does this sprocket look new to you?

[el ess A]

There seems to be some people here that don't seem to know squat about GM service parts.

Service parts will fit and function as per original GM design. It doesn't necessarily mean it'll be the prettiest cosmetically or even look exactly the same. If the car is still in production, that's usually good, because you'll get parts siphoned off from the manufacturer usually that would otherwise go to the assembly line. Basically, a factory part. While I agree that it apparently looks as if it got clattered up in a bin full of other gears, it still looks new, since there's no witness marks. If you're exchanging it because of dinks and slight discoloration from what appears to be a plating/conditioning process, you'll be paying more than you would just buying it from the local dealer. And I'm betting you'll get one that looks just like it in return.

From where I sit, there's NOTHING wrong with that part. It looks new and if that part's what you think is causing you problems, you have something else wrong. If it came in a sealed GM bag, that's pretty much what you are getting.

Problem is, lately, GM is simply taking what appears to be heavy duty sandwich baggies and slapping a label on them if they don't come in a box. They're definitely cutting back on packaging. Plus, maybe they don't have enough boxes in China or Korea, where a lot of GM parts are seemingly made.

Is it exposed? Will you see it? Obviously not, so run it and don't look back.

Plus, the GM list price is $24.90. If you bought that by itself on your order, you would have paid $27 and change to get it to your door. Hopefully you were buying other stuff along with that to reduce your shipping/handling. But then paying shipping again to send it back so you get another part that will likely look the same?

[1Camaro2SS]

I paid $17 for it and also got few other parts for my LS3 conversion but its not about the $$. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't installing someone's returned part. It came in a thin plastic bag which was brown paper bagged. I can tell you that other parts I ordered were in much better shape. The head bolts are all loose in one box and none have dings in the threads although bolts are much lighter in weight of course.

[litle88]

Originally Posted by el ess X

There seems to be some people here that don't seem to know squat about GM service parts.

Service parts will fit and function as per original GM design. It doesn't necessarily mean it'll be the prettiest cosmetically or even look exactly the same. If the car is still in production, that's usually good, because you'll get parts siphoned off from the manufacturer usually that would otherwise go to the assembly line. Basically, a factory part. While I agree that it apparently looks as if it got clattered up in a bin full of other gears, it still looks new, since there's no witness marks. If you're exchanging it because of dinks and slight discoloration from what appears to be a plating/conditioning process, you'll be paying more than you would just buying it from the local dealer. And I'm betting you'll get one that looks just like it in return.

From where I sit, there's NOTHING wrong with that part. It looks new and if that part's what you think is causing you problems, you have something else wrong. If it came in a sealed GM bag, that's pretty much what you are getting.

Problem is, lately, GM is simply taking what appears to be heavy duty sandwich baggies and slapping a label on them if they don't come in a box. They're definitely cutting back on packaging. Plus, maybe they don't have enough boxes in China or Korea, where a lot of GM parts are seemingly made.

Is it exposed? Will you see it? Obviously not, so run it and don't look back.

Plus, the GM list price is $24.90. If you bought that by itself on your order, you would have paid $27 and change to get it to your door. Hopefully you were buying other stuff along with that to reduce your shipping/handling. But then paying shipping again to send it back so you get another part that will likely look the same?

Nice but still speculation. I've ordered gm cam and crank sprockets and they have never looked like that. Nobody can be sure exactyly what happened to it so I wouldn't run it. Just my .2

[1Camaro2SS]

Originally Posted by PQ

Can you post up the other side as well?

And maybe the teeth head on?

I don't like all the nicks and scratches on the whole thing.

New parts aren't supposed to look like that.

I realize that sometimes they do because of how they are made and the packaging and shipping process but I've seem cam sprockets that are WAY cleaner than that.

I agree with the others though. Probably fine.

Here are more pics. I think the part was just not packed and handled carefully but should be ok.

[james347]

Looks new to me. No wear patterns that I can see. Just a rough finish.

[pouncer72]

Looks fine to me

[Ucantctchme]

Run it

[Whipped416]

looks new to me..

[babytiger]

IMO, the first pic in post #18 looks like wear on what is the bottom edge of the sprocket in that pic.

[rockrau]

After heat treating it was probably put in a tumbler to remove scale,then final machining.

[mountsalami]

Sprockets for 40 dollar kids bikes look better than that from Wal-Mart.

[clg_98ta]

GMPartsDirect is a GM dealership parts department, and I would be surprised if they knowingly sent out a used part. They get all their parts through the GM supply line.

New parts do not always look as pristine as you might expect (i mean functional parts as opposed to cosmetic parts), but I see nothing from your pics that would lead me to believe that this is not a genuine new GM part.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by 1Camaro2SS

Here are more pics. I think the part was just not packed and handled carefully but should be ok.

I agree it wasn't run before. And even if it were I'd say it wasn't run long. LOL

BUT that thing looks like shit. Like they threw it in a big bin with a thousand other sprockets and shook it up.

Doesn't have to be pretty on inside. Just has to stay on the front of the cam and in the chain.

[Bo White]

Once the cam cover is installed it wont look like $hit anymore, besides its a cheap sprocket.