Bob Drake sender

[flatheadfan]

I just received a Bob Drake sale listing via email. I suppose many of you have also received the same. In the lising he has a fuel sender (99A-9275) on page 13. It states in the ad this sender is strictly for a '36-'59 Ford and only will work with standard Ford gauges. However, it sure looks like the old sender Bob was selling that would not read worth a darn with a Ford gauge. Is this something truly new or is this an attempt to "re-brand" old junk? Does anyone know for sure? The sales staff says "They have had no complaints when used with the correct gauge."

Tom

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[Kube]

Junk.
And that over used "They have never had any complaints..."
How many times / parts are they going to use that one?

 

[Lawson Cox]

I am not a big Drake fan, for many reasons. However, that said, I am using one of his sending units, with originall gauges in my 35 PU with his reproduction tank with no complaints after tweeking it several times by bending the float arm.

 

[Shadetree]

am not a big Drake fan, for many reasons. However, that said, I am using one of his sending units, with originall gauges in my 35 PU with his reproduction tank with no complaints after tweeking it several times by bending the float arm.



I have the same set up and ran out of gas last year with over a 1/4 tank indicated. It has never worked right but better than nothing...

BTW- I have `36 gauges.

 

[Ken Bull]

Ive been dealing with Bod Drake,Dick Spadarro,Mac,Ken CT,Skip & others since I started restoring my 36 Cabriolet in 87 & my 40 Ford PU in 90. I think that all though no ones perfect ...I thank GOD I had these resources available to help me enjoy this amazing hobby. So from Me its a BIG THANKS to them.

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

Ive been dealing with Bod Drake,Dick Spadarro,Mac,Ken CT,Skip & others since I started restoring my 36 Cabriolet in 87 & my 40 Ford PU in 90. I think that all though no ones perfect ...I thank GOD I had these resources available to help me enjoy this amazing hobby. So from Me its a BIG THANKS to them.

I have also used all of these suppliers you mention here Ken, plus many others, some who are FB members, and I definitely agree with you...I am so thankful to have all these guys in the hobby providing parts for my cars. It's so easy to complain about the services that others provide and with some of the folks who complain it seems to be a personal vendetta against certain suppliers.

 

[Kube]

I think a couple of you lost sight of the original post / question... that was (not quoting) "how happy were you with Drakes sending units?"
Only a couple of you have brought forth any possible "vendetta". Others have simply done what was asked... that is, relay their experience with Drakes sending units.

 

[OLD...BILL]

I agree with Ken Bull and JM " Thanks Bob ... and others . I just went to Bob Drakes schedule and he will be at the Grand National Meet in Tahoe, and I will shake his hand and say "thanks Bob" as I have done in the past .....and Yes I can tweek with the best of em ..... OLD....BILL

 

[rotorwrench]

I sometimes find it ironic that some entrepreneurs of repro parts will take the trouble to manufacture a complete body for an antique automobile but will avoid the manufacture of a small electrical device that wears out and needs replacement from time to time. They will purchase a part that they know won't work with the original indicator but not find a vendor of an indicator that might work with it.

Folks can buy large portion of a car but they can't get much of the little stuff that makes the car work. They (the repro part industry) all wait for someone else to develop the little stuff. They even make gas tanks for the old cars but they won't fit the original sender units so you have to use the part that doesn't work. I just doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

I agree with Ken Bull and JM " Thanks Bob ... and others . I just went to Bob Drakes schedule and he will be at the Grand National Meet in Tahoe, and I will shake his hand and say "thanks Bob" as I have done in the past .....and Yes I can tweek with the best of em ..... OLD....BILL

Hey Old Bill, I hope to see Bob D (plus you & Charlie as well) at Lake Tahoe in June. He and I had a long talk last year at Hershey about some of the bashing posts that have been made here and on other websites against him. He filled me in on some interesting info that I can't post here.

Anyway..........

Regarding losing sight of the original post/question..... I bought a '35-'36 gas tank and a '36 to '59 sending unit from Bob D to use in a '35 Ford w/'36 gas gauge. I will report back to Tom/flatheadfan's post, on how well it works or doesn't work, as soon as I put some gas in the tank .

 

[uncle buck]

I think a couple of you lost sight of the original post / question... that was (not quoting) "how happy were you with Drakes sending units?"
Only a couple of you have brought forth any possible "vendetta". Others have simply done what was asked... that is, relay their experience with Drakes sending units.

