Hi all,
My current TR4 ground-up rebuild project has given me several opportunities to compare parts from different vendors side-by-side. One reason I've had this opportunity is accidental duplicate ordering on my part (Oops!).
I've noticed some items sourced from TRF are often simply better.
Take, for example, silly little things like the six bolt locking plates for the rear axle/hub/brake backing plate. TRF-sourced items are nice & shiney, zinc plated (I'm guessing) and labeled "Made in England". The parts from one of the other big vendors arrived pre-rusted, no plating, no origin label, but are perfectly serviceable. Hmmm. Perhaps the rust is for authenticity's sake?
Although an awful lot of metal cast and machined items seem to now be made in India, or Taiwan, country of origin appears to only be part of the story. I've just installed a new top radiator hose, the one with the "accordian" pleats, that's a wimpy, pitiful and ugly imitation of the old original I had handy to compare. "Made in England" was smeared/painted on that new hose in big yellow letters as if it were a matter of national pride, but a rag dampened with a little lacquer thinner wiped took that right off.
In my experience, It seems generally true that TRF tries pretty hard to live up to their claims of making an effort to source better quality. I use them a lot for that reason. Eventually I'll be ordering a new top rad hose from them, too! (Not sure which of the other vendors the skinny, ugly one came from.)
I have had all vendors send me incorrect parts. All have made it right with no hassle other than the additional wait for the correct item to arrive.
But, sometimes I'm stuck when a part sits around for a while and I don't know it's wrong until long after ordered and received. Example, I got an oil cooler kit from Moss that had; a. the incorrect spin-on adapter and b. one S/S braided hose far too short to be of any use (or the other far too long, depending upon cooler mounting location). I am sure they would have "made it right" if I'd discovered the problem promptly and contacted them. But I've had the kit on the shelf awaiting installation since 1999 and doubt I could even find the invoice! Who knows, they might still make it right, if I asked. But, after all this time I won't. As it was, I ended up using a different adapter anyway, that has a built-in thermostat.
It will probably surprise no one here if I say that TRF's biggest problem is backorders. They are killing me with em right now! Two recent orders have been over 50% and 80% backordered (in terms of monetary value) including items they show "in stock" on their website that they actually haven't had in years and they won't even try to predict when they might.
I even inquired when ordering recently via phone and was assured an important item was in stock. But the order arrived 6 days later with that item backordered (so I have half an exhaust system installed).
Another thing is that TRF seems to offer fewer "performance" items than some of the other big vendors. But, Moss and VB offer a pretty thin selection of these, too.
Thankfully there are a few smaller U.S. vendors trying to fill the gap, but I envy those of you in G.B. who have access to several very good, innovative "improvement" shops!
Sure, I can order from those shops in England, too. Have done so in the past and will do so in the future. But the cost is really prohibitive due to currently unfavorable exchange rate, highly expensive shipping, plus import duties on top of it all. (At least I don't get levied with your VAT!)
One other nit I'd like to pick is that VB and Moss found it necessary to create their own parts numbering systems, and two different ones at that! This makes it next to impossible to tell in advance if an item is correct per the factory parts catalog, has been superceded, to compare items between vendors, or is just someone's best guess as to what will fit and work.
For example, I was seeking a replacement hand brake lever (at the backing plate/slave cyl.) for a TR4. TRF lists it as NLA. VB and Moss list it as NA, but Moss at least gives me a part number that allows me to cross reference that the TR6 uses the same item and it *is* available. However, I can't be certain it's the right part unless I order it and compare it side by side. IMHO, if everyone used the original factory part numbers, like TRF does, it would make all our lives a lot easier! Of course, that would also make it easier for us to shop around, maybe even use one vendor's catalog to order from another! (As if we don't already!)
At least Moss lists "NA" items in their catalog or on their website, unlike VB who just doesn't number unavailable items at all.
Speaking of websites, Moss's is very good.
It's true, the competition between vendors has undoubtedly helped keep prices down. But it's also sometimes forced them to source from places with little or no quality control. Sometimes that's a problem, sometimes not! (There's no excuse for a camshaft that wears itself out in 20K miles!) I've got a number of old catalogs covering a variety of TRs and MGs, that I keep for reference and it's interesting to compare the prices of, say, drilled brake rotors. $240 a pair in 1999, $130 six years later.
Overall, we're very lucky to have reasonably eas access to parts for our old cars. Prices are generally not bad (compare 1980 Honda motorcycle parts, sometime!), a surprising array of items are available considering the age of our cars, and customer service ranges from pretty good to excellent.
The Internet has really helped improve access and availability, although many vendors are a little slow taking advantage, or maybe a bit timid about putting all their wares and prices out there for their competitors to see (which also limits what potential customers see!)
It's a brave new world.
Cheers!
Alan
Hey there Guest!
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