Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 11:25:14 -0700
Reply-To: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Subject: Re: AMC / German Cylinder Heads (LVC)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Volkswagen already has a HUGE working plant in China and has had a presence
there for the past several years. That new plant you saw the groundbreaking
for is just another addition. They've been manufacturing and have had
vehicle production there for quite some time now. My boss Scott was there
recently and had the opportunity to have toured their facilities.
As a side note, all CV Joint and related stuff (such as boots) are now being
manufactured there and at VWG we have been selling their product for quite
some time. For the past 6 months I've been running their CV Joints and
Boots on "Ole Putt" with excellent results with no appreciable wear on the
joints (no clicking or clacking) or cracking on the boots (I check the boots
frequently). Nothin' like being a guinea pig I guess.
I have only one other comment on this AMC thread - It's quite possible that
these KS heads that Jeff is getting are indeed German-made heads, as there
may be NOS (New-Old-Stock) from previous productions before KS shifted
production elsewhere in the world. Many of our (VWG) sources in Europe (and
elsewhere) have had the habit to stock up on German made product when they
caught wind of the manufacturer moving elsewhere in the third world, so try
to keep that in mind. It goes back to the old air cooled days when finding
a "treasure trove" of Vintage VW parts in scattered parts of the world (I
found 5 NOS Rear Bumpers for a 50-51 Beetle at a defunct VW dealership one
time - $10 each - Several years later they sold for $1000 each after a
stressful bidding war from a few members of the VVWCA). It comes down to
this - once they're gone, they're gone.
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@earthlink.net
jim@karmannghia.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:36 AM
Subject: Re: AMC / German Cylinder Heads (LVC)
> Even if you rely on the VW logo it doesn't neccesarily mean "made in
Germany". I just sent a customer a set of coolant hoses for her 85 Vanagon.
Most of the hoses were VW and the few aftermarket hoses were German.
However she started to get upset that some of the hoses (the VW ones) were
made in Turkey! Another one is made in England (didn't seem too upset about
that one). She should be happy that she can get these hoses at all. There
is no aftermarket for the ones that she got upset about. Plus they have the
VW logo on them so like Calle said you have to trust their QC (Quality
Control).
>
> I hate to tell you folks this but if you read VW Trends there was an
article in there recently showing the president of VW at a ground breaking
ceremony for new offices in (drum roll) China! Guess where they will start
moving production in the future? So getting hung up on "Made in Germany"
may not be very practical in the near future.
>
> Just FYI. I still like VW. (Note to self- learn Cantonese).
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
>
> > I remember a story from many years ago when Swedish Match was famous all
> > over the world (?) for itīs safety matches that would only be able to
lite
> > up on the surface of the box itself .
> > One day there was a large number of Chinese visitors to the plant and a
> > while after there was a request to the Swedish ambassador if the Chinese
> > could name a factory that they have built "Sweden" to honour the Swedish
> > Matches. The question was passed on to the government who was very
flattered
> > and said that offcourse - this was OK !
> > Some time later the first matchboxes was out on the market with the
"Made in
> > Sweden" mark on them .
> > True or false - I donīt know.....
> > I thought of it back then as just a child story but today Iīm not so
sure.
> > Itīs like the best ( IMO) cellphone Ericsson makes, the "sharkfin"
antenna
> > type (T350??) that is shock and waterproof and perfect for outdoor
life -
> > and made in China
> > But I close my eyes to these "made in" signs on products and rely on the
> > mother company quality check and warranties - and feel like being
fooled to
> > contribute to the company profit every time
> > My point is - donīt be to picky about the "made in Germany" or VW logo,
it
> > might just as well be made somewhere else on the globe and maybe the
> > aftermarket partīs made at the same place - but with a better price
since it
> > donīt need that fancy box
> >
> > Calle
> >
> > BTW - I use the Nokia 5210 phone instead of the Ericsson, itīs not quite
as
> > waterproof but smaller and (with a built in antenna) more pocket
friendly !
> > -and contains the same cheapest in the market Taiwanese components as
any
> > other phone made ;-)
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > Wrom: GDADRZFSQHYUCDDJBLVLMHAALPTCXLYRWTQTIPWI
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 1:09 AM
> > Subject: Re: AMC / German Cylinder Heads
> >
> >
> > >I bought a few sets of these about two years ago to do the same thing
> > >(compare them with the AMC). Unless something has majorly changed you
will
> > >see they are the same. I think I remember them saying "Germany" on the
> > >outside of the box and coming in a Kohlbenschmidt box but that is a lot
> > >different than saying "Made in Germany". I don't remember them
actually
> > >saying made in Germany on the head anywhere. You will see that where
the
> > >"AMC" normally is the KS logo has been engraved into the head.
> > >
> > > If you find anything different let us know.
> > >
> > > Ken Wilford
> > > John 3:16
> > > www.vanagain.com
> > >
> > >
> > >> That's the confusion: AMC heads are definitely made in Spain,
however,
> > >> it
> > >> was reported on this list that the Kolbenschmidt heads are actually
> > >> relabeled AMC heads. Today, I was told by my supplier that the
> > >> Kolbenschmidt heads are actually German made (i.e., not AMC). I
really
> > >> won't know for certain until the Kolbenschmidts arrive and I do a
> > >> side-by-side comparison. If they came from the same mold it should
be
> > >> fairly obvious.
> > >>
> > >> Cheers,
> > >>
> > >> Jeff
> > >> www.vanagonparts.com
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> Wrom: TTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOHMKHJYFMYXOEAIJJPHSCRTNH
> > >> Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 2:38 PM
> > >> To: Jeffrey Schwaia
> > >> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >> Subject: Re: AMC / German Cylinder Heads
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Now the question is this...
> > >> I bought a Vw remanufactured engine from south africa.. but when i
> > >> opened the box it came in... it had inspection stickers as far as run
> > >> inspection stickers from Frankfurt, Germany.. and all paper work was
in
> > >> german inside the box..
> > >> would that mean my AMC heads that are one my engine are the German
ones?
> > >> any input?
> > >> thanks all,
> > >> jess
> > >> 89 carat
> > >>
> > >> On Oct 18, 2004, at 4:56 PM, Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > I hate to revive this thread, however, I just spoke with my
supplier
> > >> > of the
> > >> > Kolbenschmidt WBX'er cylinder heads and he assured me that they are
> > >> > indeed
> > >> > made in Germany. He says Germany is cast in the head and stamped
on
> > >> > the
> > >> > box.
> > >> >
> > >> > I've placed an order for a few sets so I should be able to confirm
> > >> > this when
> > >> > they arrive and I compare them side-by-side to the AMC. I'll keep
the
> > >> > list
> > >> > posted.
> > >> >
> > >> > Cheers,
> > >> >
> > >> > Jeff
> > >> > www.vanagonparts.com
> > >
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