I’ve never understood the argument “tariffs never work” yet it seems like every other country has been sticking it to use with a tariff for years. Or, “why are we starting a tariff war?” Well, from what we are learning, it seems the war had already been started. We just finally woke up to being screwed. Why did we allow India to put a 50% tariff on Harleys?
I enjoy reading everyone’s thoughts on this subject. But doesn’t it bother anyone that we have gotten to the point were we can’t make a diode, transistor or cap in this country? It would be ok if those components were outdated technology, but I’m pretty sure, we still need them.
Bill do you own the tooling that was created? Can it be saved? Decades ago, I had parts made in China that I had designed for the company I worked for. Maybe things have changed, but we owned the tooling and actually at one point had it shipped here so we could use a local injection molding company. Your point about chroming is frustrating.
“Lol” … the post referenced all the factories closing and no parts will be available anymore. I stated the parts will still be available but just cost more. I dont think anyone posted that they like to pay more for parts.
Since I am the source of the parts so I think I may have the inside line on availability. This began with the stroke of a pen and it can end with a stroke of a pen. There is absolutely no one that would be happier for this situation to be rectified. But in the meantime I hope that the current inventory lasts for a while.
Yes I own the tooling. For small injection molded plastic parts it is possible to move the tool. However the process we use to put the “chrome” on the plastic and the secondary pad printing that puts the paint on the items is not something we can move.
The die cast metal part tools are not compatible with the machines currently available. We need to find 20 to 30 year old machines to make that work. Even then I would have to pay the tariff on the tools and any machines I wanted to buy and then find some one to arrange the shipping and that is extremely difficult right now.
There are plenty of injection molding companies in the US. I know as I sell injection molding machines to many of them in metro Detroit. Small, medium, large and global companies producing parts for many industries but, being in SE MI, mainly automotive. There are high quality/high precision organizations, low quality/low price shops and all kinds of variations between. From talking to my colleagues around the country my territory is not unique in that customer make-up.
Chrome plating plastic parts left this country years ago. There are alternatives such as vacuum metallizing that are still done in the US though that process is used in mostly non-contact parts-mainly lighting components.
Please take a look at the parts I have on Desert Classic Parts and see if there is anything that you think can be made in the USA. I did the exercise back in 2020 when the first 25% tariff was put in place. I could find people to do the die casting, but not polishing or chrome plating or secondary processes like painting.
Most of the sheet metal is made in Taiwan, not China, but most anything chrome with the exception of bumpers, especially anything plastic that is chromed is from China.
I see no parts that could not be molded at some of my customers. I can’t speak to your volume requirements nor their price structures though I would think a “Made in USA” label would help offset any price increase you would see. None of my customers (injection molding companies) offer the traditional chrome plating service though there is a SE MI company called Vacuum Orna-metal that does plastic part restoration and re-plating. I don’t know if they would plate newly molded parts though I can’t think of a reason why.
If you’d like, please feel free to reach out to me directly at eight 1 zero five 2 three 2 three four four. I’m always happy to talk about car parts and plastics!
I will give you a call. Molding is a start but it is only the start. If it can’t be played or painted then it doesn’t count. Wet process like plating and painting seem to be the stumbling point
jimjific said “But doesn’t it bother anyone that we have gotten to the point were we can’t make a diode, transistor or cap in this country?”
It bugs me to NO END!!! I’ve been pissed at our senior executives selling off their intellectual property (designs and technical know-how) to foreign nations for decades. Why - their golden parachutes and huge bonuses. It has made me sick to my stomach forever!!!
Bill, I respect your courage in presenting this real issue facing our hobby, and the very polished and professional way you presented it. For you and many others involved in the production of replacement parts at a cost effective level is both a passion and a source of return on your investment. Any Cougar lover should be appreciative.
Letting us know there are impending repercussions is a gift, and not a judgment. Everyone can have their opinions about geopolitical finance practices, but…for us this will be real, and it may result in sacrifices of things we wish we could have, an therein lies the conundrum for us all.
First i’d like to say to everyone who has or does make a repro part Thank you! It is a risk and remember 30 years ago talking to a vendor about making repro wheel lip moldings. Volume for a Cougar has always been a stumbling block. I remember TFS 4V FE intake became unavailable during covid and never was made since. It was made in the USA, but the casting foundry went under and the tooling was specific to their foundry. TFS lost the investment and guess not up for another round.
That all said if China can crumble this fast, and if so, cannot politically figure out a way to rebalance trade so it works then won’t be long until they are not the manufacturer of everything. Lots of other countries that look like they already have their sites on taking business from China and they are all lined up to make a deal with the USA. Yes, part of this is bringing manufacturing back to the USA, but also balancing trade which is not all about tariffs, but also trade barriers.
Hopefully we will see some things like chroming come back to the USA. A lot of effort being taken to reduce regulation. Where this all will go cannot say. I will say the old car hobby is a niece market. I’d say we all should contact our congressman and let them know this is an area that should be exempted from tariffs for unique one off stuff.
Went to Home Depot and they are starting to run out of stuff. Nothing really noticeable to me but that is what the manager told me. They have been raising prices for the last ten days.
We’ve traditionally run trade surpluses with the UK, so this deal is largely symbolic and unlikely to result in any measurable balance of trade improvements.
I doubt anyone will want to make Cougar or Mustang parts in China any more. Other countries will likely be much cheaper. Relationships will have to be built. The day of bargain priced Cougar parts is likely over. We will see how long it takes for the Mustang guys.