Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rivet_101]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110162179219&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

couldn't get a reply to a question (probably because it's Sunday) so went ahead and bought what promised to be an unused carb.

Felt excited.

Wrote seller and asked if it was in original packaging - and if not, how he could be sure it was new/old stock. He wrote back and said he'd bought them straight from the foundry, which made me wonder if they are actually not old, but pattern parts.

So I asked when, approximately, they had been made (I said, no problem if it is a pattern part; would still want it). And he said he had no idea. Doesn't that seem odd?

So I said, well, was it roughly the 1960s? ....and he sent a refund and said that answering my question was more trouble than it was worth.

Given that the description guarantees the part is new/old stock and invites questions, does this chap's reticence seem odd to you?

And, what feedback would you leave?

[kaybee]

Sounds odd to me, why would a foundry have a completed part like this, they are in the business of casting individual components and don't generally do the specialized machining and assembly involved in carby manufacture. Feedback, none would be fair, since you didn't get anything from the guy. If you leave a Neg he might give you the same out of spite. Probably did well to get your money back without any hassle, just remember who he is and don't buy anything else off him if he's that touchy about answering questions. Plenty of good people to deal with out there, cheers, Col.

[Rivet_101]

Thanks kaybee. Quite honestly, I doubt he bought them straight from the foundry, as he suggested. His subsequent "I have no idea" emails about when, where and by whom the carbs were manufactured, makes me feel that the foundry line was made up on the spot.

I just think he has an old carb in good condition (or maybe a few) and is selling them as new/old stock without knowing for certain that they are.

If he had said from day one, "I have no idea about this carb's history, but it is complete and in good, clean condition", I'd have bought it, but the evasiveness worried me. The refund rather than answer the question confirms my suspicions.

[62rebel]

looking at the picture, poor quality and resolution that it is, i venture to say that it is not NOS at all, just a cleaned used unit. the residue on the body would appear to be blasting media to me. perhaps soda? which will remove oxidation but not mar the surface like glass bead. perhaps the seller happened on a job lot of rebuilders' carbs and got a deal, but was unwilling to sell them as needing work. if they were inexpensive enough, they would make good core turn-ins for rebuilding if there's no new ones to be had. it's getting pretty tough stateside to obtain rebuilt carbs for older cars now. of course i could be completely wrong. it's happened once or twice before!