I think the quality of plastic parts is determined by the quality of the mold, the accuracy of the math data the mold was built from, the quality of the resin used in the processing, and the skill of the processor. Mostly it is the mold and the math data. The problem is that resin shrinks when it cools so the mold is actually a tad larger than the finished part. It is an art figuring out exactly which dimensions will shrink how much and adjusting the tooling to anticipate that. Also, when the resin changes - even a little bit - the shrink rate changes. So changing suppliers or adding a bit more regrind alters the results. Add in "tolerance stacking" and you can see that errors can build up sometimes to the point that fit & finnish suffer. Finally, tooling is expensive as stink. When a manufacturer gets "close" it is often good enough just because making any more changes to the tool might burn their profit for a year. All this is true for the stamping industry as well - just different details - but the tooling and material behavior issues are all there. Getting an OEM quality part takes a LOT of money and genuine expertise. That's why the fit & finnish on a Lexus is better than a Camry. It's more than "appointments", it's refinement. When I had my Chevelle "dimensioned" the frame guy said the book called for anything within 5/16ths of an inch as "square". An Infinity or Lexus or MB is, according to him, dimensioned to within 1/64th on many measurements and nothing less than 1/32nd. Imagine that degree of accuracy throughout the car...that's what you get for $65,000: An accurate $30,000 car.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Chevelle 69 Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2002 9:52 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Chevelle-List] Trim Parts - Made in America John, While I haven't been on the tour YET, Trim Parts has a fairly large plant here in Ohio. I know they hold a yearly open house/cruise-in of classic cars. I have seen pictures of the event and almost went last year. I am hoping to go this year and I have been by the plant and verified with my own eyes it does exist :) Hopefully we will get our new Chevelle Club to participate in their open house next year as it's in our club area for recruitment. I won't swear that every last part is made there but at this time that's my impression after seeing their web site and catalog. I had an aunt that worked at a similar place that makes plastic parts for new cars. There doesn't seem to be a shortage of parts manufacturers, retailers, and support businesses in this area, home of Delco and Charles Kettering, inventor of the starter. Not to mention Moraine assembly plant and some more GM plants, maybe Fisher Body? Chrysler, and I think even Fo** in the area. Steve in Car Lovin Ohio ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Trim Parts says that their stuff is made in "America", but I've been told that it is actually made in North America, a.k.a. Mexico. I can't prove or disprove that. John Nasta ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
