The nieces' Ford Edge crapped a water pump, and since Ford is pants-on-head retarded, the water pump is behind the timing chain(s). From Ford, this is like $800 in parts if I'm going to replace chains and guides while I'm there.
Enter Rock Auto. I find a timing chain set from SA Gear. Is it China garbage? Per their website:
S.A. Gear is the only USA based manufacturer of both timing chains and sprockets for the automotive aftermarket.
I don't 'do' China. That sounds promising, so I order up. Disappointment is inbound:
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I call SA Gear and the nice lady says they do everything in house, until I start pressing, then she admits that 'some' parts come from China,
but not chains. I point out that my chains are clearly marked "Made in China" so they must be fraudulent? Nope, I give her the part number and she instantly admits those come from China. I give her some more part numbers and she instantly admits that those are made in China too.
Then I made up a couple completely fraudulent part numbers and sure enough, 'Taiwan or China'. She wasn't even checking, she didn't need to. If the parts were counterfeit, she should've been raising alarms.
If you think you're getting a quality US-made timing set from them, I caution you. If you're ok with questionable Chinese crap, then that's your choice.
FYI I called Ford, their timing chain parts are all made in Mexico, and NOTHING should be from China. I'm using OE parts so I don't have to do this again for another decade.