I just purchased a 41240 AC Delco replacement fuel pump for my 78 and the replacement does not have the "AC" lettering on it anywhere. I went to great lengths to find the AC Delco brand to be sure it was correct. How is this going to affect the judging?
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Re: AC fuel pump
Service replacement parts can differ from those originally used in production. On AC fuel pumps, when AC was part of GM they moved mfgr off-shore and changed the physical appearance of parts as a cost reduction effort. Now that GM has spun divisions off (Delphi), many of the parts (shocks, batteries, Etc.) are actually brand labeled vs. being physically manufacturered by Delphi.
While this/that part may come in Delco or AC packaging, there's no guarantee it'll look the same as the factory original part you're trying to replace. All they really care about is does this/that fit and function like the original. They're NOT catering to the restoration crowd and they'll opt to enhance the bottom line when and where possible... That's where specific knowledge of the part you're buying is vital!
Judges will look at a component in a 5-axis universe (Finish, Date, Configuration, Completeness and Installation). To the extent the replacement part differs from the real McCoy factory original, expect to lose 20% of the available ORIGINALITY points for each axis that's violated.... -
Re: AC fuel pump
Unfortunately the AC Delco Brand was retained by GM for aftermarket service parts when Delphi was spun off. Today, it has no assurance that a part is accurate other than being a functional replacement. Such parts will see a deduct in judging as a non-oem replacemnt part.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: AC fuel pump
IF the original pump always had the AC logo- and the judge knows this, and IF this is the only visual deviation from an original pump, the deduction would be very minor.
Not worth sweating over.Comment
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Re: AC fuel pump
Thanks to all who answered. I'll go ahead with the installation as planned.Comment
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Re: AC fuel pump
Service part fuel pumps began transitioning from the AC logo to the non-logo part in the early to mid nineties. Even back in those days, I had to specify that the pump had to have the logo or no deal, and was happy to find one. Simply buying the AC brand hasn't guaranteed the de rigor AC logo for a long time.Comment
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Re: AC fuel pump
Doug-----
Even when the GM parts manufacturing entities were still part of GM, they stopped manufacturing mechanical fuel pumps. I think that this happened about 1985. Since then, all AC fuel pumps have been manufactured by non-GM or DELPHI entities. The "AC" logo disappeared about the same time as the in-house manufacturing ceased.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: AC fuel pump
I am sure that your replacement had what looks like a little clock on the front side. It is a marking that Airtex uses. You can go order an Airtex pump by the AC short number or order an AC and they will be identical, AC part number on bothDick WhittingtonComment
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