Re: your experience with 6 cyl Packard engines: 110/Six/Clipper Six

Posted by BigKev On 2009/12/13 15:15:31

Howard,

Agreed. I comes down to number. When you look at the 55/56 V8 motors, you have a relatively small number of cars made. Then you have to figure out the survivor rate. Then out of the survivor rate, how many people would actually be buying those particular parts from you. That's a pretty small number.

Just compare that to the 288/327/359 motors were they were made for 4+ years, lots of the parts are interchangeable, and there is a larger population out there. Even so those number are relatively small when compared to any of the Chevy, Ford or Chrysler motors.

It's all about amortizing the cost of tooling and production over the number of units, time, and of course demand. Sometimes the only way to make the numbers work is to get them made off-shore. The question people need to ask themselves is would you rather had an original quality part at $500 assuming you can find one, or someone is making one. Or a Chinese made one at $100 that is comparable to the quality of aftermarket parts you get from Autozone, Pepboys, etc and is easily available. Obviously if you are talking internal engine parts your choice may be different. But for relatively easy to change parts I am betting the $100 part would be much more attractive.