Mark Hofmann wrote to Roy Witt:   
      
      
    RW>> I'd trust it if it was a NIB genuine GM fuel pump. There are others   
    RW>> online   
    RW>> for a mere $62 and change which I'd question the origin of and the   
    RW>> 'rebuilder' origin if that cheap one is a rebuilt pump.   
      
    MH> Speaking from experience in dealing with cheap parts, go with the   
    MH> more expensive trusted part.   
      
   I wouldn't go that far...like an engineer told me once; when they receive   
   bids for work from vendors, they throw out the lowest and the highest bid,   
   then consider all of those inbetween.   
      
   I always look for a bargain when it comes to buying parts, but almost   
   always reject anything made in China. It used to be that way with Japanese   
   parts some 40+ years ago, but they have come a long way since. Even they   
   don't buy Chinese parts, but have their's made in South Korea, where labor   
   is cheap and Japanese quality requirements is followed.   
      
    MH>   Especially when the work involved to replace the part is extensive.   
      
   I had replaced the starter in my 72 Chevy Cheyenne with rebuilt starters   
   from a local parts store. They lasted about a year and then failed. The   
   starter was cheap enough to buy, but the labor to replace it was mine and   
   I don't like to do any more than I have to.   
      
    MH> I was burned by "Made In China" wheel bearings that I installed in my   
    MH> Monte Carlo years ago.  They lasted just a month or so over (1) year   
    MH> before falling apart.   
      
   That's about right. 8^)   
      
    MH> After re-replacing them, went with a "Made In USA" Timken bearing,   
    MH> and been going strong for 3+ years and counting.   
      
   You could have used a Japanese bearing and had the same quality, but less   
   cost. I used to rebuild IBM hard drives (12" discs) and used a Japanese   
   bearing in place of the original. They were just as good. The bearings   
   that IBM used had to be bought in matched pairs and cost an arm and a leg.   
   I used non-matched bearings and had no complaints.   
      
   In fact, this was for the outfit where I aquired 'Bertha' an old milling   
   machine that came in handy for machining automotive heads as well as the   
   deep sea sonar heads I made for a local company in San Diego.   
      
    MH> Costs about $40 more than made in China garbage, but that is a small   
    MH> price when you consider it takes hours each time to replace.   
      
   Buying American is good practice, but good American is sometimes hard to   
   come by. I always try to buy American, but there are things that just   
   aren't made here anymore.   
      
      
            R\%/itt   
      
      
   --- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012   
   --- D'Bridge 3.92   
    * Origin: Bow Tie Racers, Been There, Done That! (1:387/22)