It's been over a year now since the Stealth Wing Stands from TLG have been discontinued and today we're getting close to being able to bring them back! The original manufacturer of these wing stands went out of business and we lost touch with them and could not get the molds for the product as they were worn out and discarded. Today we are working with a new manufacturer to produce these for us and hopefully will have a prototype available very soon!
We just wanted to give you folks an update on this. If we can make it work and get these into production we are committed to keeping a decent volume in stock to make sure anyone interested is able to get a set.
This is FFIEROFRED's son using this account to say this. PLEASE RELAY THIS MESSAGE TO TLG. I have one of the original TLG sets and while I absolutely love how it makes the car look, BUT I would like to make some suggestions on how to improve the design. First of all, when I installed mine on the decklid, I noticed that the forward/backward position in which I was installing mine only had the forward holes but not the rear holes for the supplied studs, so I had to drill my own for the rear studs. Second, the mounts are so narrow where it mounts to the spoiler that it does not match the underside of the spoiler, not an important detail but still. Third, the forward studs stripped out the holes, so I used a bigger stud, then that stripped out, so I just bolted it all the way through leaving me with a bolt sticking through the top of the mount which is ugly... may be a material issue but this NEEDS to be addressed. Also, these mounts use the original spoiler mounting screw locations, the problem with this is if the spoiler screw inserts are damaged/missing/rusted out/etc as not all spoilers are in mint condition, and since the mounts are so narrow it leaves no way to attach the mounts to the spoiler if the inserts are not usable. I am not saying these things in a negative attitude and mean no hard feelings toward TLG, but I've had alot of issues with my set. I would love to see these back on the site and hope my feedback will allow you to produce a better product.....I love to buy a another set.
This is FFIEROFRED's son using this account to say this. PLEASE RELAY THIS MESSAGE TO TLG. I have one of the original TLG sets and while I absolutely love how it makes the car look, BUT I would like to make some suggestions on how to improve the design. First of all, when I installed mine on the decklid, I noticed that the forward/backward position in which I was installing mine only had the forward holes but not the rear holes for the supplied studs, so I had to drill my own for the rear studs. Second, the mounts are so narrow where it mounts to the spoiler that it does not match the underside of the spoiler, not an important detail but still. Third, the forward studs stripped out the holes, so I used a bigger stud, then that stripped out, so I just bolted it all the way through leaving me with a bolt sticking through the top of the mount which is ugly... may be a material issue but this NEEDS to be addressed. Also, these mounts use the original spoiler mounting screw locations, the problem with this is if the spoiler screw inserts are damaged/missing/rusted out/etc as not all spoilers are in mint condition, and since the mounts are so narrow it leaves no way to attach the mounts to the spoiler if the inserts are not usable. I am not saying these things in a negative attitude and mean no hard feelings toward TLG, but I've had alot of issues with my set. I would love to see these back on the site and hope my feedback will allow you to produce a better product.....I love to buy a another set.
These are critical issues with design in my mind. They should certainly be addressed before these are offered for sale. I can say everything I have bought from TLG has been very good quality. If I ever had an issue it was resolved quickly and professionally. I do not want to put a bolt through the stands to make them work. They need to be ready at purchase.
.....and since the mounts are so narrow it leaves no way to attach the mounts to the spoiler if the inserts are not usable.
Is this issue because of the way that the wing stand tapers to a slight point so it doesn't fit into the wing "groove" towards the front of the wing? Can you snap a photo of the bottom of your wing so we can see?
My set of TLG's leave atleast 1/2 of space on both sides, the mounting pad is very narrow. My spoiler screw inserts were in bad shape and even tried to jb weld them in place but that failed. My spoiler was damaged while in storage and untill I can find a spoiler with good screw inserts I will not install the stands onto another unit. I just installed my original spoiler that I screwed through the mounting pads to secure after the screw inserts failed in that one. Anyone who has tried to remove the stands will know what im talking about these inserts failing.
Ill have to dig my old spoiler out and take some pics of the problem areas I had. I have lots of pictures of it on the car but none of the underside.
Heres a few pics I took with my original spoiler and stands, you can see the extra screw toward the front I had to use to secure the stands to the spoiler after the screw inserts failed internally.
Heres the only ones I have of my set from TLG that are even close to showing the underside
This picture you can see the gap under the front of the stands before I had to drill the holes for the studs that TLG appearently forget on my set.l
Heres a picture of after I cut them down and tapered the front angle, I didnt like how long they were for my mounting position (ignore the girl). You can also see that the spoiler isnt level with the decklid like is should be because of the inserts failing. The spoiler was only held on by the two rear screws so it was always lifting off the mounts, I was afraid to go on interstate like this as I could watch the spoiler bounce as I go over bumps.
[This message has been edited by fieroadam (edited 07-21-2013).]
So basically, they didn't fit in the cutout channel that is on all of the underside wing mounting locations. They were too narrow in the channel?
Yes, and since the internal screw inserts in the spoiler were messed up in mine, it caused some real concerns. The only other way I could of attached the mounts to the spoiler was to permanetly attach using epoxy/JB weld, etc.... and I was not going to do that.
Yes, and since the internal screw inserts in the spoiler were messed up in mine, it caused some real concerns. The only other way I could of attached the mounts to the spoiler was to permanetly attach using epoxy/JB weld, etc.... and I was not going to do that.
My only issue was not with the stands. It was with the 25 plus year old spoiler. The OG studs and insert nuts were pretty well rusted. When I removed the spoiler from my very clean GT, the insert nuts stripped on three of four holes. I went out and purchased new insert nuts, and epoxied them in. After 25 years of life, the best thing to do was spend about $10 and make new. Now, if need be, I can easily remove/install the stands and wing.
As far as fitment goes, the stands fit perfectly on my GT trunk lid. If I recall, the mounting points of the Notchies and GTs are different. I wonder why the fitment issue?
Another step that I did, and this is due to my OCD, I smoothed out the edges of the stands before prep and paint. I found them a bit square in shape, and easily rounded the edges with sandpaper.
As far as functionality goes, I find that the rear end of my GT does not get dusty any longer. The reflector doesn't gather sand and road debris like before.
I'd like to point out that all the input posted in this thread has been taken into consideration. What we really need is wings that don't have rusted out nut inserts!!
The first set was sent to Chris. When he tests them and makes sure all the bases are covered, they will be in full production. I know Chris has a lot on his plate right now so he will have to chime in with an ETA.
The old ones were made out of a plastic polymer of some sort, I always thought that making them out of aluminum would be better and you could just drill/tap the mounting holes where needed, if the original mounting points were an issue. Just a thought.
The new 2nd Generation prototypes arrived today. As soon as we get into the new building (very soon) I think we'll be able to test fit them, do an install video and authorize production. We should be able to have them ready in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas for sure, if not sooner!
Today we started filming the install video for the new stealth wing stands but had a hiccup with the mounting hardware, so we will resume shooting on Monday and we should be able to launch the product soon.
I am interested in a set. I would like them in gloss black then I would not have to paint them.I think it would make them appear to float as the GT is yellow and gloss black. If not gloss black I would have topaint them yellow. I will try and check this thread to see when they are available to purchase. If you have any for sale and need a buyer please email or PM me.
We are currently waiting for the manufacturer to produce the first batch. We have a new install video made for them also - just waiting to get them in stock.