Rebuild or buy new?

[bull]

I was just wondering what you guys think, in general, is it better and less expensive to have parts like wiper motors, alternators, starters, etc. restored or just buy new reproduction parts?

[RD]

at least with reproduction parts from autoparts stores you are offered a lifetime warranty.

[Chatt69chgr]

Unless you are wanting to keep the old part for an exact restoration where every little number is meaningful, I would lconsider buying a remanufacturered part or a new part.  Unless you turn the core in locally, it's not economical to ship things like alternators and starter motors back since they weigh too much.  But you have to be real careful what remanufactured part you buy.  There are several levels of quality for these things.  Oftentimes, the local parts place only sells their brand of remanufactured part which usually is a cheap piece of crap.  Oh, they give you a lifetime warranty.  But you end up changing the part out every few months for the rest of your life.  Ain't worth it---believe me.  Now a good reman part done by somebody like ACDelco won't be handled locally.  So you end up having to order from some place like RockAuto or PartsAmerica.  That's OK as long as you make sure the items are not coming from more than one shipping point.  If they are, you get hit with two shipping charges.  Good reman parts are completely disassembled and all wear components replaced and then tested.  Cheap stuff may just be surface cleaned and the bad part replaced-----say like one bad diode in a alternator.  Rest of the stuff is still old.  It may or may not last.  And finally, you can still find places in some towns that rebuild things like alternators and starter motors.  They are a dying breed but usually can rebuild for about the same price as you could order a good reman part for.  Plus, you can discuss with them what they are going to do ahead of time.  Thats my take on this.     

[Shakey]

I was just wondering what you guys think, in general, is it better and less expensive to have parts like wiper motors, alternators, starters, etc. restored or just buy new preoduction parts?

Take your originals to a local fella for rebuilding.  Look in the yellow pages for one of the auto electric guy that has been in business since 1950 something.  They're still around and will have your parts done in no time and will not charge you restoration shop type prices.

As far as the AutoZone and Napa stuff, they give you lifetime warranty on their rebuilt stuff 'cause you'll need it.

[RD]

i worked at an autozone and an oreilly autoparts.  they have lifetime warranty (brand new) hardware available as well as remanufactured components in lifetime, 2 year and 1 year warranty.

you CAN buy BRAND NEW lifetime components at local autoparts stores.  make sure you price comparatively between having something rebuilt and buying brand new... ultimately it is what you will pay that will decided on what you want.

[resq302]

I am sure MoparJohn can agree with me on this.  We both purchased reman'd alternators with new internal parts from Autozone and both have had the alternator start sparking at where the pos. lead goes into it.  John had his wiring fry cause of this also.  I ended up going to a local guy to have mine rebuilt.  Charged about the same as what a reman'd one at one of the auto parts stores would have charged also.

[4aThrill]

I am looking into the same thing that you're doing, finding the best prices compare them and going with that. But since someone said did say something about older people still being around that can restore them for half the price in the yellow pages.  I will look there if I can't find anything I will just go back to my first option. 

[peepsrock]

I am sure MoparJohn can agree with me on this.  We both purchased reman'd alternators with new internal parts from Autozone and both have had the alternator start sparking at where the pos. lead goes into it.  John had his wiring fry cause of this also.  I ended up going to a local guy to have mine rebuilt.  Charged about the same as what a reman'd one at one of the auto parts stores would have charged also.

I'm with you guys on this one.  I also had a new AutoBlown reman go bad this summer, after 400 miles, and fry the fusible link.  Went to a local guy who rebuilds, as recommended by someone in our Mopar club.  Paid a bit more for this, but quality, and peace of mind, is worth it.

[Charger-Bodie]

I was just wondering what you guys think, in general, is it better and less expensive to have parts like wiper motors, alternators, starters, etc. restored or just buy new preoduction parts?

Take your originals to a local fella for rebuilding.  Look in the yellow pages for one of the auto electric guy that has been in business since 1950 something.  They're still around and will have your parts done in no time and will not charge you restoration shop type prices.

As far as the AutoZone and Napa stuff, they give you lifetime warranty on their rebuilt stuff 'cause you'll need it.

