New that bike would have been $4,000ish.

Call alpine, they do repairs and they are good about it, They will even fix older amps that are out of warranty. I had a PDX 4.100 that went bad 4 years in to its life. They fix their old amps for a flat fee of $85. Just call their repair department.

 

Boy does this topic pick a scab! A whole fucking fender, 33-4 Ford, new, import based on the thickness (.028-.030!). Aside from that, which I have on good authority would cost about $5-10/fender more to produce in .045, the shape n fit are a joke. The running board has a radius of about 1/2-3/4". The fender is almost twice that requiring several hours of mod/fab work just to get acceptable. And being so thin, well I won't bother there. Once done the worry wasn't over. Unless I want to see this car once a year for fender repair from stone dents a set of UHMW plastic fender protectors had to be developed and installed. Brakes, accessories, stereo equipment, shifter, steering column and signal switch. It didn't end and frankly it's not over yet. Not the new guys' fault? Fuck em, I had to learn, had to deserve and earn my craft the hard way. The hard way didn't come from 1-800-street-rod. It came from nothing but ideas and a drive to excell, succeed, better my last one, and all those before it. THAT'S what's gone. Participation awards and focus on self esteem were the start. Yeah, that happened way before it was news but nobody would listen. Part of me returns the advice I got in this fight which was, "Welcome to the aftermarket." but mine is more like "Shove your aftermarket as far up your ass as it'll fit." Maybe some do have themselves to thank for supporting it. My 39 coulda been on the road last year but I pretty much refuse to buy the new junk. Sure, I bought a very small fraction of stuff and felt I could deal with it. Dash knobs, some rubber, odds n ends. Some came with it. Hershey and other swap meets, ebay, HAMB ads n contacts, those were my go-to. The rest is research as recommended above. I've waited to pull the trigger on new gauges. They're made here in Ferndale, like the style, but I really want to hear someone say "...like em just fine..." or "...would buy again..." I can't bitch about the Rebel wire harness and research seemed to indicate that Powergen solved their issues and growing pains. Seems that those who champion the use of the new stuff either don't reveal how much it cost to debug and install or, again as stated above, are clueless as to what a real part, repurposed OEM or vintage aftermarket, is really like. And maybe I need to disclose that over 4 decades of restoration experiences has made me a spoiled bitch when it comes to my expectations of quality. Service? Holy shit, Ryan would likely ban me for that rant! And it's infected the restoration industry like a creeping cancer as well. Thick skin not included...