Repro Aluminum License Plate Panel

[TEC69E]

Can anyone share their preference/experience with these reproduction panels? I'm considering buying one if I can't locate an original (very nice condition).

These are the distributors I've found so far . . .

Stoddard
Einmalig
Rennspeed

What do you think?

[neilk]

Probably all stamped by the same company. The repros are slightly thicker than the originals.

[sithot]

I had one that was just a smidgen narrow in width but that's been a few years ago. If they are selling these in quanity I imagine that whatever could be wrong has been adjusted.
They are thicker and seem softer than the thinner originals which may have been annealed to be a bit tougher.

Tom

[super9064]

The mounting tabs need to be bent into position, but the spot welds are so weak that the tabs break off. I found this out after mine was painted, I then saw a post, from someone with a similar experience. I suggest you drill a hole and use a nut and bolt to secure the tab prior to bending.

I was trying to replace the rear panel and the rubber covered bumperets with the AL panel and chrome bumpers, the new (repro) bumpers were of such poor quality that not only did they not fit, but the burs on the chrome were catching on my hand. I tossed the lot and put back the original parts.

The longer I do this the more I appreciate good original parts, Most Repro stuff either does not fit, looks different, wrong material. I would rather wait for a part to turn up, than spend the extra time fiddling with a Repro.

[bob tilton]

The mounting tabs need to be bent into position, but the spot welds are so weak that the tabs break off. I found this out after mine was painted, I then saw a post, from someone with a similar experience. I suggest you drill a hole and use a nut and bolt to secure the tab prior to bending.

I was trying to replace the rear panel and the rubber covered bumperets with the AL panel and chrome bumpers, the new (repro) bumpers were of such poor quality that not only did they not fit, but the burs on the chrome were catching on my hand. I tossed the lot and put back the original parts.

The longer I do this the more I appreciate good original parts, Most Repro stuff either does not fit, looks different, wrong material. I would rather wait for a part to turn up, than spend the extra time fiddling with a Repro.

Confirm weak tab welds. Steel panel back on my car.

Confirm poor fit on repro bumper guards.

Confirm that good original parts are worth the wait.

[Bert]

Does anyone know the weight difference between an original steel vs. original aluminum license plate panel?

Thanks,

[Flieger]

Here is a factory Aluminum panel for sale: http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...ad.php?t=22619

[37yrold911]

Sherwood Lee on Pelican makes some items that might help you.

You might want to change to a different muffler.

Coating the muffler is liable to cause it to rust out internally in a few months.

[TEC69E]

Hey Max . . . thanks I PM'd the guy regarding his Al. Panel. Yup, I see Tony knows how to keep his car running cool. Got my car running pretty good now. Whoever said PMO's are bolt-on ready to run . . . well let me just say I know more about PMO's now than I had planned on a few weeks ago. Hope all is going well with you.

Paul . . . yes I'm considering punching a few holes in a steel panel to vent the heat from the muffler. I've seen it done before and if it's done well it actually looks pretty neat.

37yrold911 . . . Does Sherwood Lee make the 'Heet Sheet' product? If so, PP has them listed as discontinued.

Tonight I cranked up the static timing to 25 degrees advanced. Took the car for a drive and it runs great . . . very responsive, but I sure do wish I had an LM-1 to see where the A/F ratio is at. Tomorrow I'll give it another run during the day-time heat and see if the operating temp is any lower.

Thanks to all for the advice . . . and for anyone that is interested I'll post my results as I work through this issue. Will probably start another thread with a more descriptive subject-line.

[Greg D.]

I've got one, not sure where it came from since I got it from a 912 board member, but I will confirm all of the above... It's a relatively poor fit in width and around the bumperettes, it's extremely soft and bendable and I would not want to bother painting it and watch the paint, but then again it is cheap. I had real "rear end piece" on the 912 that was louvered on each side (see pict below), nicely done but not my style... I bought this aluminum piece to replace that ! I ended up not using it for that at all, I will instead cut the aluminum piece and make it a heat shield that fits "inside" my RS rear bumper on my other car !

I still have the part I took off my car (louvered but real) if someone is desperate, but I thought you could still find those for <$100... Can't you ?