I was thinking the same thing. In fact after I have welded and reinforced it I can guarantee that it will be stronger than the OEM part. Will see what develops next week. One problem may be that I was trying to persuade the dealer to send me the parts and I will do it myself.

 

What a wonderful weekend project - - take a parts manual and see what a new Ram would cost if you ordered every individual part including bolts, nuts, etc. I'll bet that sucker would cost $700,000. Many years ago a friend who owns a body shop told me a 1988 (if I remember correct) Chev Impala would cost something like $180,000 if all the part were ordered from GM. Then you would have the fun of assembling the mess. The cost of parts is really stupid. $75 for that little piece of metal - - you gotta be kidding.<br><br>DumfoundedBob, or<br><br>InTheWrongBusinessBob

 

YouGottaRememberBob,

Business like auto manufacturers are in many phases of the sales chain. They a customer to the sub-contractor for many items. Some of the sub-contractors are diversified into defense manufacturing say toilet seats for the Air Force at $700.00 a J. C. Crapper. The auto manufacturer gets a break from the sub-contracter since his pockets aren't as deep as Uncle Sam's, the toilet seat only cost say $200.00.

The auto manufacturer has multiple prices for the various roles the item will have. In costing out the manufactured product, your truck, the actual cost of the part to the auto manufacturer. Then there is cost to the dealer as a replacement part. The suggested retail price for the part is another price. The actual price a dealer charges his customer, may not be a single price, various percent discounts depending on who the person is, their age, customer loyalty incentives.

While I was a poor struggling university student I sold for a manufacturer. I had 5 printed price lists I was allowed to use.
If I wanted to make any sales I never sold from #5 the Manufacturers Suggested List Price. It was 20% higher than #4.
Most sales were made on #3 or #4 list. My employer wasn't unhappy when I sold from list #1 which had the least markup, 60% over his cost.

Figures don't lie however liers figure. Some prices quoted have the purpose of making the customer believe he got a great deal from a very generous business. Some figures are for the corporate balance sheets, ie. Profit and Loss Statements. :'(

 

And you have to figure:
(probably not correct, but good for argument )


Exact same alternator bracket, but different part numbers:
In a Neon, $35.00
In a Stratus, $40.00
In a Caravan, $50.00
In a $35-$40,000.00 Ram truck, $75.00


phox

 

[quote author=phox_mulder link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139135 date=1053141307]<br>And you have to figure:<br>(probably not correct, but good for argument )<br><br><br>Exact same alternator bracket, but different part numbers:<br>In a Neon, $35.00<br>In a Stratus, $40.00<br>In a Caravan, $50.00<br>In a $35-$40,000.00 Ram truck, $75.00<br><br><br>phox<br>[/quote]<br><br>Man I would travel big distance to see a 24v CTD in a Neon or a Caravan.. <br><br>Years ago when I was in Ferd skool one instructor mentioned to us that 1/3 the price of the vehicle was actually the cost to build it (parts, lab and engineering) 1/3 was advertising and 1/3 was profit. I never confirmed this, but many people down the road I mentioned this to did not dispute it.<br>Look at the difference in the Exhaust brake prices around, dealer wanted 1250, Cummins wanted 16xx, and IF you ordered your truck with it, what was it 400 bucks???<br>

 

[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139187 date=1053166264]<br>[quote author=phox_mulder link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139135 date=1053141307]<br>And you have to figure:<br>(probably not correct, but good for argument )<br><br><br>Exact same alternator bracket, but different part numbers:<br>In a Neon, $35.00<br>In a Stratus, $40.00<br>In a Caravan, $50.00<br>In a $35-$40,000.00 Ram truck, $75.00<br><br><br>phox<br>[/quote]<br><br>Man I would travel big distance to see a 24v CTD in a Neon or a Caravan.. <br><br>[/quote]<br><br>no, no, no, no, not a CTD in a Neon, but the same Dodge alternator bracket being used in each of those vehicles.<br>Maybe alternator bracket wasn't a good choice for the example, but it kept it on topic.<br>How bout something simpler like a blinker relay.<br>The more the vehicle costs new, the more the relay will cost, even though it is the exact same part.<br><br>phox

 

[quote author=phox_mulder link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139226 date=1053183810]<br>[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139187 date=1053166264]<br>[quote author=phox_mulder link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139135 date=1053141307]<br>And you have to figure:<br>(probably not correct, but good for argument )<br><br><br>Exact same alternator bracket, but different part numbers:<br>In a Neon, $35.00<br>In a Stratus, $40.00<br>In a Caravan, $50.00<br>In a $35-$40,000.00 Ram truck, $75.00<br><br><br>phox<br>[/quote]<br><br>Man I would travel big distance to see a 24v CTD in a Neon or a Caravan.. <br><br>[/quote]<br><br>no, no, no, no, not a CTD in a Neon, but the same Dodge alternator bracket being used in each of those vehicles.<br>Maybe alternator bracket wasn't a good choice for the example, but it kept it on topic.<br>How bout something simpler like a blinker relay.<br>The more the vehicle costs new, the more the relay will cost, even though it is the exact same part.<br><br>phox<br>[/quote]<br><br>Well I'd still drive a long way to see the blinker relay in a Cummins Turbo Diesel Neon.....

 

Spots, you are incorrigible! Heck no, wait a minute. It's not just you. Come to think of it, there are many others on this forum that are just as bad - and maybe worse

 

[quote author=Mexstan link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139246 date=1053188137]<br>Spots, you are incorrigible! <br>[/quote]<br><br>Why thank you, thank you very much.... ;D ;D

 

See! I rest my case.

 

Maybe the owner here could start a &quot;Cummins Neon&quot; forum?

 

Has this bracket been replaced under warranty?

 

It will be this coming week on mine. &gt; ;D

 

[quote author=MUDDY link=board=20;threadid=14611;start=45#139305 date=1053202141]<br>mines onthe way. the dlr knew not of tsb till i showe him copy. thanks to members of this site.<br><br>now im dreadin the dlr monkeys wrenchin on my rig<br>[/quote]<br><br>Ditto to all of the above. :'( &gt;

 

Wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone on catching the cracked alternator bracket. I've been extrodinarily busy lately, and haven't been on much, but I did see this thread...well..youknow therest. My dealer says the nearest replacement bracket is in California somewhere, and it will be here somtime next week. I hope it doesn't break in the meantime. (He also had no idea of the TSB untill I showed him) Once again, Thanx Y'all. <br> CatCracker.