Looks like Auto Krafters has them now ... Unless they bought out Chuck Stalnakers left over stock ... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33627&item=7929863731&rd=1
think he said at the round up that Auto Krafters made a run of them aslo after he sold his .......its all about money
I had an interesting conversation with Jim Dingle of Performance Parts Inc in Virginia when I was there and part of it was in this vein. I am considering looking into if it is feasible to reproduce more Maverick items like bumpers as Jim was kind enough to give me several contacts who make repop parts for Mustangs for his company. PPI is a premiere Mustang parts source so he has a good working knowledge of this stuff and has gone through the exact same issues when he looked to contract the making of certain out of production parts. He is a big SSP (police package) Mustang guy and caters to the owners of these cars. He'd like very much to see the Maverick owners have the same opportunities to have more parts available, so he was very forthcoming about the subject. Along with the fact that we are brothers in the same police car owners association, it did help a tad. The problem, other than quantity and costs for a first run of a part, is exclusivity. Many manufacturers of repop parts are hesitant to allow any distributor exclusivity rights of an item. They know that if it sells big, they lose money on just being able to sell wholesale to one distributor. This is likely what happened to Chuck when he contracted the covers to be produced. They balk at the word 'exclusivity'. JD cautioned me not to use that word if I go into any negotiations with a manufacturer. I'm sure the manufacturer of the covers well understood that Auto Krafters has a much bigger clientele than Maverick Connection, nothing negative toward Chuck. It's just that AK is a much bigger and better funded operation. I don't doubt that Chuck wanted exclusivity of distribution, and why shouldn't he as a business man. It may be part of why he had a tough time selling the manufacturer on doing the run in the first place, as Chuck told me about at the Roundup. The business world is a tough place and this segment of it is very dog eat dog.
What's with the stupid high price?!? $170 for asthetically challenged valve covers... Get some emblems and stick 'em on some nice looking covers.
I actually like the covers and would have purchased a set except I wanted the stock look on my engine. I had talked with Chuck about the limited availability of these and he recommended I buy a set and put them up for future use. I had actually thought about it but now am glad I didn't ..
Their are alot of folks that did buy the covers... hell I would have but I don't think they would clear the roller rockers. I thought they looked pretty good.
i've got them on my car and i use crane gold roller rockers. i have noticed that i'm wiping them off a little more. seems they get a little oil on them. not sure if it's the lack of baffles or if it's because i'm going a little faster with this engine, but they do get a lot of comments at the track.
The price was not a factor in my decision not to get a set. I would gladly have paid the price except for I didnt like the black finish and the fact they wont clear most roller rockers. Also I would rather route the plug wires around the front of the cover so as not to block the logo. With that loom bracket mounted right on the top, you cant do that.
I would have preferred they said underneath: "Powered by Ford" like all the other valve covers you see.
It was a little poll and personally i agree i woulda liked the powered by ford as well then again id take either set! -Todd
