Hi all, Looking to purchase the gaskets and seals for the distributors on my 83' QV, and there is quite a price difference between ricambi and superformance. Superformance is less than half the price for the aforementioned items, is this a yellow box vs off the shelf issue? Are they the same parts? Are the superformance ones of lesser quality (or better)? I live in the Boston area as well, is over seas shipping gonna negate the difference in price (easily $50 cheaper through superformance for 4 gaskets and 2 seals). Also, it is unclear to me if I will be able to easily get at the O rings that are shown in the parts diagram behind the rotor post. Should I order those too? Thanks in advance for your help!
Just my 2cts, ( exactly what it's worth ) but when I was looking around for gaskets for my 84 GTB, Dave Helms told me to get the green gaskets as they were much better quality, been so long ago I don't remember if he was just referring to cam cover gaskets? He also mentioned quite a few substandard gaskets/O-rings on the market now and to beware. If it was me, I would order from Daniel at Ricambi, simply because I have watched him time and time again stand behind products and no hassle returns. To me that's worth quite a bit!
Thanks for the input! I thought Superformance was pretty legit, no? Anyone else have experience with either or both of theses vendors?
Never had any problems with parts and gaskets from Superformance. Usually buy o-rings and hoses locally from industrial suppliers. If they are good enough for nuclear power plants and escavators, they are probably ok on my Ferraris. /Peter
+1 those grey ones in the gasket kits from Superformance are actually inferior. But they also have the green ones (made from Klingersil C4400) The new versions even have a silicone bead around the sparkplug area. Though I think that wouldn't be necessary. Regarding the price, those from Superformance are even not much more expensive than the raw uncut material from Elring-Klinger (the manufacturer). Regarding the 'O-ring behind the rotor post' it's unclear for me, what you are talking about. Best Martin
The cam cover and distributor gasket set I bought from Superformance a few months ago was excellent. They were made of the thicker green gasket material and fit perfectly. The shipping cost to the US for the gaskets and belts for a timing belt change, and a few miscellaneous services parts was 29.50 GBP. About five years ago, Superformance supplied a gasket kit with thin dark gray gasket material. I had problems with that type of gasket as they actually shrank and then leaked. Superformance promptly refunded my money when they were notified and they now supply the excellent kit I described above.
There you have it! Insist on the green gaskets and you're golden. Have purchased quite a number of items from Superformance and always great service but I did indeed end up with some of these gray gaskets at one time, still have them kicking around someplace. Just found it irritating to have the car on the lift a few more days while I waited for acceptable gaskets. Glad to hear they remedied this situation. Martin, (good morning) there is a small O ring that is fitted at the lower end of each distributor shaft ..
Just ordered the distributor seals and gaskets from superformance. Everything was the same part numbers as ricambi, and pics showed the green gasket with the silicone bead. I'm not trying to cheap out on my baby, but I hate getting gouged . Came to less than half the price for the same part numbers. They also sell a rotor on superformance for $10(pounds), and the same thing on ricambi is $46!! No idea if that is a knock off or whatever, but they sure look the same in the photo.
Gouged. Something to think about. I buy from all over the planet. What I need and when I need it often drives the sale. Keep in mind that a 'cheap' but identical part in the catalogue CAN in the end cost you more when Import Tax and Shipping are factored in. Shipping from the UK can be incredibly expensive, for example. Remember, the end supplier has to 'turn a buck' too. Not trying to single any supplier out positively or negatively. I have used everyone mentioned and many more. Just do the TOTAL Math first, if price is your main/sole driver. You may be quite surprised.
Our business model is the same as Superformance, albeit in a different field, and we send most of our orders to the U.S. In 15 years of trading I have never heard of any of our shipments being charged any import tax in the U.S. Not sure about what shipping deals they have but international shipping from the UK can be very competitive as the shippers battle with each other for the business. We get 76% discount from our shipper on US shipments.
Shipping ended up costing 5BP, or $6.45 with today's exchange rate. Not bad, pretty sure the shipping would have been a similar cost from Georgia.
Anybody have experience with the ignition rotor I mentioned from superformance and ricambi? They look the same and use the same part number, but are priced very far apart. Is the superformance one a "knock off" or something? Or is it the in fact the same part?
I have used SF cap and rotor with no issues. I have also used AW Imports rotor with no issues. No experience with any others.
Running their caps and rotors now for over a year no problem when I order from them I get my parts in a few days when I order from California for parts for my vw it usually takes over a week
Got all the parts, in just few days, and they look great! Most of the way through changing out all the seals in the first distributer now . Should be done by the weekend!
The gaskets and rotors I bought from them are fine. Only issue is the high shipping prices. They are too high I think. @Jdamon: A 308-rotor is a very simple part. Better buy the 10pound one.
