Opinions on Elgin HPV valves

[Kevin Johnson]

That is true...China can make things as cheap as you wish...just the quality will reflect your choice.

And the forced IP transfer is a benefit. Ask the manufacturers who compete against their own products with no recourse.

[ProPower engines]

I have been using the Elgin valve for many years. I will say there is a difference in quality between some of there part numbers in the HPV line and of the same size.
That said they used to be made in the US then they went to china. Over the years since they are cheap enough I always would get 2 sets and take the best 8 12 or 16 as the case my be after checking for stem runout and taper of the stem.

Lately they have been really good but at times they have been the shits and could not be used in a honed guide if your life depended on it. They have no performance options for imports but they do have a decent stock replacement selection for imports.

The main reason for me to use them is a local supplier sells and stocks a good selection and quantity of the popular sizes.
Mostly I use Manley but will use the engine pro race line. They are also made in Argentina like Ferria is.
The EP valves are better quality materials and have more consistant machining or sizing.
The EP valves are also offered in several different quality levels and have a good selection of +.100 and +.250 long BBC stuff as well as others. Manley takes care of the other valve need's for me.

I will be sure to call now and comfirm they are coming out of argentina now next time I need entry level valves for something.

[ProPower engines]

I have never used any of the BBC valves. But I have used the SBC and LS valves. Both clearly say on the box, "Made in Argentina."

Just for fun what is the production date on the box's you have???

[falcongeorge]

Anyone have any comments on the actual quality of these valves to add? "Made in China" really isn't very useful in this day and age.

I do not mind quality-made parts from wherever. I don't especially like a company deliberately trading on "made-in-the-USA" being conflated with "made-in-the-USA quality."

Just in case that is not clear: they are artfully playing you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My emphasis:

Premier engine builders representing virtually every racing and street-performance category share a “secret” – their reliance on leading-edge Elgin® PRO-STOCK® parts.

By choosing the perfect combination of advanced metallurgies, ultra-modern design and construction, and made-in-the-USA quality, Elgin helps performance specialists take their engines from good to great. And that’s where bragging rights begin.

When it comes to choosing performance valves for your engine, you can be certain that with the
Elgin PRO STOCK brand, you are getting the finest materials, design and manufactured quality at the absolute
best value.

I'm trying to remember how they worded it when they first got into the rocker arm market. IIRC, they harped on about how they were an "American company", I have yet to see a SINGLE Chinese company selling speed equipment, I can't think of ONE. The Chinese manufacture stuff to order, for a price. They leave the Americans to do the marketing.

[Kevin Johnson]

... I have yet to see a SINGLE Chinese company selling speed equipment, I can't think of ONE. The Chinese manufacture stuff to order, for a price. They leave the Americans to do the marketing.

I think the language is a big barrier.

https://www.google.com.hk/search?safe=s ... CAc&uact=5

https://chinese.alibaba.com/g/racing-engine-parts.html

https://www.bjrperformance.com/about-us.html

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There are plenty of gearheads in China. Winston spoke about his experiences there.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl7mAG ... s8rhhh8XZg

[falcongeorge]

... I have yet to see a SINGLE Chinese company selling speed equipment, I can't think of ONE. The Chinese manufacture stuff to order, for a price. They leave the Americans to do the marketing.

I think the language is a big barrier.

https://www.google.com.hk/search?safe=s ... CAc&uact=5

https://chinese.alibaba.com/g/racing-engine-parts.html

https://www.bjrperformance.com/about-us.html

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There are plenty of gearheads in China. Winston spoke about his experiences there.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl7mAG ... s8rhhh8XZg

I should have phrased that differently, the point I was attempting to make was that there are no Chinese companies attempting to invade the domestic aftermarket parts industry, the prevalence of Chinese made parts is because of the US based companies contracting with Chinese manufacturers.
Interesting video. I was in China (mostly Suzhou, also Shanghai and Wuxi) in the late nineties, but the way things are changing all over SE Asia, that may as well have been a million years ago. The growth in Suzhou, even at that time, was like nothing I have ever seen in the west. I should have known there would be an indigenous aftermarket motorcycle industry, as I have been in Vietnam a number of times over the last 15 years, and have witnessed the modified motorcycle scene over there just EXPLODE in that time period. I liken my first trip over to Vietnam to going to Southern California immediately post-war, and then seeing what happened with the hot rod industry there over the ensuing 15 years, that's what its been like in Vietnam. When I first went there, it was just getting off the ground, there were a few tiny back-alley shops modifying Honda 125's, and now, 15 years later, there are glossy, high-end shops on main streets, and its relatively common to see large CC, heavily modified sportbikes in traffic. The middle class has also experienced the same kind of exponential growth in Vietnam as it did in the US in the 15 years following WWII. Its really something to see, and when you look at what is happening here, it doesn't really bode well for our future. I often tell people, "Don't worry, those low paying manufacturing jobs will come back, the way things are changing over there, in another ten years WE will be the third world".
FWIW, I have an 11 year old daughter, she speaks English, French, Vietnamese and Mandarin. The choice of those particular languages was no accident. The best way for her to have a chance of having a meaningful career in a pacific rim city is for her to be able to act as a liaison across those cultures.

[MadBill]

That is true...China can make things as cheap as you wish...just the quality will reflect your choice.

"There is no product or service that cannot be made cheaper and worse."

[falcongeorge]

That is true...China can make things as cheap as you wish...just the quality will reflect your choice.

"There is no product or service that cannot be made cheaper and worse."

The globalist mantra...

[Kevin Johnson]

...
"There is no product or service that cannot be made cheaper and worse."

MadBill Ruskin again, eh?







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https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_ruskin_395451

[MadBill]

Widely attributed to but much-disputed, and a condensed version.

[Kevin Johnson]

Widely attributed to but much-disputed, and a condensed version.

I have first hand experience with the iterated decimation of reference texts in the stacks: knowledge lost irretrievably.

During the War, many collections were lost as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_l ... ed_Kingdom

I will trust that the incoming president of the Royal Statistical Society cited Mr. Ruskin correctly in 1944.

Ruskin a.gif

Ruskin.gif

[Racerrick]

I have used the China Elgin valves in boats, 2bbl oval track, basic drag and stock stuff for years and have yet to see one fail. The sizing, stem finish, out of round, finish on the 45 is so much better on elgins than the EPWI's junk line of engine pro valves its sad. I always have to polish the all the stems , regrind them and custom fit the guides cause the Engine provalve stems vary by a .001 everytime.
For the money Elgin are the best valve out there.

[Mark O'Neal]

Elgin manufactures most, if not all, of their own products. They are not simply a distributor.

I have used their valves, cams and other engine parts with good success over the years.

I don't believe they grind their own cams. They're the same as Melling and come from American something-or-other. Their oil pumps are Melling...and most everything else they sell is reboxed.