AC - Alternators Why all Remanufactured?

[Hair]

I was looking at AC Delco Alternators for my truck (98 GMC 1500 SLE 5.0) and I have noticed that every alternator that I find is "remanufactured", the local GM dealer's are "remanufactured". The GM parts online companies that I've looked at have remanufactured as well; no new listed.

Not a big deal I guess, I can use a rebuilt one, but it just seems like a feller should be able to buy a new one. 1998? I have shoes older than that.

Why are they all remanufactured? Are there no new ones left? What's the deal on that, have all the spare stock alternators that were made been used up already? How does that system work?... or is there some secret way to acquire new unused parts?

[rickpilgrim]

GM "farms out" many of their electrical component to either subdivisions or independent suppliers (AC Delco etc) who are under contract to supply X components per month. Of course a percentage of these components are defective and sent back to where the came from and are "rebuilt" to GM specs and returned to GM who will not install a "rebuilt" component on a new vehicle.
Now when I worked at the Chevy Dealership most electrical parts coming from GM where top quality re manufactured ones as were transmissions, engines steering boxes etc as the price difference is about 25-35% less, and also meet GM spec so no problem with vehicle warranty and service life. Add to that many independent shops rebuild these components from wrecking yards etc and dump them on the market.
Now if you wanted a new alternator for your 1-2 yr old vehicle your dealer could add one to his "line order" and in a week or two it would arrive. GM does not have a stock of "new" alternators laying around, with a 1/2% defective rate on 500,000 vehicles they have plenty of "re manufactured" to stock.
Sorry to say your trucks alternator is not used in current production and the few overage new units are long gone from warehouse/dealer stock yrs ago. That means if you buy a rebuilt from a GM dealer that meets the same spec as the one that came on your truck, and should provide the same quality/durability as OE.
Everyone else's rebuilt may or may not meet GM spec so lifespan of those components varies greatly.

[speedygonzales]

Can't answer why you can't find a new one. The disturbing part of all this is some vendors never mention that fact. This one for example never says anything about being reman. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ad...make/chevrolet

There are very few items I would consider using other than OEM. The alternator is one of them. The powermaster is superior to OEM which is rare for electrical parts.

Since I have electric cooling fans, I need more power than OEM can provide. Been using this one for years.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pw...et/model/k1500

[gmachinz]

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...619&cc=1304660

I use Rockauto for quite a few things-NEW Delco Remy alternators is one such item. They also have the 140A version for your truck for about $12 more. Even with a little shipping, they absolutely kill the parts store on price-why you can't get Remy brand at any parts store is sad. Make sure to look Google for "retail me not" for the current rockauto discount code for 5% off.