NOS vs. OEM

[goodnigh]

What is the difference between NOS and OEM.

My mechanic says they mean the same.

I disagree.

mike

 

[72HCODE]

New old stock.

Original Equipment manufacturer

so NOS would be original parts made from 71-73 for your car in the original packaging. ford replacement parts, service parts, etc

OEM, a part that was made later and could be used on 71-73 cars but is not exactly the same as the original part.

So lets say you have a NOS switch, then its a direct replacement for the original.

verse OEM a switch made by the original manufacturer but designed to fit a different car but could be used in place of a NOS part if you cannot find it.

differences could be slight differences to shape or finish, difference in feel, mechanically or electrically the part would act as the original.

 

[midlife]

OEM can imply a used part; NOS means a part never installed on a car.

 

[mrmach1]

OEM can imply a used part; NOS means a part never installed on a car.

You are absolutely correct sir. NOS= NEW-OLD-STOCK. I could sell you a part from my car and it could be OEM but never NOS. OEM might be better sometimes because NOS parts might be so because they were substandard or damaged so they were never used like a fender damaged in transit and refused by the body shop.

 

[1973grandeklar]

OEM can also mean that I can go to Autozone and buy a Motorcraft part that is called "OEM". But the part was recently made and as stated above, may look and feel slightly different.

I can attest to this fact. As a plastics injection molder of Ford products, we molded Ford fan shrouds for the Ford service division for Mustangs that were some 20 years old (sorry we do not have the molds for the anything older than 1990). These molds have gone through several revisions to fit production designs. However, the tools would be backward compatible with older models. In several cases, the backward compatibility was us molding the part and then cutting out a section. This was not how the original production parts ware made, but the shroud still works as a Ford service replacement made on Ford tooling. This would be considered OEM not NOS.