Vendor “reproduction” parts

So you're talking about Wilkinson right? A lot of ranting doesn't do much good without naming who it is.

Thank you Larry, you are correct! I am currently trying to resolve an issue with brake lines purchased from a vendor that I've used before and there were no issues. Now with the pandemic going on it's hard to track them down. The problem is just a incorrect thread count on a fitting. A simple fix would be to send me the correct one. I can go and source them myself, but why should I do that when I paid for it to begin with. I'm sure this vendor sources the parts from someone. These are machined standard parts. It's not rocket science. Well maybe with our cars it is.

Ken

So rrs1,  Who doesn’t sign his post 😉😉🧐,  wants me to name the vendor I bought my throttle cable from. 

 That is certainly a fair request and I promise once I have purchased other cables from other vendors, some of which are likely sourced from my vendor, I will reveal all to my fellow owners. 

 When I place my orders on Monday I intend to ask if this is a direct, dimensionally-correct reproduction part that will require no modifications for installation. That will be the vendors’ opportunity to inform me of any design changes they felt compelled to make. 

 If I establish they are presenting this as a proper reproduction part, I will then inform them that I will expect a full refund, to include my return shipping expenses, if the cable received is not a correct, no issue to install, reproduction part  

Stay tuned. 

Larry

...at least my 2 cents---I've benefitted way, way more from Wilkinson than he has from me.  Nobody has the catalog of parts that he provides, and that Any of the guys in the DeT world supply parts for their living just seems an act of charity...

I had my Mangusta accelerator cable built by Pegasus Racing, at least such a common piece will always be constructible from common materials. But when the platers lost my pushbutton surrounds for that car, what absolute fortune to get a repro pair from Wilkinson...much less, at a very reasonable price...Lee

Lee,

 Thank you for joining the conversation, and I agree with everything you wrote. 

 After nearly 20 years in the community I too remain glad we have the vendors we have for a relatively uncommon car.  I am especially glad that Steve has managed to reproduce and/or locate an amazingly vast collection of parts for our cars.

 But in those 20 years I have personally experienced numerous vendor shortcomings, and have heard many more stories of vendor shortcomings from my fellow owners. 

 But there is, for whatever reason, an unspoken community trait/habit/requirement of blanket owner complacency with these vendor shortcomings.  

 With my recent throttle cable purchase, I have personally reached my limit of complacency.

I have no problems with modified cars, usually 😉, but I draw the line at requiring an owner to modify their car to allow the fitment of a “reproduction” part supplied by a marque-specific vendor who presents their offerings as “factory replacements “

 As you stated, this cable is an easily fabricated piece. Which makes it all the more confusing and ...unjustified... for a vendor to provide a cable that Does Not Work.

Larry

Wow. I feel bad being a paying Vendor after these comments...I've heard more than a few comments on this sight over the years...people in general, not here of course...just don't like Dealers & Lawyers. Anyway, my contribution:

We're in the DeTomaso business here, and a handful of others are also 'cross America. That being said,  why not call around. Had someone called us about needing a throttle cable, I would say why, I'd say build it yourself. 30 minute job. Cost? 15 bucks.  Why would you need the whole thing anyway. The whole thing don't go bad.

Proceed:

Don't take anything apart & don't take it out of the car. Simply remove both ends  pedal & carburetor. Grab the cable with vice grips in the engine bay. Pull it out. Go to Lokar Direct or ebay, buy three things: Cable,  kit, ends. We just did another one this week in a 5S. Smoooooth as glass now. No need to remove console, seats, back panel, or any interior for that matter. Simply pull the old one out, grease the new cable, feed it in. Cut it, clamp new ends , adjust. DONE. Just another day at the office at Pantera Miami.

Helpful pics:

I appreciate Larry using the term "vendor" in his first post rather than naming the business or proprietor in question. This is the proper way to express such a "parts" issue. If someone wants to know "who" Larry is referring to, please ask Larry privately via private message.

Thanks all