<snip>
>industry is very competitive and an alternator is pretty much just scrap
>iron if it needs field coils or an armature since either of these new
>parts is fully the value of the rebuilt ......... so you just never get
>new parts other than bearings, regulators or diodes.
>A local rebuilder operates the same way but will take the care to get you
>a good product and your referrals along with your repeat business.

Yeah, I know... but the local rebuilder is a 60 mile round trip drive, plus
at least a day wait (which means a second 60 mile round trip drive).
I was in a situation where I wanted to use the van tomorrow and needed
an alternator TODAY and the FLAPS which is only a 5 mile round trip drive
had one in stock...
I know it's always a gamble with "Lifetime Warranty Rebuilds" from the
chain stores, but sometimes... well you know...

Steve