Kube, I think that was brought up because any question posed with reference to a Bob Drake question answered by you regardless of product has the same blanket answer. I think if you ordered a can of Coca-Cola from him you would be unhappy with the quality of it based on a bad experience you had with him. None of Henrys suppliers were perfect either. Some of us are satisfied with "most" of what Bob offers. I admit there is room for improvement on some too.

 

[Kube]

Hey Old Bill, I hope to see Bob D (plus you & Charlie as well) at Lake Tahoe in June. He and I had a long talk last year at Hershey about some of the bashing posts that have been made here and on other websites against him. He filled me in on some interesting info that I can't post here.

Anyway..........

Regarding losing sight of the original post/question..... I bought a '35-'36 gas tank and a '36 to '59 sending unit from Bob D to use in a '35 Ford w/'36 gas gauge. I will report back to Tom/flatheadfan's post, on how well it works or doesn't work, as soon as I put some gas in the tank .

He filled you in on HIS side of some of the bashing points. I have called him out a number of times in public. Never got a response from that.

 

[Kube]

Kube, I think that was brought up because any question posed with reference to a Bob Drake question answered by you regardless of product has the same blanket answer. I think if you ordered a can of Coca-Cola from him you would be unhappy with the quality of it based on a bad experience you had with him. None of Henrys suppliers were perfect either. Some of us are satisfied with "most" of what Bob offers. I admit there is room for improvement on some too.

This is not true. In fact I sent him $1700 two weeks ago. Everything was fine with the exception of trunk lid supports that well, didn't support, and a wheel trim ring advertised as '40 Ford that didn't look anything like a '40 Ford trim ring.
I answered the post in regard to the sending unit honestly and without bias. They work like poop. He did refund my costs. So, thanks Bob. You did the right thing.
Sorry, but I couldn't let that "we've never had any other complaints" thing go. Perhaps I should have. Anyone that has had a problem with Drakes company has most likely heard that line before.
I would like to challenge you and anyone else to prove any of my so called derogatory statements false.
Personally I expect to get what I paid for... you know, what was advertised. If the part kind of / sort of fits, tell me so and I'll decide if it is right (good enough) for my needs. Do not tell me it's a perfect copy, blah, blah, blah when obviously it is not. I won't lick his --- simply because he does something right. He gets paid to do things right. I also won't lick because he may be the only guy making the stuff.
The guy deserves to make a profit and yes, as I've stated numerous times previously, he has been a tremendous help to our hobby. That does not excuse poor business ethics.
I make mistakes just like he does and all of you. No problem there. We are all human. However, when I make a mistake I go out of my way to make it right.

So, the challenge is there... prove me wrong or perhaps over look (and possibly respect) the fact that I am not afraid to speak my mind.

 

[uncle buck]

This is not true. In fact I sent him $1700 two weeks ago. Everything was fine with the exception of trunk lid supports that well, didn't support, and a wheel trim ring advertised as '40 Ford that didn't look anything like a '40 Ford trim ring.
I answered the post in regard to the sending unit honestly and without bias. They work like poop.
Sorry, but I couldn't let that "we've never had any other complaints" thing go. Perhaps I should have. Anyone that has had a problem with Drakes company has most likely heard that line before.
I would like to challenge you and anyone else to prove any of my so called derogatory statements false.
I won't lick his --- simply because he does something right. He gets paid to do things right. I also won't lick because he may be the only guy making the stuff.
The guy deserves to make a profit and yes, as I've stated numerous times previously, he has been a tremendous help to our hobby. That does not excuse poor business ethics.

I am glad to hear that you do keep an open mind. This is all too true. We have all heard the infamous "we've never had any other complaints" and know better from multiple suppliers/manufacturers and it gets old. You know as well as I do that these suppliers are capable of making great products and some do fall short of our needs and or expectations. Sometimes it may be do to cost effectiveness to what the market will bear. Sometimes it will be to finding a worker or company that cares about what they do. Sometimes it is because our standards today for fit, finish and tolerence are much higher than 75-100 years ago. If we have product that doesn't meet our needs or expectations in quality, we need to return it so these guys really notice we won't accept crap when possible.

 

[lenmissy]

That is why my sender on my 40 ford does not work cause it is not standard. It is from drake

 

[ford38v8]

He filled you in on HIS side of some of the bashing points. I have called him out a number of times in public. Never got a response from that.

