Why is it that so many Mopar guys are so cheap... I
see guys looking to buy the cheapest parts possible
and alot of times they get burnt by doing so...cheapest
rockers, cheapest heads...... you name it.... I understand
that we're ALL on some budget of some nature but I
really get sick of all the cheap ... I almost want
to say, I told you so when it breaks and takes out
a engine BUT I cant do that to anyone..... yet so
many want to continue to buy knock off parts....FLAME ON

Agreeded, and don't know why.

hey I hear ya I am trying to give away a 20k plus motor and cant get any bites on it and there are plenty of members here that have seen it run and know what it is.

I hear you. I have had arguments with some buddies over cheap or wrong picked parts.
Even machine work and or assembly preferences has lead to words.

I go to the greats with great parts after doing research to the T.
I even traveled to your Michigan to get the right parts, advise and service.

I think everyone is cheap... maybe you just see it more because you frequent this site more than others? I cannot imagine most Ford or Chevy guys have money to take a flame thrower to either. The majority of American's expect to have the best of everything for nothing. Generally, we get our way because of all the off-shoring. Don't want to get political, but it is the truth.

In general these cars are more expensive to build (engines, body parts, chassis, drivetrain, trim, etc.), so the money does not go as far as it would say for a Camaro or Mustang. Of course this is all relative to what a guy is doing with his car.

Not trying to get on your bad side... just saying...

Take care.

Mike..could a "slightly-used" set of SS springs be any cheaper than a case of Keystone Lights? I actually talked Ronnie down to a 6-pack! ....does that make me CHEAP???

Would it help if they were referred to as "less expensive". Less expensive (or cheap) doesn't automatically equate to poor quality. I think the linkage is between the cost of the parts you use and the HP you wanna make. Again, you should have a plan going in. I personally don't believe in the " build it now to handle the big HP that you might want to make at some point in the future" theory. Waste of $ IMO. Beside the initial poor utilization of parts ( you paid how much for those pistons to make 450 HP???), too much can happen between "now and then" - parts obsolescence being near the top of the list.

mr p , i dont think everyone into 'cheap' , has to do with trying to get the most bang for you buck,,
i really dont know what cheap is,, in my case i don't make the money that most do, so i have to figure a way to get what i need , trade parts, work off labor for labor/parts, try to wait out buying parts until they are on sale or discounted!
i have been fortunate that the friends i had built me one heck of a car, and there is noway i could have built it without thier hard work
gary heilman out performed, outdid his work, i cannot thank him enough for his hours he put into my car!! yes there was others too,
i dont think i was cheap,
if it pertains to buying something other than usa made parts,
i know of several of the guys including gary who has source stuff and others who have rocker arms , that they dont have any issues, with anything,
i ve seen all kinds of issues with workman ship and issues of machine work , which will induce issues with any body parts,
then you had that unknow item of well did they really tell the truth about what they did or didnt do to help destroy that 'cheap' parts/parts??

Hell some or most would call me the cheapest person here
because I do make alot/most things on my car BUT I
enjoy fabbing... I did build my car... but I dont look
for the cheapest off shore part or the cheapest thing
thats on e-bag ... and they expect it to fit and or
work... it does piss me off that people are loosing
their jobs and they continue to buy off shore... and
then they wonder why their own job is on the line

. it does piss me off that people are loosing
their jobs and they continue to buy off shore... and
then they wonder why their own job is on the line



Every part in my motor is made in the USA except the rods and the timing set.

Im cheap, most my shirts are from parts houses, I wear cloths until they fall apart.

The one thing I am not cheap on is my steet racer. The reasons are simple, seen so many over built cars crashed on the street because the car didnt match the motor, 100k mile axles snap, front end parts break.

Yes most dont approve of street action, but I like it and have tried to take out as much risk to others and myself, so for that reason, neither to complain or brag my parts list alone is over 40k, alot for a street car toy, well at least for me. But in the past 3 years ive only done a freshenup after my nitrous fire and have not broke one part and I hammer it very hard, very often.

Its a sad state of affairs, but its the way this country is going and will continue to go.

That being said the quality of some "USA" parts leave alot to be desired anymore.

i dont think its cheap just useing your funds...i have got a used top end that was fast and trying to go fast and was buying parts... then i said to myself to be fast you need a chassis.. so now i have stopped buying parts and looking to buy a chassis ..(cause if you cant hook it you cant do nothing) so im not cheap im just trying to make the best of what i got....now i did have a small block i spent alot (oh my god) of money in and did nothing. then i took it apart and redid it with my son and was 3ths faster.. i paid about 5000.00 to have it done in a shop and no go... so i look at every dollar now .. im not cheap just looking out for me and what i want to do.. i know the machine shop has to pay fro rent,tools,and misc, but not on my dime...lol not cheap just carefully is what you can call me mike

no flame from me. worse yet is when someone will spend major coin on "the good stuff", only to finish it off with some cheap junk that compromises the whole thing.

i agree i use to be that guy lol... but i work to hard to be cheap now and would like to see my money go fast....i was a small block guy still have alot of parts,but got tired of trying stuff that didnt work.. now i plan to build a big inch motor and all my small block buddies hate me..... i gain cubes but lost friends lol.....i think you just need to plan before you do ,have a ## in mind and build to be there....and go from where you are to where you would like to be on your budget.....i'm not rich but i love to race ,and will set aside a few $$$$$$$ here and there to do what i want now ....i use to just spent and try( could have been a test dummy lol ) but now i try and ask before hand.........there is alot of great info on here and just the web it self...also you can go fast on a budget just gotta look and ask the right ????? when doing.....

personally i think they are cheap and dont want to think outside the box, how many procharged, turbo'd or nitrous mopar do you see out there compared to brand X models, i realize that mopar parts cost more, im willing to pony up, heck at the mopar race last weekend out of all the cars there mine was in the top 20 as far as being quick and i only run a 10.10 street legal car, just wait till you see whats coming on the next build

personally i think they are cheap and dont want to think outside the box, how many procharged, turbo'd or nitrous mopar do you see out there compared to brand X models, i realize that mopar parts cost more, im willing to pony up,



well i dont really agree with this thinking.... thats kinda why mopar parts are high....if (we) would be like the chevy/ford boys and have parts thats cheap and there for the racer we would be ahead of the game....but ma mopar wants it all in racing and cars we drive everyday....i drive mopar and nothing else( even the old dump is mopar) but with that said ma have stuck it to use many times over with bull$it parts.....if not we would buy mopar instead of indy,and all the other,driver i have a 02 ram 1500 the dash is junk they will pay some but not all, they didnt put the uv stuff in...my fault i think not....so its not all the people being cheap,its ma mopar aswell......ford and chevy have many heads for small. and big block,how many do mopar have that is inline with brandxxxxxx?????none.....you can get a frontend for a ford about 500.00 but mopar 1200.00 not cheap just not in some budget...jmho mike

the chevy and ford guys have the same "cheap" parts available . Procomp , chinese parts , etc..






my 440 Source bottom end is still honkin after 4 years of abuse by the way .