One good thing about Moss & TRF : Their prices are NOT "subject to change
without notice".
My biggest complaint about Moss : They don't always tell you which cars the
add-on parts will fit. For instance, their spin-on oil filter adapter will
not fit pre-TS12000 TR3 & TR2, but their catalog doesn't indicate this.
When I bought one, and complained, they promptly sent me a different one,
which didn't fit either. The second complaint produced only "Well, a lot
of people have the later filter heads on the early engines." (I solved the
problem by putting a later filter head on my early block. Moss did offer
to return my money since it was their fault the part didn't fit. However,
there have been two updates to their catalog since, and they still haven't
fixed the problem!)
I didn't know VB had catalogs for the earlier cars. I've just requested
one & will try them out !
TRF also has kits, usually at reduced prices over the individual parts. I
ordered the body mounting kit last year and am pleased with it.
BTW, legally you are still supposed to pay CA state sales tax on out of
state mail orders. I've never heard of them trying to collect it from
individuals, but some people pay it out of intimidation (my previous
employer did).
Randall
On Friday, February 26, 1999 4:01 PM, Alan Myers
[SMTP:reagntsj@ricochet.net] wrote:
>
> I've been pretty satisfied with V.B. myself. I agree with the comment to
> not bother asking any technical questions.
>
> V.B is doing one thing very smart recently, from a marketing standpoint.
> They are assembling "kits" for more common repairs. For example, a
> complete brake rebuild kit for a 4A.
>
> I do suggest you ask for catalogs for other cars which are likely to
> have inter-changeable parts. With my recent TR4 O/D project, I found a
> "kit" in the TR6 catalog that provides all the bearings, o-rings, seals,
> gaskets, etc. This is a real time-saver & helps insure I get all the
> "most likely" stuff in the garage before I tear things apart. In this
> case, I cross-checked and the parts #'s are the same in the TR3-4A
> catalog. I did find another instance where a part appeared to be
> cheaper, but hope disappeared when I called to find out "prices are
> subect to change without notice".
>
> Of course, there are some folks who need all the catalogs because they
> have at least one of each car! Right, Brad? :-)
>
> Regarding other suppliers, Moss gets stuff to me very quickly, but they
> are about 400 mi. South of here, virtually in the n'hood. My only gripe
> they can't be held responsible for: 7.5% Calif. sales tax on top of the
> parts costs.
>
> British Parts Connection (Moss jobber, I think) has done a very good
> job.
>
> I've been in touch with TSI, BPNW & TR Enterprises, and plan to give em
> each a try in the near future.
>
> I can't say anything about TRF, because I've never used them. I recently
> ordered their catalog, got the price list. I think the catalog is on
> backorder. :-)
>
> FYI: Moss has downloadable Adobe Acrobat catalogs at their website,
> these are searchable, to a degree.
>
>
> Alan Myers
> San Jose, Calif.
> '62 TR4 CT17602L
>
>
>
>
> Dave Massey wrote:
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I use Victoria British most of the time because I prefere their catalog
> > over
> > the others. Vicky are the only ones who list the prices (ok US prices)
> > right there on the page. Most all of the others make you refere to a
> > separate
> > price list with everything listed in numerical order. A royal pain in
the
> > arse, I
> > say.
> >
> > Their inventory isn't as broad as that of Rimmers or even TRF but for
most
> > things they do quite well, thank you. And since I am only across the
state
> > (250 miles) from them I get the parts right quick!
> >
> > Occasionally I will get a part that is not up to snuff but that is true
of
> > any
> > supplier. The beauty of a free market system is that I can return it
and
> > try
> > another source.
> >
> > Just my opinion
> >
> > Dave Massey
>
> --
> MZ?
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