Has anyone ever purchased running boards from the hot rod superstore? Click on link below. They build vulcanized running boards that are quite a bit cheaper ($535) than other boards I've seen/heard about. I'm looking for a decent set for my 41 Plymouth Coupe. My problem is that a new set of running boards may make my 20+ year old paint job look even worse. :-\ I've thought about recovering mine but from what I've read on-line and heard from others...it sounds like a difficult job and the results are usually unsuccessful. I've mainly heard that the rubber does not bond to the metal very well. I've also thought about sandblasting mine and just getting them rino-lined (heavy bed-liner paint)...Anyone have any thoughts on this or any other ideas? Thanks
http://www.hotrodssuperstore.com/vulrunboar.html
Thanks, Glad you are asking the question. I am going to be looking for the same thing, I'll be watching too, to see what comes up.
Thanks,Glenn
You're right about adhesion of the 'rubber' covers. The problem is the covers are NOT rubber but some kind of shiny plastic. They look beautiful when installed and last very well in the Sun but have been known to slowly 'unglue' themselves from the boards. What the makers don't tell you is that the bottom of the cover has to sandpapered to a VERY rough surface to give the adhesive something to grip. Otherwise in the heat of the Sun ,as the car sits at shows all day and the black cover heats up the glue, it lets go from the shiny surface of the cover. The companies do not supply the correct glue ,to my knowledge, so they wash their hands of any problem you have with keeping the covers in place. In the end after using floor tile glue and linoleum glue etc. I bought several tubes of clear standard epoxy glue, the large double syringe tube type, and epoxied them down. Yes it took a long time in the shop but they haven't moved since.
Buckeye rubber did mine and they look great, I paid about $550.00 dollars about 5 years ago, I supplied the bare metal boards. If you need more information I can look up my receipts.
I sent a guy to Buckeye this past summer but they told him they were no longer making bumpers and were scaling back. They may not be in business at all?
That would be sad, They have the correct molds to duplicate the original design, I'll have to call them and find out.
Thanks Mike
I got my running boards at Buckeye also. Very nice. The post about their no longer doing " bumpers". Was the comment meant to apply to " running boards"
Thanks
Don
No. They offered new chromed bumpers for Plymouths for years but don't now. I was pointing out this out as the site users might think Buckeye was the answer to the running board question. Someone who lives nearby,they're in Ohio?,could get back to us with the information. Some of these old outfits ,such as Ellis Baron in Australia who recently passed away, are slowing down and in some cases shutting down. Crank 'en Hope printing in Penn. is another. I believe the man has had health problems as of late.
In the link that I copied in....in the initial post...Did anyone click on that and open up the Hot Rod Superstore website? It says Buckeye right next to the 34-41 running boards...down at the bottom where you click on shopping cart. I just noticed this so I just e-mailed them and asked them if they are indeed vulcanized by Buckeye Rubber. By the way...This price includes new steel boards....just have to pay $60.00 shipping...so total price for new boards with new rubber = $595.00 It sounds like a decent deal especially if Buckeye does the vulcanizing. I'll let y'all know what his reply is....
I want to correct my figures that I gave in an earlier post . I looked up my receipts and I paid a total of $405.00( includes shipping) to get my running boards done by Buckeye Rubber Parts in Brookville Ohio in 2005. I would inquire from them directly what there current prices are. I will tell you ahead of time that the small oval trim mounting holes will be filled with rubber and will have to be redrilled. This does make it nice if the stainless trim is not used along the outside edge. This trim is hard to find.
Call Buckeye Rubber and leave a message.
There number is
937 833-2885
There address is
Paul Bowling
8308 National Road
Brookville, Ohio 45309
Hey Mike...I just went to call Buckeye Rubber but you left one number off that phone number. I googled his name and address and found that you left off the 5. ;D Here's the full number 937-833-2885...Anyways, I called him and left a message. When I hear back from him I'll let you guys know if he's still redoing the running boards. Thanks...Bob
PS...The Hot Rod Superstore does use Buckeye Rubber to vulcanize their boards...IMO, If you have beat up, rusted through boards that would be a great route to take...I would think.
Paul Bowling just returned my call and we had a very nice talk. Great guy! You can send him your "cleaned" boards (stripped and wire brushed) and he'll re-vulcanize them for $425.00 + return shipping or he'll build you new boards and vulcanize them for $525.00 + return shipping. He confirmed that his boards are sold at the Hot Rod Super Store. Again, below is his contact info:
Paul Bowling
8308 National Road
Brookville, Ohio 45309
937 833-2885
Glad to hear to got a hold of Buckeye Rubber, they are nice to deal with and they do great work. I had my bare running boards powder coated dull black before I sent them the boards, The rubber is holding on great to the powder coat, and now I know their last forever.
Mike