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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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 Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 1:44 pm Post subject: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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Does anyone buy from vintage speed?
It seems they are not located in the US.
Are they legit?
They have some real nice stuff.
I’m interested in the Kadron air filters they sell. Pricey but with built in stacks they seem like a must have.😊
UPDATE:
But...
First they are hard to get straight answers out of regarding some of thier products and very dodgey with answers forthcoming.
Second they list thier air filter assemblies which I might add come at a very premium price to be supplied with a stainless mesh ( only after asking a couple times) The website lists a K&N filter which also fits their units. After exhaustive chatbot interference the answered me straight out twice that they will in fact fit even after receiving them and seeing they clearly do not.
The velocity stack has to be machined down about 1/4" on the outside to make this at best a snug fit.
So now it's off to the machine shop for me.
400 Bucks for a pair of air filter I guess it's extra if you want them to filter air.
Last edited by Bug53 on Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:51 pm; edited 6 times in total |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76939
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Michael Ambrozik
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2020
Posts: 631
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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| love there shifters and the hood standoffs |
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flat4olsen
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2014
Posts: 342
Location: Denmark, Europe
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| Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:10 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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They do nice stuff. Love my shifter!
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Type 1 1968, Lotosweiss. 2109 oxyboxer engine
Early Bay 1970, Montana Red. Under construction |
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Lingwendil
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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beetlenut
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009
Posts: 2983
Location: RI
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| Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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| Lingwendil wrote: |
| I really like the muffler I bought from them, very thoughtful built-in adjustments to get it perfect. A little on the loud side but not too bad. Sounds great, fits well. |
I have that same muffler from them. I wondered if after a while when the insides of the muffler got carboned up, if it would quiet down? Seems like it has a bit after 3k miles. I also had to wrap the #2 and #4 primaries with more header insulation as they were throwing off too much heat.
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scrapyards are for quitters
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| Wetstuff wrote: |
| ... I spend more time shaking it than directing it?! I get a pretty decent blast for 8sec. then have to shake it again. |
- Words to live by right there!
My 74 Super rebuild thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6507104#6507104 |
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propguy
Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2004
Posts: 86
Location: Madison, WI
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| Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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| I have classic shifters in both of my bugs - they are great. Well built and very smooth shifts. |
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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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I purchased the air cleaners in beautiful brushed stainless for my Kadrons
They are well made and very nice.
Looking at the filter media they provide it is a very fine stainless mesh which is encapsulated by the stainless screen on the outside.
However, when you hold it up to the light you can see right through it so needless to say fine dust will get right through.
They list a K&N element which I ordered and they are physically thicker so they don’t fit without grinding some material ( about 1/4”) off the stacks on on side.
I asked twice if this was going to be a problem and they told me no both times now they asked for a photo and have ghosted me.
Waiting three days for a reply.
So with that said the product they manufacture is nice but communications and customer service is worse than ass gas. |
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Lingwendil
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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I’ll take some pics with a ruler.
Very nicely made.
Glenn , pics emailed |
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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? Nice stuff. |
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Love the looks of the mufflers but won't chance another purchase. |
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KAmes
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014
Posts: 877
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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I emailed questions a couple times and got quick responses, didn't use the chat thing. I have two pairs of their 40IDF version air cleaners. I never tried K&N filters in them though, I didn't want to lose the mesh look. I LOVE their center mount ac compressor bracket, so much so that I bought a second one just to have a spare. I also bought their excellent VW Thing specific muffler, which I received two days after ordering it. Taiwan to Illinois in two days, blows my mind.
Oh, and and the fancy oil filler with draft tube, and several shifters...
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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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| KAmes wrote: |
I emailed questions a couple times and got quick responses, didn't use the chat thing. I have two pairs of their 40IDF version air cleaners. I never tried K&N filters in them though, I didn't want to lose the mesh look. I LOVE their center mount ac compressor bracket, so much so that I bought a second one just to have a spare. I also bought their excellent VW Thing specific muffler, which I received two days after ordering it. Taiwan to Illinois in two days, blows my mind.
Oh, and and the fancy oil filler with draft tube, and several shifters...
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The K&N filters are supposed to fit inside the mesh.
They will but the stack has to be machined flat on the edge adjacent to the outer mounting screw.
I suspected a fit problem and was told twice it would be no problem.
Now they agree, it must be machined.
I asked if the expected me to have it done then they told me to return for a refund.
My final decision was to have it done as I can’t trust returning them ( and them agreeing they are in perfect condition) after given the chance to be truthful twice and getting lies both times.
I would still like to get an exhaust system but getting answers from them is like a game. It’s all yes yes yes. |
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KAmes
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014
Posts: 877
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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| I remember when I got them wondering if the K&Ns would really fit, I don't have the velocity stacks in mine but it still looks awfully tight between the mounting screws. Sounds like you caught them in having some insufficient product testing. I didn't realize it was supposed to fit inside the mesh, if you get yours to work I would love to see a picture. |
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Bug53
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2021
Posts: 704
Location: Pawcatuck, CT.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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It will work.
Just more hobby time.
I tried without the mesh and it looks like a pregnant K&N filter.
Top photo stainless mesh “non-filters”
Middle photo with K&N
Bottom photo is an idea of clearance which barely fits the stainless crap.
The exact question I asked was if they would fit under there.
I was told yes.
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017
Posts: 1966
Location: WV
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| Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 3:33 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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Just playing devil's advocate, as it were......
and if I'm understanding/interpreting the ad and your issue properly, this should have been an assumed risk by you as the buyer (that you may have to do some machine work to make it all fit together)
From the ad:
"If running with Stacks, then it might need slightly modification when install this filter set."
"Ad last edited: Fri Sep 03, 2021 11:54 pm"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=637789
Again, just trying to help and maybe I've misunderstood you and am wrong. Sounds like you are saying the filter has a built in stack, but the ad doesn't mention this?
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jhicken
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003
Posts: 9466
Location: Fallbrook, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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I've heard the same thing regarding the K&N filters, you meed to do a little work on it. Nothing a little Dremel time wouldn't fix.
Personally, Ive had nothing but positive experiences with not only their products but their service. I had bought one of their fancy oil fillers. I had this about a year before finally trying to install it. It installed without a problem however the draft tube had a little more angle than I liked [I'm picky], I reached out to Ming [the owner] and he took it back with no questions. I have since bought his linkage for my car and a shifter for the wife's nus. Both are beautifully crafted and work great.
To help with future purchases, call Ron Lummus Racing [https://ronlummusracing.com/]. They are the US distributor of Vintage Speed. In the future I'm sure Ron would be able to help you out with any product issues.
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Lingwendil
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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jhicken
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003
Posts: 9466
Location: Fallbrook, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Speed - Reputable? - UPDATE - Be Warned |
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| Lingwendil wrote: |
| It's the nature of aftermarket parts. None are perfect |
To be fair, their product as well as most of the stuff they produce is very well made. The issue is using the K&N filter. The OP is choosing the K&N filter over the supplied element because it's finer. It's possible the variance may be with K&N. Maybe their filter has slightly changed from what was original tested during teh Vintage Speed R&D.
If anything, it would be in Vintage Speed's best interest to remove the K&N recommendation.
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