Where are Case Savers made?

BoxsterGT · 07-20-2013, 06:02 AM

Where are "Case Savers" made? I hope not China.

I am hearing about tolerance issues with "case savers", and the first question that comes to mind is: are they now made in China?

Getting concerned as I have (5) engines to do over the next few months.

Len

mamut · 07-20-2013, 06:55 AM

Everything is made in China now days, (well almost) so maybe it is a sure bet, but, stuff from China is becoming better thou.,cheers, Stef.

Alan Goettel · 07-20-2013, 07:14 AM

+1 to above.

Maybe talk to Charles @ LN.

Hi Len!

911pcars · 07-20-2013, 10:06 AM

It all depends. Does that also mean that everything made in the US is golden? I think we know (or knew) better. It could also require accepting and/or rejecting possible Case-Saver candidates with full knowledge and understanding of their source (IOW, perform a DIY quality control for them).

I haven't inspected Case-Savers up close. Aren't they basically an internally and externally-threaded insert? As an option, could be replicated/fabricated locally if the genuine article no longer fits the bill (yeah, more expensive too). However, I don't think we have to elevate this item to what is normally sold by RaceWare, ARP or other high-end fastener source.

Sherwood

Jeff Alton · 07-20-2013, 08:39 PM

Maybe give Ollies a call and ask George or Ike where theirs are made? We just got a 7R case back from them but never worried about asking where they sourced their inserts.

HawgRyder · HawgRyder's Garage

I believe it is correct to ask where parts are made.
In the military...I was checking some hardware...and found defective bolts that had just come in from the supplier.
They were supposed to be stainless...but a magnet stuck to them...not to the old ones in the bin...only the new ones.
Further investigation revealed the supplier had sub-contracted all future deliveries to an off-shore source.
They lost the contract immediately and a new source was found...it took us weeks to go through all the past hardware to check it all.
Always question parts...look carefully ...ask if not satisfied with anything....it is your baby...and you are the last line of defence.
Bob

Jeff Alton · 07-20-2013, 09:44 PM

Bob,

In this case, dealing with the sub trade in question, their reputation is beyond reproach. We never asked because they only use suitable hardware and their work is world class. However, I do agree that if one is concerned, then one should seek the source of the products.

911pcars · 07-20-2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawgRyder

I believe it is correct to ask where parts are made.
In the military...I was checking some hardware...and found defective bolts that had just come in from the supplier.
They were supposed to be stainless...but a magnet stuck to them...not to the old ones in the bin...only the new ones.
Further investigation revealed the supplier had sub-contracted all future deliveries to an off-shore source.
They lost the contract immediately and a new source was found...it took us weeks to go through all the past hardware to check it all.
Always question parts...look carefully ...ask if not satisfied with anything....it is your baby...and you are the last line of defence.
Bob

Some stainless alloys are magnetic. Wow. That was big mistake on the manufacturer's end.

Sherwood

BoxsterGT · 07-21-2013, 03:15 AM

Whatever source they are from, more & more of recent ones are out of spec. Perhaps its time to contact ARP or Raceware.

Len

chris_seven · 07-21-2013, 05:22 AM

The only real way to buy any critical fastener is to specify the specification/standard required and buy them for 'qualified' suppliers.

For example we always buy Unbrako Socket Cap Heads for CV joints from a local supplier (NSSS) who have ISO 9001 Quality Approval.

Whilst not traceable to Aero standards it is a pretty good bet that we are buying a high quality fastener from an reliable supplier.

It is interesting that Unbrako is now owned by Deepak Fasteners in India but still seem to be produce high quality parts.

I imagine that the issue with case savers is that they are manufactured in small batches (by fastener standards) by companies with limited inspection and quality control and there will always be a risk.

I prefer to stick with Timerserts and Bigserts for just this reason.

Jack Stands · Jack Stands's Garage

I'm not familiar with bigserts, but I can tell you from personal experience that Timeserts can pull out from magnesium cases. As time goes by, people learn what works and what doesn't (can anyone say Dilivar?), and you just have to try to use your best information available at the time.

chris_seven · 07-21-2013, 08:32 AM

If the quality of case savers is becoming variable then the risk in using them seems just too great.

With a Time sert at least you have the back up option of fitting either a case saver or Big Sert if the original does pull but if a case saver fails then there is nothing else left.

I think Time serts are quite good of they are fitted correctly and we always have the cases prepared in a machine shop to ensure that they are 'square' as this factor has a significant impact on strength.

We have probably only fitted around 6 sets but haven't had any issues so far.

digdug · 07-22-2013, 07:15 AM

I dont know where they were made but I have a full set of case savers which I bought about 5 years ago I would sell. For some reason I bought two sets when rebuilding my 2.7

Synchro Joe · Synchro Joe's Garage

If box says made by TM Design works or something like that it's People's Republic of China. Used a lot of them on motorcycle cases, about 50/50 quality wise and fit was not always up to spec. Suspect you're looking at PRC manufacturer.

BoxsterGT · 12:46 PM

digdug- I am very interested. Would you please email me your info and a photo of the label on the box. Does it say where they are made on the box?

You can email me by going to my user name and picking "send email".

Thanks,

Len

Dodge Man · Dodge Man's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

Whatever source they are from, more & more of recent ones are out of spec. Perhaps its time to contact ARP or Raceware.

Len

ARP was founded by a couple of aerospace engineers that had to deal with aerospace bolts and were not happy with automotive aftermarket bolts back in the day. I worked on a thread rolling machine years ago for ARP and the specs were very tight. However, does ARP or Raceware make the insert sets? ARP or Raceware have just the studs because that is their business of bolts/studs. Case Savers seem to be the way to go because Case Savers have enough thread shear area to hold their ground even though the piston oiler passage is close. Magnesium tends to be brittle and coarse threads may be better here. I use buttress threads on my live line tool's plastic threads operating at cryogenic temps(to get shear area on plastic). Coarse threads make sense to me here with brittle or soft base material. Case Savers require an experienced machine shop but that is a good thing in the long run of reliability & shop warranty. You can always get some thread micrometers and/or thread wire attachments for your micrometers to measure the Case Saver inserts. Measuring threads is not a fun job especially if the threads are tapered (PITA-been there done that). Select the best & return the rest after measuring or maybe just call Ollie's in Lake Havasu, AZ? I am waiting to see the country of origin too!! Best of luck to you Len.