cheap ebay solid lifters
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,389
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From: Portlandia
well i was in a shitty mood when i wrote that. I have seen you post that same saying in several threads about ebay parts and took a cheap shot at you and I apologize for that.
but i do disagree that "cheap parts are too expensive." that saying may sound like wisdom but it's what is called a false premise. it may have a truth value ( some cheap parts may break and cost a lot in damages) but it does not mean it it is valid logically ( all cheap parts will break and cost a lot in damages) yes, cost can correlate to quality (and usually does) but not all jobs require the highest possible quality.
my point is simply parts are just parts. some are higher quality than others. usually higher quality equates to higher cost. but if a part is of adequate quality for the job, and available at a reduced cost then wouldnt that be the correct selection?
but i do disagree that "cheap parts are too expensive." that saying may sound like wisdom but it's what is called a false premise. it may have a truth value ( some cheap parts may break and cost a lot in damages) but it does not mean it it is valid logically ( all cheap parts will break and cost a lot in damages) yes, cost can correlate to quality (and usually does) but not all jobs require the highest possible quality.
my point is simply parts are just parts. some are higher quality than others. usually higher quality equates to higher cost. but if a part is of adequate quality for the job, and available at a reduced cost then wouldnt that be the correct selection?
But I wouldn't skimp and buy ebay lifters. Certain things are okay... like headers, radiators, intercoolers, or even copycat BOVs and the like. They seem to do okay for the price. When you start moving to internal engine components that rely on precision, it becomes an issue.
Caveat Emptor. As the buyer, you have to weigh the level of precision vs good enough for each part you spend your hard earned money on.
Even quality parts will fail sometimes, for a variety of reasons. I can't tell you how many ARP fasteners I've used over the decades; hundred, certainly. Maybe even thousands. One of them failed during installation. If I had been using cheap Chinese knock offs all these years, I suspect the results would have been a lot worse.
And your failure was more of an error on ARP's part for providing an errant torque rating during install. So the manufacturing may not have been defective, but the instructions were. That's also part of the quality assurance process.
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See my quote above. The cheaper eBay parts are not going to have the same machining tolerances or level of precision that some of the more top dollar parts will have. But that's not to say the top dollar parts also don't have issues with this. And that's the point. Precision and quality within a manufacturing environment costs more money, period. And then it is passed on to the customer.
Caveat Emptor. As the buyer, you have to weigh the level of precision vs good enough for each part you spend your hard earned money on.
Caveat Emptor. As the buyer, you have to weigh the level of precision vs good enough for each part you spend your hard earned money on.
I've seen huge tolerances.
I can't speak to metallurgy. But you can use a Geiger counter and pick up a bunch of radioactive **** in the overseas "alloys."
But the heat treating process is usually a joke. Or if it's done well, it's usually not very deep.
I can't speak to metallurgy. But you can use a Geiger counter and pick up a bunch of radioactive **** in the overseas "alloys."
But the heat treating process is usually a joke. Or if it's done well, it's usually not very deep.
Cheap relates more to the quality than the cost, IMO. If you can get a quality component for a good deal... Bonus! You don't need the fanciest gold plated racing parts for your DD. But cheap Chinese knock off parts have no place in my garage, ever. For example, nothing in my garage is labeled "Pro-Form".
Even quality parts will fail sometimes, for a variety of reasons. I can't tell you how many ARP fasteners I've used over the decades; hundred, certainly. Maybe even thousands. One of them failed during installation. If I had been using cheap Chinese knock offs all these years, I suspect the results would have been a lot worse.
Even quality parts will fail sometimes, for a variety of reasons. I can't tell you how many ARP fasteners I've used over the decades; hundred, certainly. Maybe even thousands. One of them failed during installation. If I had been using cheap Chinese knock offs all these years, I suspect the results would have been a lot worse.
I would add off shore quality control and manufacturing can be very good however many importers likewise many Ebay Parts providers are only willing to pay for the lowest cost and lowest quality parts. That maximizes their profit and keeps their costs and risk down.
When is a no name part and mission critical I'm not willing to put that into a motor.
Factory GM brand Delphi LS7 lifters make me nervous - never mind eBay generic lifters.
I bet there are people that would run eBay generic lifters over Black Mamba' lifters even if the Black Mamba's only cost a $1 more each.
Same thing with tools. You don't want to be on a late night thrash and break an important tool that you saved a few bux on. Now you have to spend more money and - more importantly - more time. I can always make more money. I can never make more time.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,389
Likes: 558
From: Portlandia
you got a printing press?
where i'm from it takes time to make money. But I get you.
Money. thats what it boils down to in the end. If you got the means, there's no reason not to.
I could afford black mumbo jumbos and all that **** but I choose to try other tactics than hitting every problem with the money hammer until it works.
And yeah I been burnt pretty good on some proform stuff--- the roller rockers come to mind---damaged a fresh SBC 400 pretty badly.
where i'm from it takes time to make money. But I get you.
Money. thats what it boils down to in the end. If you got the means, there's no reason not to.
I could afford black mumbo jumbos and all that **** but I choose to try other tactics than hitting every problem with the money hammer until it works.
And yeah I been burnt pretty good on some proform stuff--- the roller rockers come to mind---damaged a fresh SBC 400 pretty badly.
I do not think anyone is saying buy the black mambas or nothing. I just posted a nice morel set a few posts up for less than 400. So...why buy unknown ebay when you can get those...and use the adjustable comp rockers kcs linked to on our site...you arent spending 2k for lifters and rockers.
That's exactly right. There's dropping wads of cash for the gold plated racing parts. There's smart shopping for the quality parts that you really need. And then there's taking a chance on cheap no-name stuff that may or may not get you past the finish line.
For example, I'm currently racing an LS1 from a 2001 Trans Am. I could have gone the high dollar route and spent $10K. But I didn't. I used a lot of stock GM parts. Not the cheapest parts available. But strong enough (I hope) for what I want to do. Made it through the first season with flying colors. We'll see how this season goes.
For example, I'm currently racing an LS1 from a 2001 Trans Am. I could have gone the high dollar route and spent $10K. But I didn't. I used a lot of stock GM parts. Not the cheapest parts available. But strong enough (I hope) for what I want to do. Made it through the first season with flying colors. We'll see how this season goes.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,389
Likes: 558
From: Portlandia
I do not think anyone is saying buy the black mambas or nothing. I just posted a nice morel set a few posts up for less than 400. So...why buy unknown ebay when you can get those...and use the adjustable comp rockers kcs linked to on our site...you arent spending 2k for lifters and rockers.
the original intent was to find out more about the ebay lifters, like if anyone had any experience with them.
I'm guessing if anyone here did, they are too ashamed to admit it
