From null_at_porschefans.com Tue Apr 22 05:38:34 1997

          by emout07.mail.aol.com (8.7.6/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0)
          id IAA28754 for 911_at_porschefans.com;
          Tue, 22 Apr 1997 08:37:33 -0400 (EDT)

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 08:37:33 -0400 (EDT) From: WFerch6687_at_aol.com
To: 911_at_porschefans.com
Subject: Stongard Experience
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Hi P-Fans:
Let me add my $.02 experience to the few questions coming up regarding Stongards. I bought a pair of 8 mil clear urethane Stongard pieces for the outside rear view mirrors. My car is Silver Metallic. I've had these on for 2-3 years now and am extremely pleased. You need to look very closely to see the "seam", or edge, and are truly invisible. They did not yellow to date. Edges did not lift or peel. Based on my favorable experience, I plan on buying pieces that would replace my hood bra, and pieces for the front bumper, "eyelids" below the headlights, headlight lens covers (heavier gauge), rear fender flare protectors ( like recent factory cars), etc. I don't think there should be a worry about fading because these are supposed to be "semi-permanent", like factory flare guards. I tried to research the material used, and I believe it's a 3M product ( "Clear Advantage" as guessed by 3M Automotive and Marine Division, or "Clear Urethane 84911" quoted from another 3M source). I purchase my stuff from "Those Guys" in Bellevue , Washington 206-646-0671. They offer hood lid depths ranging from 6" (leading edge protection), 14" ( duplicating vinyl bra depth) and 21" depth covering more of the hood. An application kit comes with a squeegee, yet the thickness makes it kind of hard to get wrinkles out ( like wallpaper work, yuck!). Larger pieces become more difficult. Testing your skills on smaller mirror bras, like I did, might be a good idea. I have no financial stake in recommending Those Guys- they simply served me well. Final; thought- I plan on cutting a small pice for the high wear area covering the gas filler lid. Prone to scratches, etc- that this would protect. Hope this is food for thought.
Regards,
Wil Ferch
WFerch6687_at_aol.com

From null_at_porschefans.com Sat Apr 19 22:26:13 1997

          by emout16.mail.aol.com (8.7.6/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0)
          id BAA01962;
          Sun, 20 Apr 1997 01:25:25 -0400 (EDT)

Date: Sun, 20 Apr 1997 01:25:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Porsray_at_aol.com
To: marco_at_microsoft.com, 911_at_porschefans.com Subject: RE: Stongard
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Marc,

I talked to a very reputable body shop about this job on my '95 993. They had never done the job, but on reading the literature, they had some concerns:

1. Body pieces are huge; fit across entire nose. They had concerns about installing them and keeping them aligned and to be able to get all the air bubbles out of them.
2. While the pieces supposedly are reovable, there could be a difference in color between the protected panels and rest of the body, largely because of the effects of sun/rain/washing/waxing on the unprotected panels.

So far I'm still using a bra; car is Aventurine Green so it doesn't show as badly as it would on a light color. However, i did install the light protectors; have gone through 1 cracked headlight and both foglites on my daily beater plus a cracked foglite on the 993. Shop warned me that the headlites are VERY expensive on a 993 and lenses are not available separately.

Ray Calvo (porsray_at_aol.com)

I'm considering putting Stongard on a new 911, wanted to get feedback from those out there who have (or haven't done it).

It seems like a natural extension of the rear wheel-well fender guards that come standard on the Turbo/C4S.

Are there any risks that after extended time on the car that the paint under the stongard would have aged differently, leaving 'permanent' stongard regions even after the stongard is removed?

It seems aesthetically less offensive than the traditional bra, without most of the negatives of the bra (scratched paint, mud/dust under the bra, etc.).

Other benefits/concerns from those who've gone this route to paint preservation?

Marc