Shawn,
I have recently (last summer) purchased part from BPNW. My
observations...
1. The switch plinth I bought was apparently the same as the big 3 sell
only about 35% less (got mine for $31). Quality is fine. One thing about
the switch plinth that are now available, they do NOT have the metal
reinforcing support the originals had on the choke side of the plinth.
The guys at BPNW said this would not be a problem.
2. I also got a bunch of polyurethane bushings and diff mounts. Quality
is fine and fit is great. Note that the bushings I got last summer from
them are black and NOT the ones you now see in Moss's catalog (red &
black) or in Triumph World ads (bright yellow). I don't know if the
colors indicate different qualities of poly urethane or if they are just
died differently for looks.
3. The u-joints I received were also way cheaper than TRF ($10 vs $22).
But TRF claims they sell Hardy Spicer brand (which are apparently the
finest u-joints made). The BPNW ones were not branded. They seem to work
fine (these were the first ones I ever installed myself) but the clips
which came with them were shite. I had to get better clips locally from
a drive line shop (they gave me the clips for free when I told them what
car they were for). The guy at the driveline shop also reinforced the
"Hardy Spicer is the best" theory - he said all truckers use HS
u-joints.
4. The front engine mounts I got were different from the ones in my car
now. The threaded portion of the mount studs did not cover the entire
length of the stud like my (I think) originals. Instead, about 1/4" was
left unthreaded. In order to make them work on my car I will have to
either thread them all the way to the end or add spacers so I get a
tight fit with the nyloc nuts. They said the mount I was describing as
original in my car is from a Stag. I don't know what to think since my
car is one of the last TR6s made. Maybe British Leyland were out of
"real" TR6 engine mounts and just reached for the Stag bin when mine was
built.
In any event I am pleased with their service and parts. The prices are
definitely lower than the big 3 but then they have no free catalog, and
no retail outlet )only mail order). The guys at BPNW were really nice to
deal with. But I think on some items (ie the ujoints) I would have
probably paid the higher price to get the Spicer brand.
PS. I know their "green" ignition wire sets are not Lucas but some other
brand (British) which I have heard bad things about on this list before.
I got Magnecor wires for my car instead. Not green (red) and $$$ but
nice wires IMO.
Hope this is the kind of detail you were after, if it's too much
sorry...
Peter Zaborski
76 TR6 (CF58310 UO)
Calgary AB Canada
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shawn Mann [SMTP:shawmon@worldnet.att.net]
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 1998 12:05 AM
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: British Parts NW Advice
>
> Listers,
>
> As some of you know, I brought home a TR6 at the beginning of the
> week.
> Although it's a a solid one owner, California car, it has been stored
> for over ten years, and as such, needs lots of hydraulic rebuild
> stuff,
> and cosmetics: notably new top, crash pads, carpet set, etc... I saw
> the February sale ad for British Parts Northwest in the February
> Hemmings. Of those that have actually done business with this company
> (versus someone who has a friend who's brother drives a TR who heard
> at
> a swapmeet :-]), what are your opinions about their general quality??
> Many of the sale items are either things I need right away or are
> items
> that will save me substantially at the sale price, and that I'll need
> in
> the next few months anyway. Right now, price is a very important
> factor
> in my attempts to get the 6 running and looking good, but I don't want
> to buy junk. In the case of interior fitments, I already know the
> general consensus on the differing qualities of the Big 3 carpet kits
> and tops. It's important to understand that good/decent quality is
> sufficient, and I'm not entirely concerned with authenticity.
>
> TIA
>
> 1970 TR6
> ex-1979 Spitfire (sold today)
>
>
>
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