Is It Worth It or Am I Being "Anal"......

I have owned severl old corvettes and now my 348. I have consistenly had this "thing" about keeping the cars as original as I could. To that end, I always wound up spending far too much for the "right" parts.

Case in point, I traced an electrical problem on my 348 back to a 9 pin connector in the engine compartment. The locking mechanism for the plastic connector was broken and vibration would cause it come loose. At any rate, a 9 pin connector at the auto parts store is 5 bucks. To put it back to original was closer to $160. Should I give this kind of stuff up - waste of money?

 

Mark- General rule, if it adds to the value of the car or makes it more reliable to use OEM parts, do it. If not.....

Taz
Terry phillips

 

My car is an 84...."Original" is not important to me, I opt to use the more modern technology, newer tires, bateries, etc. - But to each their own...and it's YOUR car., so if you decide to spend $160 for a 9 pin connector...well I think you should judge for yourself if it is anal or not.

 

The "Right" parts are often out there for reasonable money if you get a little resourceful. That 9 pin plug was probably an AMP plug available for a few dollars if you spend a little time looking around.

 

... I almost expected this.

When they arrived at Ricambi, I was stunned to see the invoice, but sent them along to you anyway. Mark -- send them back if you don't want 'em. I'm absolutely cool with that.

That Ferrari e/conn connector book that I've got is a lifesaver, but unfortunately some of these parts are insanely priced. A 9 pin Weatherpack would certainly cost less money and I bet the judges at Concorso (as long Brian is banished to TR's, since he has already seen this thread) would have no idea.
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Daniel - I was asking the question in a general sense, because I tend to be a "purist" and it seems like a bad idea more often than not. I will keep the locking (female) portion and likely return the male side - if that doesn't cause you any problem on your end (I only needed the one side as it turned out). I do appreciate how quickly you located the part(s) and got them out to me.

 

I have bought those from electronic suppliers before. I keep a few of them on hand at the shop.

 

Those are AMP/Tyco circular connectors.
They are cheaper on the open market.
But, you'll need tools to extract and/or recrimp new pins...

Here is just one vendor, but they show the part you are looking for.

http://www.action-electronics.com/ampcpc.htm

Rick

 

To get back to Mark's original question -- spend the money for "OEM" parts or substitute less expensive "generic" parts? -- to me it depends on what your objective is in the end. If you want a 100% pure concours car, stick as close as possible to the OEM parts. If you think you will eventually sell your car to someone who will care if it is 100% concours, then stick as close as possible to the OEM parts.

But, if you are more concerned about reliability and avoiding the "Ferrari logo" markup, then shop around. There are many alternative parts that function as well or better than OEM parts, and are much less expensive. Ultimately, it's up to you which way to go. And remember, as I believe Brian pointed out, many of the parts on these cars are the same as parts off other cars, or stock generic items which just cost a lot less when they are not packaged in a little yellow box with a horsey on it.

By the way, Daniel at Ricambi is an excellent source for things that sometimes are made of unobtainium. He just supplied me with a tensioner pulley for the 328 that appeared to be NLA. Beautiful piece done for him my Hill, and less expensive than the "stock" item, which is NLA anyway.

 

Mark, I think that, if your car is already OEM (or easy to put entirely back to OEM), then it is somewhat your obligation to keep it that way. These cars are only original once, and future prices for these later model cars will swing wildly based upon how well the vehicles were kept OEM. (And how well this can be proved through documentation.)

Now, if your car is already far from being OEM and it doesn't make financial sense to put it back to factory specs (such as my car), then paying $160 for a five dollar part doesn't make sense.

--Jeremy

 

Buy the best part.

No one will know and it will always last longer.

 

I can't tell from the picture - are the pins NOT included with those connectors? You have to remove the old pins from the old connectors and install the old pins into the new connectors?

 

It would depend on the condition.

If water/corrosion has taken hold you may need the new pins.....

 

If the picture in Daniel's post above is the actual "Ferrari" connector you need,
they are available from Digikey for a few bucks each.

As is the tool to remove the pins.

They are Tyco AMP CPC's (Circular Plastic Connectors)

http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/US2010/P0437.pdf

Pick the right one(s) based on shell size and pin polarity.

(The male pins can be either in the part w/ the flange (socket) or the part w/ the twist-lock (plug))

Jim

 

Ferrari don't make connectors. They just buy them from AMP, or Molex, or some other special vendors whose job it is to make connectors. So, if you buy them from AMP, you are actually buying from the Original Equipment Manufacturers, which is OEM.

 

Right, the pins are not included...

 

This infor needs to be added to Ernies 348 guide, I think.

 

....Ferrari parts prices are pretty well "out there", but darned, now that I see the part is nonferrari anyways, they want far too much for a $4.15 part. Crazy pricing.....truly.

In answer though, yes my car is stock and I guess I should keep it that way -

However, Lesson learned on this one...

 

FWIW - the "pin tool" for these connectors is AMP #305183 (so sayeth the side of my tool)

A google search shows it's available for under $20 if you look hard.

 

But does the tool come in a yellow box with prancing horse? ;=)

 

If they're like the AMP connectors used in audio systems, try to borrow the proper crimper tool. Mine was about $200 20+ years ago. Once you decide what to do, PM me the part #'s for the tool and pins/sockets, I might have them.

 

The definition of 'OEM' varies.

If you get right down to it, if you don't run the original recommended motor oil, or an 'original' battery, you are not OEM. Things like that.
Some OEM parts are simply not as good as some aftermarket replacements.

I think in the case of exotics, 'OEM' means you have not added stuff that is simply out of line of what one would expect on a car, such as 'ground effects' or really screwy wheel/tire combos, or if you have the interior redone in pink, etc.

As far as nuts, bolts, connectors, belts and some hoses, etc. you are OK.

 

So, let me get this straight. This is a $4.15 part from the original supplier to Ferrari, who then sells it for $160.00? This 3,750% markup is obscene even by Ferrari standards.

Alberto

 

Don't be anal, sounds like it is the same part, save your money. It is so annoying to see the mark up on simple parts. I remember when my first european car , an alfa 1750, needed a new clutch, from alfa it was $75 in an alfa bag, however it was $25 in a ford bag, it was the same clutch used in the zephyr and 3 times the price.This was 1980ish

 

I think your math is off... Ferrari probably bought them in bulk which means they paid even less than $4.15 for the connector.<grin>

Rick