[Rev]

O.E.M. parts are usually far superior to the "run of the mill" auto parts store stuff. The problem with salvage yard parts is that it's often difficult to tell how much use they've had. At Pick Your Part yards where you actually get to see the wrecked car and pull the part your self, you actually have a fighting chance to get a relatively unused part. What always happens to me is that they have already pulled the part and inventoried it. It's just sitting on a shelf somewhere in the back. They just bring it up to the front counter and that's x$.

On the other hand, I've probably had 4-5 Duralast alternators from AutoZone over the last 10 years. I get another lifetime warranty on each one and the replacement takes 45 minutes. If I wasn't such a cheapskate, I could probably buy a new one from Ford that would last 10 years.

Rev