Hi all,

I'm pissed off again with what I think is poor quality Empi products and having to return items to get a refund or exchange. Whom ever said, 'you get what you pay for' is bloody dead right.

I know its been spoken about before, but I'm just letting off a little steam and having a bit of a rant. Also pointing out for others to take note.

The inner front edge of the running board is basically touching the guard but the running board doesn't follow the shape of my guards and has about an inch gap on the outer edge as seen in this photo

Now I have said all that, I hope it isn't my guards

Kev

dont forget, the guards and runners dont actually meet, there should be a thick rubber washer between the two, looking at the bolt hole you aren't that far off!
if you havent got a thick washer between the rear guard and runner, that extra 10mm will put you pretty dam close. note the holes in the runner to body are slotted to allow for discerpancies.

So those German made running boards I paid $280 for the pair that fit perfectly, haven't shrunk on the rubber, and are about 2mm thick steel were worth buying 6 years ago.

Kev, you have just got the wrong running boards for those guards.

The 64(ish) and earlier beetles have a flat section on the guard that the running board sits against which is what those running boards are for



the ones after this just follow the contour of the guards.

Hi Joel,

These Empi running boards say they are to suit 46-77 as per this link, scroll half way down the page.

http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/Parts_Results_Quick.asp?NAV=17&Part_Description=&Part_No=

Also I'm a little confused sorry, my car is a 61 but this doesn't mean my guards are correct (are German ones though).

Is the photo you have show a pre 64 or post 64. Please tell me what year you think my guards are.

You may be able to tell easier in this photo.




Thanks, Kevin

That photo I posted shows the early type which as best i can tell in aus was upto 64 or there abouts but so many bugs have had guard swaps done from accident/rust/bad panelbeating etc

maybe it's just shadow but your right one almost looks like the early pressed type but the angle is wrong, the pressed ones are pretty well 90degree to the heater channel.

The later running boards and guards which your passenger side looks to be have no pressing just a smooth section and the running board follows the contour like this



The problem is parts vendors rarely check up on these sort of fitment issues, as you've seen they fit and the average joe with a daily driver wouldnt care about the gap but on a nicely finished resto it sticks out like dogs balls so they just sell them as a one size fit all even though the chrome strip changed 3 times during production.

To my eye it looks like you need the later type but you may have to just compare them if thats possible to do before purchase

Every photo I come across in thesamba gallery the fitment seems to look different.

this is on a 1960 US bug yet that pressing isnt there and the chrome strip on the running board is the 73 onwards type.




Yet this 62 looks really flat type pressing with the correct thick chrome strip.... go figure



Too many people have played lego with these cars over the years using parts from wherever.
Sorry not much help.

My australian built 67 beetle has the original guards, and has the curved profile at the front of the running boards like your car.
The running boards you bought are not the correct shape for your guards.
It would be impossible for the running boards to fit all 46-77 cars properly given the different profiles used , I know the ones you bought also don't fit my 67 car atleast.

looks OK to me its only a Volkswagen
It better to have a space so you don't trap dirt in there.

Joel,

you are a true Gentleman and thanks for taking the time to help a fellow veedubber As you and others have said, there were (I now know) different shaped guard and hence also running boards. I'm glad you agree with me that it stands out like dogs balls as you said

vw-variant-l, thanks also for the input and I will closely examine other running boards when I take these back.

Thanks everyone again for helping me out

Regards, Kev

either that or fill it with black foam rubber??

Quote:

Originally posted by ian.mezz looks OK to me its only a Volkswagen It better to have a space so you don't trap dirt in there.

I hope you get it finish soon so you can get your chance to win a $20 trophy .


today
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=92028 

Quote:

Originally posted by ian.mezz I hope you get it finish soon so you can get your chance to win a $20 trophy .

Sorry, but I need convincing on the different running board shape. I've sold 100's from the 80's onward's, and to my knowledge, the only difference between the models is the width of the chrome trim, there being three different widths, otherwise the shape is the same. The issues your having is purely a quality/fitment issue. The running board is probably copied from a copy of a copy of a copy of a German one.

No worries Kev, I only know bout it by accident, me and a mate took the running boards off his 64 and put them on his 70 and couldnt work out why the same gap was there till we saw the guards were different.

Matt, most people don't fuss about the gap, they're only old VWs right Ian
There is definately 2 different profiles though but when the switch happened is anyones guess.
I do know of a few original unmolested 64s that have the flat pressing on the guard like the first pic I posted but I;ve seen unmolested cars after this (2 were 66s) that don;t.
and with Varient-L also saying bout his original 67 not being flat too its probably some time in the mid 60s.

I must have a look tomorrow. I have two cars with og running boards, a 60 and a 71.

Hey, I've opened another can of worms


Look at this photo I just found and read the different explanations between E and F and then look closely at the pictures again of E and F.







Kev

Thanks Kev

Definitely means I'll be keeping my eyes peeled when I grab a new pair of running boards for my 73 L.
I think this post should be stickied in Tech Mods and FAQ's section. Wonder how many other people would find this as important/interesting as I have.

Thanks Kev, appreciate it!
And damn Joel, thank you once again for your help!