I agree with this 100% IF you have a good rebuild place in youre area ...... the parts store ones ussually arent rebuilt they just fix the problem and spray bomb them and send it out. A good shop will rewind , new bearings etc and outlast the others almost every time ......and they are in most cases cheaper too.

[The70RT]

You can buy rebuild kits. They are not to difficult to rebuild. As long as your armarure is still good.

[Nacho-RT74]

I allways rebuild by myself where I'm able to do it. ( that normally I'm able LOL )

[4aThrill]

where is a good place to get rebuild kits at?

[Nacho-RT74]

depending... what specifically you need ?

everything is available around, just wipers stuff is hard to get. just NOS available

[4aThrill]

blower motor w/ac and wiper motor 2 speed is better to buy a new brake booster or just to rebuild it?

[RD]

blower motor w/ac and wiper motor 2 speed is better to buy a new brake booster or just to rebuild it?

you decide?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/ProductDetail.do?id=153845100&line=SMN&itemNumber=PM203&categoryIndex=0&didSearchFor=Blower+Motor&vehicle=1971DODGECHARGERSPECIAL%20EDITIONV8-440%207.2L&bid=1199051629256&cycleCount=711&currentPage=0

w/master cylinder:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/ProductDetail.do?id=1185205935&line=A1&itemNumber=50-3705&categoryIndex=1&didSearchFor=Brake+Booster&vehicle=1971DODGECHARGERSPECIAL%20EDITIONV8-440%207.2L&bid=1199051793559&cycleCount=711&currentPage=0

w/o master cylinder:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/ProductDetail.do?id=1441834066&line=A1&itemNumber=54-73705&categoryIndex=1&didSearchFor=Brake+Booster&vehicle=1971DODGECHARGERSPECIAL%20EDITIONV8-440%207.2L&bid=1199051793559&cycleCount=711&currentPage=0

blower motor has a 1 year warranty, brake boosters have a lifetime warranty

[Nacho-RT74]

be sure what exactly you need to rebuild wiper motor... some fail ? it could be a piece outside the motor itself, like parking cam stuff. Now if gears and shaft they are available around. Easy to rebuild just need to cut the original rivets

Blower, never have seen a rebuilt kit, but if just bushings, they are available at hardware stores. same as brushes. I never have seen an armature or external coil damaged.

[4aThrill]

the blower was drawing power from the battery even when the car was off either it had a short or the harness was miss wired somewhere.

[Chatt69chgr]

I looked into blower motors and never found anyone locally that would touch it.  Now they would rebuild alternators and starters all day long.  So you may not have any choice on the blower motor.  There again, I would buy this from someone like NAPA.  They sell a higher quality line and is where most of the professional shops go to get replacement parts (unless they get it at the dealer).  Professionals can't afford to have a customer coming back in two or three months later with the same problem that they paid good money to have fixed.  Not if they want to stay in business.  On the blower motor, your biggest problem may be finding one that matches the one you have.

[4aThrill]

RD thankx for the links I never heard of Oreilly Auto, more of a west coast guy here. moved here about a year ago for the military. but thankx for all the info will be looking more into rebuilding then buying new stuff, got plenty of time to look into it. Car is in the body shop went by there a few days ago to verify the paint color on some parts. looking sweet, finally seeing some progress happening.   

[bull]

I think some of the rebuilt stuff has gotten better. I remember back in like '86 the starter in my '70 Charger went out and so I pulled it (no small feat) and took it down to Napa for a core trade in on a rebuilt one. The one I got back from them never worked at all (of course I found this out after burning 2 hrs. installing it) so I took it back for another one. That one lasted about two days/ten or so starts, so I had to repeat the process all over again. The third time was a charm but jeez, I was getting pretty irritated. It's 21 years later now and I remember that frustration quite vividly.

[1969chargerrtse]

blower motor w/ac and wiper motor 2 speed is better to buy a new brake booster or just to rebuild it?

Boosterdewey or deweybooster, on the net will rebuild the booster, for a fair price.  I popped the spring off my rod in the booster and was upset that I did that.  I called him to get a price and he told me don't worry about it, it's overkill.  Once the booster and MC are back together you don't need the spring.  His honesty saved me money and stress.