Mike, I've spoken with Bob in private and have had him look me in the eye with a blank stare when I tell him my concerns about some products. Remember the $25 catalogue that never got published? He claimed that they sent coupons good for parts to cover the cost of that non existant catalogue. I never saw the coupon, but I also know that Bob suffered a loss in that experience as well as his customers.

I too have been grateful for Bob's past accomplishments, but unfortunately, the good old days are gone for Bob. I do not wish him misfortune, and like most here, realize that bad for Bob is bad for the hobby.

Good luck, Bob, we know you're doing your best, and hope you continue to do so. We do, however, strongly bemoan your business practice of denial that there is a problem, and that attitude is intolerable, turning your loyal costomers away to your competitors.

 

[uncle buck]

He filled you in on HIS side of some of the bashing points. I have called him out a number of times in public. Never got a response from that.

Have you ever tried to pull him off to the side and try discussing your issues in a relaxed environment? Some people will take the public attack method as they may percieve it and not handle it well. Bob has always been an easy guy to approach and talk to for me , but leaves me the impression that he is not a very confident speaker in front of a crowd. He is definetly not the the attorney in the courtroom or politition on stage / in front of a camera kind of guy. Just a thought - but I have been wrong before. Thanks for hearing me out too.

 

[rotorwrench]

Bob is not the only vendor that carries a few boat anchors in their inventory. I've seen vendors let customers know right there in their catalog if an item has drawbacks then let them decide for themselves if they want to settle for less of a product. The only thing about that is that a lot of products are available that don't hold up like the OEM product did so the catalog may be riddled with doubts. I still have found no vendors that manufacture everything they sell and stand behind those products 100%. It's just not out there yet. Most all of them carry many many products that they themselves do not have any control over the quality of manufacture but they carry them anyway so as to be the Go To Guy in the industry.

I find myself purchasing the best part I can find out there from whom ever carries that part in their inventory and has the best price for that part. Web sites like this have the wonderful quality of puting the information out there about newer updates and better parts plus the added value of letting everyone know about a "lesser quality than OEM" part when problems arise. I'm affraid that's the best we have to work with to date.

Someone has to be the guinea pig and buy the first part to check it out & either reject or praise the stuff. If that's all that's out there then you have to find a way to make it work on your own.

 

[Kube]

Bob is not the only vendor that carries a few boat anchors in their inventory. I've seen vendors let customers know right there in their catalog if an item has drawbacks then let them decide for themselves if they want to settle for less of a product. The only thing about that is that a lot of products are available that don't hold up like the OEM product did so the catalog may be riddled with doubts. I still have found no vendors that manufacture everything they sell and stand behind those products 100%. It's just not out there yet. Most all of them carry many many products that they themselves do not have any control over the quality of manufacture but they carry them anyway so as to be the Go To Guy in the industry.

I find myself purchasing the best part I can find out there from whom ever carries that part in their inventory and has the best price for that part. Web sites like this have the wonderful quality of puting the information out there about newer updates and better parts plus the added value of letting everyone know about a "lesser quality than OEM" part when problems arise. I'm affraid that's the best we have to work with to date.

Someone has to be the guinea pig and buy the first part to check it out & either reject or praise the stuff. If that's all that's out there then you have to find a way to make it work on your own.

I have to say I, for the most, part agree with everything you've stated.
I might like to add: I have a retail business and as such resell product. When (it doesn't happen often) I resell a product that my client is unhappy with, I take care of it there and then. I always do my best to remember to treat my clients the way I'd expect to be treated.
The bottom line here is this - when I resell a product I take responsibility for that product. I have sought out the best manufactures to supply me and yes, because I insist on good quality merchandise, my profit is less than what it possibly could be. However, I chose numerous years ago to accept a bit less profit in exchange for happy (thereby return) customers. It is simply not fair to expect my client to accept something that my supplier produced of inferior quality.
I have never offered an excuse in all my years in this business. Never had to.

 

[Charlie ny]

Guys,
I too received the electronic catalog about the sender and other parts. I
did note that this sender would fit original tanks as well as Bobs tanks, so something
is different. I'm going to call BD on Monday and speak to the tech guy and hope
to get a definative reply on the electrical differences between the original "sort of
worked" sender and what is now being offered.
At best I'm fairly happy with what is now Bob Drake, I'm glad they
are around, but as I've said before, dealing with Bobs staff is not like dealing with
him. I occasionally get the feeling I'm talking to someone who flipped burgers last
week and while I'm baring my soul this kid is texting his sweety.
Charlie ny