Funky visor vinyl.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,946
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Funky visor vinyl.
I purchased a pair of deluxe padded visors from Dennis Carpenter and, as you might be aware they're not inexpensive. They looked dingy when I got them but I knew I was going to dye them anyway, so I figured it would cover. Unfortunately, the defect that made them look that way, is severe porosity in the surface of the vinyl so that they still look terrible even after color coating. Has anyone had this problem or, more importantly found a padded visor of good quality?? It's not the fault of the color coat which is SEM Classic Coat, as I used the same material on the armrests and they look perfect and I have used the SEM products before, finding them to be of high quality. Photo shows the severe porosity in the material.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,946
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Oh, I sent an email to Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts right away, and photos. But like any company who's namesake is not the one conducting the customer care and quality control...they have't been quick to respond. In fact, not at all. I don't really want to turn this into a rant....well, actually I do. Not to mention the fasteners I received with the wrong thread pitch, wrong size fasteners, missing components, wire loom sliced through the insulation...etc. But more to the point, I need to find some visors that are of good quality and I'm afraid that DC may be the only game in town, having their overseas contract make all that are available?!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 8
Sorry your having problems. Also experienced problems with some of their stuff in the past. But think you hit the nail on the head - quality control with their suppliers.
Had a friend with the same visor problem. Bad material. He ordered replacements, but same bad material.
He ended up going to the local bone yard and picked up a couple passenger side (non-lighted) mirrors, and took the visors to a local auto interior place and had them recovered. AND padded to boot. Didn't have to paint match them because they had an exact match to his seats.
My friend, you build such nice machines. Add that little touch your so good at. However, I'd still see if they'd make good - just because. :-)
Had a friend with the same visor problem. Bad material. He ordered replacements, but same bad material.
He ended up going to the local bone yard and picked up a couple passenger side (non-lighted) mirrors, and took the visors to a local auto interior place and had them recovered. AND padded to boot. Didn't have to paint match them because they had an exact match to his seats.
My friend, you build such nice machines. Add that little touch your so good at. However, I'd still see if they'd make good - just because. :-)
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,946
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MR...
Kind of figured these would be the only game in town. I mostly (90%) solved the problem by laying the visors flat, spraying the color coat on heavy (until it puddled) and used a small piece of neoprene rubber as a squeegee to force and flow the coating into the porous areas. It was a little tricky to get it to look right and working quickly before it dried and it took a lot...a whole can of spray...to lay it on thick enough to look decent. Just in case anyone has to deal with these...
Interestingly, no representative from Dennis Carpenter has ever replied. I guess nobody is home there!
Kind of figured these would be the only game in town. I mostly (90%) solved the problem by laying the visors flat, spraying the color coat on heavy (until it puddled) and used a small piece of neoprene rubber as a squeegee to force and flow the coating into the porous areas. It was a little tricky to get it to look right and working quickly before it dried and it took a lot...a whole can of spray...to lay it on thick enough to look decent. Just in case anyone has to deal with these...
Interestingly, no representative from Dennis Carpenter has ever replied. I guess nobody is home there!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Seems over past several months, I have ordered and rec'd items from Ford Supplier's, who in the past I considered offered quality merchandise but lately items arrived with 'made in xxxx' stamped on the box. Most recent MotorCraft voltage regulator with made in china printed on box, the female pins on the harness are larger than the male pins on the regulator, solution used electrical tape to secure harness to box? 
Also a made in china ignition switch and key assembly that lasted 2 months. Ordered replacements this a.m. and decided no longer ordering thru regular sources and try purchasing thru supplier's who claim items are NOS or OEM, pay a bit more but made to fit, if not told salesperson to expect a return package. Anyhow, had the urge to vent.
Also a made in china ignition switch and key assembly that lasted 2 months. Ordered replacements this a.m. and decided no longer ordering thru regular sources and try purchasing thru supplier's who claim items are NOS or OEM, pay a bit more but made to fit, if not told salesperson to expect a return package. Anyhow, had the urge to vent.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
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Dave:
Reading the posts here on FTE, it seems to be a common complaint. I think this is the best place to vent, as members often ask where to find quality parts. It may be the only leverage we have when demanding quality, as some of the vendors obviously don't respond to complaints. I have been very disappointed in Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts in this regard...he looks like a caring American on the catalog cover, not a cheapo overseas substitute peddler. How's that for venting, Dave!?
Reading the posts here on FTE, it seems to be a common complaint. I think this is the best place to vent, as members often ask where to find quality parts. It may be the only leverage we have when demanding quality, as some of the vendors obviously don't respond to complaints. I have been very disappointed in Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts in this regard...he looks like a caring American on the catalog cover, not a cheapo overseas substitute peddler. How's that for venting, Dave!?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 5
From: Ahwatukee
It's sad. Thing made in China - and especially auto parts - are often made so poorly they wouldn't pass any kind of quality inspection. I sure hope the business environment gets better for American manufacturers before they're all gone.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver
Dave:
Reading the posts here on FTE, it seems to be a common complaint. I think this is the best place to vent, as members often ask where to find quality parts. It may be the only leverage we have when demanding quality, as some of the vendors obviously don't respond to complaints. I have been very disappointed in Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts in this regard...he looks like a caring American on the catalog cover, not a cheapo overseas substitute peddler. How's that for venting, Dave!?
Reading the posts here on FTE, it seems to be a common complaint. I think this is the best place to vent, as members often ask where to find quality parts. It may be the only leverage we have when demanding quality, as some of the vendors obviously don't respond to complaints. I have been very disappointed in Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts in this regard...he looks like a caring American on the catalog cover, not a cheapo overseas substitute peddler. How's that for venting, Dave!?
I have said repeatedly that I would pay two or three times as much if I could buy a part that is indistinguishable from the original. I wonder if there is an untapped market there...
Eric
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
My experience has not only been w/ a particular Ford part supplier but also other Ford part sources I have purchased from in the past. Kinda got it narrowed down to Ford part supplier and type of component I am looking for?
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 376
Likes: 4
I've had issues with DC lately as well , ordered qty of 2 of the same part # and received 2 totally different looking parts , 1 fit and the other did not . I did get a response from them and they acted like i was trying to pull a fast one on them and would not correct the issue and replace it with a matched part . I have decided i will take my business and money elsewhere from now on .