This topic led me to spend some time reading about the reman business. It turned out to be pretty interesting, with implications regarding the viability of US manufacturing in the face of globalization. But I'll set that discussion topic aside for now.
I looked at the two NAPA catalogs for a few different car applications. It looks like they're moving to a lot of imported parts--either whole alternators or remans put together with Chinese components.
For some applications, including the '97 Cavalier in question, the Rayloc "premium remanufactured" is still around. I suspect this is probably still a pretty good product. Keeping MNgopher's warning in mind, I would still be willing to give one of those a try.
The regular Rayloc reman probably has the Chinese parts inside it.
One thing that I'm displeased about is that they don't have a "premium" reman listing for one of my cars, only two "regular" remans--one from Remy and one from Motorcar Parts of America of Torrance, Calif. I don't trust either of them. I'd probably have to go with a new Denso (the OE brand) from RockAuto for that car--for lots of money.
