Stage8 Locking CV Bolts for ALL 914

[ideola]

We've just completed the first round of the 924-944-968 group buy for the newly developed Stage8 locking CV bolts for these cars. During that group buy, we received a number of inquiries from 914, 911 and 928 owners looking for a solution for these cars as well.

To cut a long story short, we poured through every page of the applicable PET files, and discovered that we could address the entire range of 911, 912, 914, 924, 944, 968, and 928 with exactly FIVE different bolt sizes: M8x50, M10x45, M10x50, M10x55 and M10x60.

The first round was such a big hit (110 participants!!!) that Stage8 has agreed to extend the group buy discount -- 25% off MSRP -- from now through 15 April 2010, including all of the new applications. This is a completely new, never-before-available product for our cars, and we have all of the 110 participants from Rennlist, Pelican, 924board, and 44cup to thank for that!

The special group buy ordering can be done here: Ideola's Garage: Stage8 Fasteners for Porsches - Special Group Buy Pricing

If you'd like to learn more about the 914-specific applications, here is the group buy thread on Rennlist: Group Buy (ACTIVE): Stage 8 locking CV bolts, Round 2 - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Specifications
• Bolts Are Aircraft Quality Grade 12.9 – 4130 Alloy Steel
• Retainers are 5052-H32 Polished Aluminum
• Snap Rings & Clips Are Spring Steel

Background & Product Details
For those that missed the first round, here is a repeat of the details. I worked with Stage8 to develop a locking CV bolt kit for the entire range of 924-944-968 cars. It was such a huge hit, that some 911 and 928 rennlisters contacted me about offering these for their cars too. I did quite a bit of research to investigate all of the permutations across these cars, and came up with 4 additional bolt sizes to accommodate the entire range of 911 and 928 cars, which Stage8 is now geared up to produce. This is truly a brand new offering, never before available for our cars!

Unless a 914 has been upgraded to 911 components, the 914 application utilizes sixteen M8x50 cheesehead bolts to attach the half shafts at the transaxle stub axles and the outer hubs (four bolts per CV joint). As many of you know, the cheese head bolts are a royal PITA to deal with and will strip out if you're not careful. And for track driven cars, there have been multiple reports of the bolts backing out mid-session with catastrophic results. Many guys are safety wiring their bolts, and this was the approach I was planning to take on my UWB project until a 924board member mentioned Stage8 (for a header bolt application).

The Stage8 system utilizes their patented "GrooveLok" bolt, which has a 12-point head and a special groove in the head. Once the fastener is torqued down, any number of clip shapes are available, which lock onto the 12-point bolt head, and are then retained using either an E-clip or snap ring. Here are some photos using the samples they sent to me installed on a late offset 944 CV joint, boot, and outer stub axle:

Sample M8x65 GrooveLok bolt (the standard 914 size would be M8x50)


Teardrop and D-Style clips; snap ring and E-style retainers


D-style clips installed, E-style retainer on left, no retainer on the right (I didn't have a snap ring plier handy when I made these photos)


Teardrop retainers installed (again, no snap rings, but they would normally have the snap rings installed)


Questions? Interest? Let me know!

[ideola]

Answers to a few questions that have come in:

Q: Are the bolts re-usable?
A: YES, absolutely. They are made of 12.9 grade steel.

Q: Looks like I need a special tool to install these?
A: NO, all that is required is a standard 12-point 8mm or 10mm socket. It is highly recommended to use a high-quality socket, as some of the el-cheapos don't provide good engagement at the opening of the socket. Standard snap ring pliers are all that's required for the retainers.

Q: I see that Stage8 provides E-style retainers, and those seem easier to install. Can I order them?
A: Stage8 strongly recommends the use of snap rings for moving applications such as CV joints due to the full circle engagement, even though the risk of losing an E-style retainer is very small.

Q: Are the E-style retainers interchangeable with the snap rings?
A: NO, the E-style retainers require a wider groove in the GrooveLok bolt, so the bolts must be machined differently.

Q: I see that Stage8 offers Teardrop style retainers. Can I order them?
A: SORT OF(!). For the group buy, I am limiting the bolt configuration to D-style clips and snap ring retainers to help simplify the ordering, production, and fulfillment process. However, if you really want some teardrop style retainers, at the bottom of the Application Guide page, you may order 6-paks of extra clips in either the D- or Teardrop shape ($3 per pak less 25%)

Q: I'm worried about losing a bolt or retainer set. How do I get more if I lose one?
A: At the bottom of the Application Guide page, you may order 6-paks of extra bolts ($26 less 25% per 6-count), clips ($3 less 25% per 6-count), and retainers ($3 less 25% per 6-count)

[Joe Ricard]

Looks interesting

Wonder how we all survived for 40 years without these.

[ideola]

Originally Posted by Joe Ricard

Wonder how we all survived for 40 years without these.

With extra long bolts + nylock nuts or safety wire. These may not be required for the street, but for track applications, their fool-proof installation, reusability, and ease of use is what most participants seem to like about them.

