Stoddard Repro Rear Bumper Guards

Message

Stephen Dempsey · #1 Post by **Stephen Dempsey** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:21 pm

I am beginning to learn my lesson when it comes to buying parts.

Recently at the Stoddard swap meet I picked up a pair of their reproduction rear bumper guards for my 64C.

I'm very disappointed. They just aren't right.

The main problem is with the stud that holds the exhaust funnel on. It is MUCH longer than the one on the original guard and when installation of the funnel is attempted, it is necessary to use a stack of washers under the supplied nut and lock washer to get the funnel to "snug up". Then, it sticks out about an inch outside the funnel and can be seen from the side.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what have you done? Or, should I just pack them up and send them back?

Thanks.

Steve Dempsey
Lake Ozark, MO

ed martin · #2 Post by **ed martin** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:56 pm

Why don't you just cut the stud down? A lot of aftermarket products require a little craftsmanship to make them fit.

Pete Archibald · #3 Post by **Pete Archibald** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:00 pm

Unfortunately it's not that easy - if I recall correctly the stud in question is partially threaded. If you cut it down enough to be the right length, you would also have to cut new threads in a pretty substantial piece of metal.

Another case of it taking just as much to make it wrong as it would have to make it right! And it's not just Stoddard...

Vince Cappelletti · Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:07 pm

Ed, Listers,
Perhaps because he feels that since he purchased them from Stoddard's
(correct me if I'm wrong) that they should be reasonably correct.
--------
I certainly know that if I purchased them and the studs were too long, I
would be on the horn for a R.A. and they would be on their way back to
Stoddard's in a heartbeat.
--------
I recently was involved with the purchase of a simple set of Bumper
Brackets, which turned out to be crap. They went back
immediately, for full credit.
--------
Stoddard's needs to know when the items they are selling are not "EXZACTLY"
correct, because it's obvious they don't have the incoming QA checking that
they have had in the past.
---------
Believe me, they will appreciate knowing they have something wrong..and
they'll take the necessary steps to correct it.
-----------
No affiliation with Stoddard's just a long time satisfied for over 30-years.
Thanks for Keeping the Faith in the 356.
Regards,
Vince Cappelletti
Registry Member #5491
Rep F/MainlyCustomByDesignInc.

----- Original Message -----
From: "ed martin" <thegoodeye@verizon.net>
To: <356talk@356registry.com>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 6:56 PM
Subject: [356Talk] Stoddard Repro Rear Bumper Guards

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Ron LaDow · #5 Post by **Ron LaDow** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:11 pm

Pete,

"Another case of it taking just as much to make it wrong as it would
have to make it right! And it's not just Stoddard...
Pete Archibald"

No it isn't 'just as much'. It is damn difficult to check, confirm and spec *every* dimension on a part due for production. Pre Mat's parts are of limited production, so a mistake only costs an arm (I'm typing left-handed...). Brad at NLA must sweat bullets before the first part comes in and proves to be 'good', and I'd bet whoever checks them at Stoddard does also.
But if it were a Pre Mat part, I'd make it good, and I'd hope that Stoddard does too.
Thanks,
Ron LaDow

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Jaime Jensen · #6 Post by **Jaime Jensen** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:22 pm

I understand Stoddard is under new ownership and the owners are not car people and could give a crap about parts or 356's. Unfortunate that the Stoddard name is going down in flames . . .

More for our vendors, who do it right.

Stan

On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 6:00 PM, Pete Archibald <pete.archibald@oakmgmt.com (pete.archibald@oakmgmt.com)> wrote:

Unfortunately it's not that easy - if I recall correctly the stud in question is partially threaded. If you cut it down enough to be the right length, you would also have to cut new threads in a pretty substantial piece of metal.

Another case of it taking just as much to make it wrong as it would have to make it right! And it's not just Stoddard...

------------------------
Pete Archibald
Registry #15992

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Adam Wright · #7 Post by **Adam Wright** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:53 pm

I buy from Stoddard pretty reguarly, and have found their repro stuff to be on point.

Also, on a more personal note, when I asked for contributions for our Unobtanium gift bags for Hershey, Bruce and Paul made it happen by sending a whole box of stuff.

This was a much better response than I got from some of the other big vendors who acted like I was asking for something absurd.

If someone is unhappy with one of their products, send it back. Or keep in mind that OEM Porsche parts take some tweeking to make fit a lot of the time, so spending a few hours working with repro parts is par for the course.

Any time someone takes the time to make something for our cars, we should be grateful. I find stashes of parts for a living, but I know it takes a lot more than guys like me digging in barns to satisfy the needs of all of our cars. So before we get really mad at a vendor for selling a repro part that isn't perfect, think about all the times you have bought a repro part and it is great.

Sorry for the rant, but the guys at Stoddard are just like the rest of us. Enjoying the cars, and trying to make a living doing it.

john padgham · #8 Post by **john padgham** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:59 pm

Adam(in reponse to most recent posting),

I agree, the more options the better! And anyone making an effort to make a quality part in order to further the breed is good.

This applies to any part, for any car...including distributors.

JP

Jim Neil · #9 Post by **Jim Neil** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:19 pm

Re Stoddard, I've met the new owner (or one of them) on two occasions, and my impression is that he is a "car guy" and that he does care a lot about our 356 community in particular. Not saying they are doing everything right, but the few times I had something to return they handled it professionally and promptly.

