Someday the "Walmart (cheap, but good enough") crowd will reap the whirlwind, after all quality producers have been driven out of business.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

MAN, do I SECOND that motion!!!!!!!!!!

-Gary Burnette-

Mahle is a German based global company that has absorbed companies world wide. Their history closely parallels Rockwell which later became Arvin Meritor in the US. They supply a lot of OEM. Whether that is good or bad can lead to endless discussion. However, my first choice is to find NOS on eBay. Part of my enjoyment of tinkering with my old jalopies is installing the same parts I used 50 years ago. My last choice would be offshore parts with a name I have never heard of or no name at all.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Cereal is on to an important point. Valves are not an area of an engine to go cheap on. Years ago my buddy's 292 dropped a valve at 55 mph. It may have been over revved previously, but in any case it cracked the piston, bent the rod, damaged the combustion chamber & snapped the crank at the journal... Not an occurrence you want to contemplate!

Paul

You wonder where all this comes from- I did a search for valves and found over 900 suppliers in China that export this stuff by bulk. Intake and exhaust valves are $1- $2 each and connecting rods are $2-$5 each. You send them the specs of what you want and they build it. I even found one that manufactures Caterpillar engine blocks!

Ol'ford nutCentral Iowa

56 Vic w/292 & 4 spd.

I just got a good deal on Ebay I think.Bought 8 NOS Elgin intake valves made in the USA for $26.95 and 6 NOS Sealed Power exhaust valves  made in the USA for $26.95.Still looking for 2 more exhaust valves but I am sure I can find them as well.I bought the bigger intake valves but the seller has another set of the smaller intakes for the same price.I feel more confident buying these valves than the new ones made overseas. Item # on the standard size intakes is 370262353170 if anyone is looking for a set.He also has other NOS aftermarket valves listed.

  

Gary, its sure an interesting topic and sooner rather than later there will be no more quality parts available from local dealers, Being in the automotive repair trade for over 30 yrs, i often recount the days when a customer remarked about quality parts to be fitted to his car, a local Holden (GM) and i would show him the TRW brand ball joint boxes lined up on shelf, all with same P/No but clearly labled, Made in" argentina, china, japan, taiwan, mexico, australia! and that was 23 years ago. Thats why old NOS parts are allways dearer. Best regards. bill. 

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

When I buy a part from napa they try to find the part made somewhere besides China because I have had problems with bearings etc made in China ( They don't last long ). Knowing I like higher quality and will pay more for a better product they can usually find the same part sometimes referred to as an upgrade made in Isral, USA, Japan, Mexico or Canada. Yes I do ask for parts made in USA first and soforth and so far I've been lucky. Now when it comes too electronics all bets are off.

-Gary Burnette-

Take a closer look at the Napa packaging.



It's everywhere, home supply stores, retail stores like sears, electronics stores. Even the name brand stuff. All made in China. We are in a bad position. We are far too reliant on other countries for the things we use everyday. Just think what will happen if China is to cut us off tomorrow. We will be up ship creek without a boat or the means to build one. We have the know how but what good is it if the machines (which are likely acquired off shore), factories, and all other logistical devices are not in place. They will not build themselves overnight.



That's enough from me. Y'all can tell I don't like the whole deal.


Lawrenceville, GA