[ideola]

I received the 20th order last night, so I will be placing the first batch order with Stage8 later this afternoon. Anyone wishing to be included in the first batch order, please get your orders in before 5 PM EDT today.

[ideola]

First batch has been ordered; we currently have 13 sets toward a second batch order...

[ideola]

We're up to 18 orders for the 2nd batch order in round 2. I'm going to place the 2nd batch order tomorrow, so anybody wanting in on this batch, please get your orders in by 5 PM EDT tomorrow. Thanks!

[ideola]

UPDATE:
Spoke with Stage8 on Friday. Batch 1 may ship to me by the end of this week, Batch 2 probably not until the end of next week at the soonest.

There's still time to get in on this...original closing date was thru Tax Day...we'll go ahead and extend it thru the weekend: Sunday 18 Apr 2010.

[Tobra]

So you set up a group buy on something and the people who ordered it won't get it for about a month. This after claiming you already did a group buy. If production is already set up, I find it hard to believe a 1 month turnaround is reasonable. I will go take a look on the watercooled side but I have to say I am skeptical.

[ideola]

I'm confused...skeptical of what? The first batch for this round was placed on Fri 27 March, so realistically, would not have gotten into Stage8's production queue until the 29th, which was exactly 2 weeks prior to today, not a month as you suggest. I don't control Stage8's production schedule, and I'm doing my best to keep everyone informed.

It's worth noting that this round of the group buy includes 4 completely new SKUs to accommodate the entire 911/928 range. The different sizes for these new applications require a new machining setup. In all of my experience in commissioning completely new, never-before-available parts, the manufacturer will NOT begin ANY production activity until funds are received. This was the case with the first round of 944 bolts, it was true for the ARP rod bolts we commissioned, and also the Cometic head gaskets and the IMI gear reduction starters. Frankly, a one month turn-around is actually a lot faster than ANY of the other brand new product development efforts we've coordinated.

All of the information on the first round, which ONLY included the 944 product, can be found over on Rennlist in this thread:
Group Buy (CLOSED): Stage 8 locking CV bolts - Rennlist Discussion Forums

If your skeptical about our performance on past group buys, you can find a complete cross reference to the various group buys we've coordinated over the past two years here:
Ideola's Garage: Group Buys for Transaxle Porsches

Hope this helps...let me know if you have any follow up question.

[ideola]

72 hours left in the group buy. Batch 3 orders will be placed with Stage8 on Monday, so please get your orders in no later than 11 AM EDT Monday 19 April.

[ideola]

Last chance! Group buy closes in 28 hours (11 AM EDT Monday 19 Apr 2010).

[ideola]

I sent this email to everybody today, but posting here just to cover all the bases...

##################################

I spoke with Stage8 last night regarding the status of shipping on the various batch orders. For some reason, they delayed shipping batch 1 and pulled forward the production run of the batch 2 and batch 3 orders. They committed to me that the entire order (batches 1, 2 & 3) will be shipped to me all at once by the end of this week.

I don't know why they did it this way, as I specifically discussed with them at the outset breaking the orders into smaller batches so that early participants wouldn't have to wait for the entire run in order to get their parts. They arbitrarily decided to do the production all at once, which means that those of you in Batch 1 won't be getting your orders any sooner than anybody else.

I'm not real happy about this, and will have to think about how to manage the next round (if there is one). BUT, the good news is that everything should be on its way from California by the end of the week, and I should be able to begin packaging and shipping next week. I will do my best to get everything repackaged and shipped out to you all within 24-48 hours of receiving the bulk shipment from Stage8.

I apologize for the delay, I wish there was something I could do to get the parts here faster. The only consolation I can offer at this point is that it's not unusual to encounter these types of production and logistical issues when commissioning a completely new product (there were 5 new applications in this round of the group buy). I hope you feel as I do that the results will be worth the wait.

Once I start shipping your individual orders, you should each be getting an email notification from either PayPal or the USPS with the tracking number for your shipment, so please be on the lookout for that. I think I have requested address confirmations from all of you, but it doesn't hurt to remind you that I rely heavily on your PayPal address being correct for shipping. PLEASE double check that your PayPal shipping info is current and up to date!!!

I will send out another update as soon as I know the bulk shipment is on its way from California. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks again for your enthusiastic participation! It has been exciting to see the response to this group buy. If there are other new product or NLA parts you would like assistance with, don't hesitate to ask...I'm always up for a new challenge!

Also just a quick reminder that we're offering 10% off all Tools, Kingsborne Wire Sets, and Classic 9 appearance products through 15 May 2010.

[ideola]

The group buy is now CLOSED. All orders have been shipped except for 11. Apparently, Stage8 ran out of the M8x50 bolts during the initial run. I just received the bill for the last portion of the M8x50 order yesterday, so I am expecting these bolts to arrive in MI any day now, and will ship them out ASAP.

Thanks everybody for your patience and participation!!!

[ideola]

The last dozen or so orders were shipped out on Saturday, everyone should have gotten their tracking number notification via USPS or PayPal. PM or email me if not.