Ken Daugherty · #10 Post by **Ken Daugherty** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:30 am

I have had problems with the top seal (between the top and the
ws frame) for Conv D's. The ones presently offered all come from the
same source and are too hard and in conversations with other users it
is a common problem.
I have contacted IM and have been told it 'is not a problem'.
If we can find an old original set of D' top seals, we can have
them made. The sample we are looking for will ( I believe) be a soft
sponge rubber.
Repo parts are often a problem and generally when suppliers are
advised of problems they will make the next batch better. We are all in
the same boat and need to help each other and our suppliers.

Ken Daugherty
kend356@insightbb.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron LaDow [mailto:rwmld@email.com]
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 10:13 PM
To: 356talk@356registry.com
Subject: [356Talk] Stoddard Repro Rear Bumper Guards

Pete,

"Another case of it taking just as much to make it wrong as it would
have to make it right! And it's not just Stoddard...
Pete Archibald"

No it isn't 'just as much'. It is damn difficult to check, confirm and
spec *every* dimension on a part due for production. Pre Mat's parts are
of limited production, so a mistake only costs an arm (I'm typing
left-handed...). Brad at NLA must sweat bullets before the first part
comes in and proves to be 'good', and I'd bet whoever checks them at
Stoddard does also.
But if it were a Pre Mat part, I'd make it good, and I'd hope that
Stoddard does too. Thanks, Ron LaDow

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Ken Daugherty · #11 Post by **Ken Daugherty** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:42 am

Stan,
I could not disagree more. The new folks at Stoddard are very
interested in providing the parts we need and the quality we expect. I
have been a customer of Stoddard for over 30 years and while
occasionally there is a problem. When contacted, they have always
responded positively.

Ken Daugherty
kend356@insightbb.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan Jensen [mailto:berts356@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 10:24 PM
To: 356talk@356registry.com
Subject: [356Talk] Stoddard Repro Rear Bumper Guards

I understand Stoddard is under new ownership and the owners are not car
people and could give a crap about parts or 356's. Unfortunate that the
Stoddard name is going down in flames . . .

More for our vendors, who do it right.

Stan

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Charles Foster · #12 Post by **Charles Foster** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:32 am

I'll chime in with a "me too" - a return was handled quickly and professionally, and more impressive, when some items were missing from a large order, it just took a phone call and Stoddard quickly shipped them out. I'm a satisfied customer.

--
Charles Foster
hc_foster@hotmail.com (hc_foster@hotmail.com)
http://www.northForkDesigns.net/Porsche356/

Subject: [356Talk] Stoddard Repro Rear Bumper Guards
From: porsche@jcnlaw.com
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:19:16 -0700
To: 356talk@356registry.com

Re Stoddard, I've met the new owner (or one of them) on two occasions, and my impression is that he is a "car guy" and that he does care a lot about our 356 community in particular. Not saying they are doing everything right, but the few times I had something to return they handled it professionally and promptly.

------------------------
Jim
1960 356 B Coupe
2005 Carrera S
2005 Cayenne S

The i’m Talkathon starts 6/24/08. For now, give amongst yourselves. Learn More

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Jaime Jensen · #13 Post by **Jaime Jensen** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:38 pm

I expected to be overwhelmed with "flames," but none yet . . .

I too have had good service with Stoddard over the years and they have handled my business professionally and promptly.

The comments I overheard at the WCH caused concern that things were changing and had indeed already changed at Stoddard. Hopefully the complaints I overheard will be be rectified and the result will be standards as high as "NLA" which have always been of the highest quality.

KTF,
Stan
graduate Curmudgeon

On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 8:19 PM, Jim Neil <porsche@jcnlaw.com (porsche@jcnlaw.com)> wrote:

Re Stoddard, I've met the new owner (or one of them) on two occasions, and my impression is that he is a "car guy" and that he does care a lot about our 356 community in particular. Not saying they are doing everything right, but the few times I had something to return they handled it professionally and promptly.

------------------------
Jim
1960 356 B Coupe
2005 Carrera S
2005 Cayenne S

Post generated using Mail2Forum via email.

John Willhoit · #14 Post by **John Willhoit** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:45 pm

Getting back to the bumper guard issue:

The guards that are sold by Stoddard, NLA, and everyone else, all come from the same supplier. They must be fit to the bumper before painting (as you should do anyway), and they usually require a lot of edge grinding and stud modification to fit properly. In doing this you risk damaging the chrome. Cutting and threading the lower stud on the rear is minimal compared to the general fit problems. If installed in the usual way (providing you can get the studs through the original holes), they will usually angle towards the inside instead of pointing in the direction of the car. I have complained for years to the supplier, but the problem is that making parts that fit correctly, for a price that people will pay, is difficult. The current price of $160 each is about what I pay to have an original guard correctly rechromed (providing it can be rechromed). I personally would gladly pay $260 each if the repro guards fit properly.

Brad has an excellent track record for having great parts made. If he steps up and has these made correctly I know he'd sell plenty of them.

BTW, one of the side affects of the increased value of our cars (which some people complain about), is that the suppliers can afford to spend more money to have parts made correctly.

Stephen Dempsey · #15 Post by **Stephen Dempsey** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:57 am

Just wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Stoddard this morning about the problem with the rear repro bumper guards I recently purchased from them. As expected, they are taking them back - no questions asked.

This doesn't resolve my problem, of course, but they stood behind their product.

Steve
Lake Ozark, MO

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