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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Okay I'm putting this here since so many of our trucks are running the LS based motors. Moderators move it if you must.
So Three weeks ago I decide to change out the Idler arm pulleys (yes that means two) on the '06 Trailblazer SS with the ever so wonderful LS2 (55k mile). So I call up GM and they want 77.00 for the upper and 66.00 for the lower. Well that just seems to darn much for a couple of tensioners. So I head down to the local parts store (I won't name the store, but it sounds a lot like AutoPhone ![]() The moral of the story is: as we all know, you get what you pay for. And yes, Chevy has the two pulleys on hold for me now. I called them while waiting for the tow truck. I hope you can all get a little chuckle out of this, as well as a good lesson. Shawn
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CASA GRANDE AZ
Posts: 4,276
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Man sorry to hear that was your daughter waiting all that time at school
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70 SWB STEPSIDE 70 BLAZER 09 challenger |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
No. Fortunately I was able to call my wife to go get her and wait for me until I got home.
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 11,375
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Cheaper is not always better!!!!!
been there victim of cheap crap....
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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild |
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#5 |
Active Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: sa tx
Posts: 851
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
I like the Trailblazer SS with the LS2. Sorry to hear that about your parts, but true you get what you pay for. I usually try and buy American made, I still believe in USA parts, is the Chevy part made in USA?
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1972 K5 Blazer ALL ORIGINAL paint & engine, A/C, Tilt, 4sp, AM/FM, Tow Hooks, Aux Battery Tray, Tach, Vacuum 2004 FORD FX4 SuperCrew 2005 CTS-V 12 sec family car ![]() 2008 Buick Enclave AWD, Nav, & DVD, Wife LOVES it! |
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: tulsa OK
Posts: 3,070
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
were they life time warrenties??
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bartonville IL
Posts: 415
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
The problem was you were driving a new truck and not an old one that you can get cheap parts for and not have problems with
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Terrell, TX
Posts: 1,967
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
I hear your pain and have felt it before and you are correct. There are times when I want to save money, then I think of the times it has bitten me in the butt. Better to buy once and pay a bit more than to buy twice.
Thanks for posting this one...makes me feel a bit better for buying the better parts up front....I didn't always do that.
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Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
As a matter of fact, the GM part is made in Canada!
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#10 |
Active Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: sa tx
Posts: 851
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Close atleast not China
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1972 K5 Blazer ALL ORIGINAL paint & engine, A/C, Tilt, 4sp, AM/FM, Tow Hooks, Aux Battery Tray, Tach, Vacuum 2004 FORD FX4 SuperCrew 2005 CTS-V 12 sec family car ![]() 2008 Buick Enclave AWD, Nav, & DVD, Wife LOVES it! |
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#11 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
I understand the reason for the tensioner... and deep down, I know it is better.
But, with that being said.. what happened to the good 'ole days, when the 8 year old kid got to lean on the flat head screwdriver that was being used as a pry bar on the Alt to get the correct tension on the fan belt, as dad tightened the bolt with a 9/16ths wrench? |
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#12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Blountville, Tn.
Posts: 3,904
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
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*We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. * You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff! |
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#13 |
Resident of Here
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA
Posts: 7,716
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Man, that sucks. Guess that means us guys on budgets will have to read more and more reviews!
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~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list ![]() Miss having a truck ![]() |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Freedom CA
Posts: 488
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
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68 Chevrolet k20 Longbed 350 SM465/205, Dana 44, 14bolt, Power steering, Power Disk Brakes, 35" BFGs. 84 Chevrolet Suburban K20 6.2 Banks turbo TH400/NP208 Now with G80 68 GMC C20 Parts? Truck And a few cars ![]() |
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#15 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
It`s because of flat serpentene belts as opposed to v-groove that tensioners are necessary(I`m syre you guys know).I do miss the days of simplicity(trying to stay there,actually
![]() If I was an artist I`d paint a picture called Autozone.It would be the store with piled up busted parts like at the scrap yard. I only buy quality parts.I want to know it`s done when I`m done.Can`t beat GM parts,they are what came on the vehicle...exactly the same specs.That`s my first choice.Next would be Napa,nothing newfangled about them.They research the best source and also offer different grades with many parts.I always take the better one.These newfangled companies exist because they started off with creating thier own parts line solely to cost less than what was out there,IMO.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#16 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Bad news on the SS idler pulleys. You threw me off when you said "idler arm pulleys" though. I have an '06 TB myself.
![]() Re: parts stores. I try to buy what I can from the dealer on critical parts. Non critical parts or parts that are not available there, I take my chances with the parts stores. Napa, even though a lot of people think highly of them -and they do carry better parts than most -is slowly going the way of the other parts stores. They are also starting to look for the lowest prices available which means Chinese or other imports. Last edited by 68gmsee; 01-10-2009 at 11:20 AM. |
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#17 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
That`s true about Napa.You just have to ask for the premium part.I ask what brand it will be.I used an independent parts house that went under this year after many many years.They did the same thing with multiple tiers in quality.They just pull from distributors with multiple lines anyway.I`d ask for brand name stuff.I get good prices by being loyal to my sources.I go to the same GM dealer and that independent guy because years ago I asked for shop prices.
I found that some parts were actually cheaper through the Chevy dealer than aftermarket.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#18 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cedar Park, Texas
Posts: 7,500
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
on a similar note... Why didn't the idler pulleys last more than 55k miles???
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 2,613
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Because the good old American GM part came from some third world country
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: here
Posts: 5,789
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
I work at a Napa store now so I gotta throw in my 2cents worth. Now that Im on the other side of the counter, all I can say is "you get what you pay for". Im gonna guess 95% of the people that get parts from me (including dealerships) only care about getting the cheapest part. Our starters/alternators go bad about 75% less than another store that I wont mention the name of, but I swear they all say "but the other brand is cheaper so I guess Ill get it there". Then complain about them like they stole their wallet when it goes bad right away. Nothing cheap about buying a cheap part and then buying the good one later too...
Thats why Napa stores are stocking the cheaper line of parts now too. They need a cheaper line to be able to compete with the real competition...PRICE Get the Good Stuff ![]() |
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#21 | |
Boss Hogg
![]() Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The Beaver State
Posts: 2,361
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
Ahh yes, the good ole days. I still have the crow bar my dad gave me for changing the alternator on the '76 ![]() ![]() |
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#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,859
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
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'70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60 |
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#23 | |
Gone to greener pastures
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Gateway to the Delta
Posts: 7,354
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
I'm afraid I have to correct you, ever so slightly. That should be "green snot on a glass door knob!
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'69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck |
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#24 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Don`t you still need a pry bar to lean on an idler to get the belt on?
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__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#25 | |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: WARNING! Don't Buy Cheap Parts!!
Quote:
However, I got burned on a u-joint I bought at Napa last summer. It cost more than the other stores but the grease fitting was situated so that you couldn't grease the joint after installing it no matter which way I installed it. I bought one at Auto Zone and had no problem. |
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