Parts from DeLo vendors vs. parts houses (Re: [DML] Re: thermostat)

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

Sometimes DeLorean specific vendors will surprise you with price -- a
complete set of Rob Grady's fuel injector seals costs about the same
as one single seal at a parts house.

Some parts should only be purchased from DeLorean vendors (door struts
come to mind). If the part is specific to little silver cars only, or
if risk of damage from generic failure is too great, price is
definitely secondary concern.

Disposable parts -- light bulbs, spark plugs, etc -- make most sense
to purchase from cheapest source available (for brand of part you want).

Sometimes it helps to see part in person before you buy. This was
situation with my valve cover gaskets -- already leery of "paper"
gaskets advertised by DeLo vendors, jumped at opportunity to buy
FelPro's rubber version from a parts house.

If junk yards had DeLoreans, some parts would come from there (usually
body and interior). We do have eBay, parts listings on DMCNEWS, and
swaps, which are kind of similar.

Sooner or later you will engineer a part or installation uniquely your
own. Materials will come from scrap and bolt bins, totally different
applications (household, office supply, etc), or goodness only knows
where. Stretched out spring to reinforce fuel tank pickup hose is a
good example (it's pretty common now, but SOMEBODY thought of it
first...).

And yes, we should all purposefully buy parts from DeLo vendors now
and then simply to support them. Not only is it in our long term best
interest to keep them in business, but these guys often dispense
information free of charge. 

Is no single source of parts for an old car.

Bill Robertson (feeling those Percocets now -- time for bed...)
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dan RC30" <danrc30@xxxx> wrote:
> Why would you take the time to search different places for such a cheap 
> part? You can get it for $18.50 at PJ Grady, and you know it's the
right 
> part. You know you're not going to overheat your engine with the
part being 
> correct. Is it worth taking tons of time out of your schedule to
"possibly" 
> save a few dollars? I understand looking for items that are a lot more 
> costly at your local store, but really... Remember, if you don't buy
your 
> parts from a DeLorean vendor, they may not be around when you need a 
> DeLorean specific part.
> 
> The part number is 102709G and they'll ship it right to your door.
You may 
> not know this but, not all thermostats are created equal. There are
cheaper, 
> less reliable thermostats out there. Saving a few dollars could cost
you 
> thousands in this case if your engine overheats. The thermostat from PJ 
> Grady is the best I've ever used. It's been working flawlessly for
me for 
> years.
> 
> ---Dan
> 
> 
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 19:26:51 -0000
> From: "cdmcali" <cdmcali@xxxx>
> Subject: thermostat
> 
> Does anyone know of a thermostat cross reference. that you can buy at
> any auto parts store?