My American chevy is disappearing rapidly.

[ozkiwi]

The pile of made in America worn out parts is growing in the corner of my workshop as I work my way through my 86 Silverado getting it right by my standards(Clean daily driver).
But looking at it I am wondering how much Chevy is going to be left.
All the replacement parts have American names and design but none are made there ?
My pickup is Mexican,Chinese,tiawanese and German.
Damn it I wanted a real American pickup
Don't tell nobody they will never know

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I spent extra in parts to make sure my truck is murican as possible being one of the many American plant made trucks
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[ozkiwi]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

I spent extra in parts to make sure my truck is murican as possible being one of the many American plant made trucks
Posted via Mobile Device

Will being doing that from now on.

[BigBlocksRule]

My son's truck runs Pro Topline heads...glad they're "overseas" castings, still some of the best produced, IMHO.
As the Chinese economy grows, those sweatshop workers are going to start wanting some of the things that the Western world has - cars, toys, etc., so their economy will shift as well. The world will make some major changes as China shifts from being a producer to a consumer.
Maybe we can send 'em some junk $hit when they do - return the favor, so to speak.
Anybody want to start on some cylinder head castings? I have been saving gum wrappers and beer cans for a while, probably have enough for one set. Now if I could just find a good American head to copy...

[Shyguy]

When we built my '67 we tried to use as many parts from parts trucks as we could because they fit better than buying new parts not made in America.

We made a lot of our own patch panels out of sheet metal from parts trucks.

Doing things this way took a lot of extra work, but since it was a father and son project it allowed us to spend more time together.

[Low87]

I do a little extra research and buy Made in USA as much as I can. Might mean 2 or 3 stops instead of 1, but I'm ok with it.

[beamn7]

Originally Posted by Low87

I do a little extra research and buy Made in USA as much as I can. Might mean 2 or 3 stops instead of 1, but I'm ok with it.

Same here. Every bit counts.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

My son's truck runs Pro Topline heads...glad they're "overseas" castings, still some of the best produced, IMHO.
As the Chinese economy grows, those sweatshop workers are going to start wanting some of the things that the Western world has - cars, toys, etc., so their economy will shift as well. The world will make some major changes as China shifts from being a producer to a consumer.
Maybe we can send 'em some junk $hit when they do - return the favor, so to speak.
Anybody want to start on some cylinder head castings? I have been saving gum wrappers and beer cans for a while, probably have enough for one set. Now if I could just find a good American head to copy...

Look up profiler heads
Posted via Mobile Device

[tucsonjwt]

I have been buying a lot of "genuine" GM or Delco parts lately, mostly for repairing my 2002 Cavalier beater. All of those parts had GM or Delco boxes and said "made in China" or "or made in Mexico" elsewhere on the part or box.

I do think that these parts might be made to higher standards than other aftermarket parts, even though both parts may be made in China. In general, the quality of everything you buy today, even U.S. made products, is much worse than 30 years ago. Technology has improved greatly in recent decades, but the concern for producing a quality product is mostly gone - everywhere in the world. In a disposable civilization, nobody is going to spend much time or money on building a long lasting product. I don't think even iconic top line technology products, like an I phone, I pad, etc, is designed to last for 20 years.

[ozkiwi]

Here's a true story.An X girlfriend married into a company that made high end handbags for 85 years.
They sacked 35 highly skilled long term employees and sold the factory and move production to china.The went from $120 dollars per unit manufacturing cost per bag to $25 for the same item which used to sell for $300.The $25 chinese bag sells for $300.
The quality is rubbish and if you hold the two together they look the same at a casual glance.
Summary for the company(one family) is massive profit jump (There holiday home has 5 bathrooms)
Summary for Employees NO JOB
Summary for customers RIPPED OFF.
That's happened in every sort of manufacturing here in Australia and buying quality goods is very hard.

Hand bags or car parts it is the same thing repeated over and over again..

[lilpoindexter]

I bought an expensive bike recently...it was made in China, and it is of very, very high quality, and it feels great to ride. I'm 41, so I am old enough to remember my dad laughing at the cheap Japanese crap you used to buy in the swap meets.
My point is...During most of our life times we will start to see more and more high quality items coming from China. I don't like it, and my truck has all MOOG stuff in the front end, but what can you do?

[MalibuSSwagon]

Yup, even top of the line, "high quality" Apple products are made in China. But, Apple is an excellent marketing company. All of their products have printed in small letters on them, "Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China." What a scam.

[dieseldawg142]

it sure is hard to buy domestic, you really need to do your homework. bought a set of rims for wife's envoy, even having a real domestic sounding name



was sorely disappointed to find this on the box

quality? ppffttt, what quality? within 6 mos chrome was peeling & flaking off around valve stems, had to replace all 4 center caps, plastic, chrome fell right off them. got american eagles on one of my trucks since '98, a little buffing & they look like new. i much prefer spending the extra & try to get domestic

[undr8ed]

Being out of the 73-87 arena for awhile, it was SUPER sad to come back to all the overseas parts that don't fit...

Junkyards and online are my only salvations. Craigslist and the bay have gotten horrible! I'm dealing now with a bought part "made in America" on the box and a sticker saying "made in Taiwan"

We did it to ourselves...