Repair mudflaps
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- dragonflyjewels
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 1590
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
- Location: Norfolk
Repair mudflaps
I'm sure we've all seen crusty swollen mudflaps with nasty rusted inserts coming through the rubber. Eva was missing both of her offside ones, presumably due to the crash that put her in the scrappie and Lily doesn't have any. Over the years I have been collecting the odd one here and there, and now have enough to have a full set on all 4 cars, including replacing the one I've just been told has gone awol from Snazzy's 'jigsaw puzzle' heap of bits.
So, I had a word with my engineer brother who recommended 0.8mm thick 430 stainless steel to make replacement inserts. A sheet 250 x 250mm is enough to cut a set of four.
First step was for Al to slit the rubber along the edge with a Stanley knife so he could remove all the crud inside. Using the flap as a guide he made a template each for front and back. Once the inserts were in he used Mannol 9912 gasket maker to stick the rubber back together and fill holes where the rust had eaten the rubber away. It remains to be seen how long the gasket maker lasts. Once it was set he drilled fixing holes through the new inserts, then reinforced broken holes in the triangular section with acrylic sheet. My task was to repaint the silver lettering on the rear flaps. The bodyshop said it's the front wheels that throw the stones up so the front flaps are for stones and the rears are for advertising....
So, I had a word with my engineer brother who recommended 0.8mm thick 430 stainless steel to make replacement inserts. A sheet 250 x 250mm is enough to cut a set of four.
First step was for Al to slit the rubber along the edge with a Stanley knife so he could remove all the crud inside. Using the flap as a guide he made a template each for front and back. Once the inserts were in he used Mannol 9912 gasket maker to stick the rubber back together and fill holes where the rust had eaten the rubber away. It remains to be seen how long the gasket maker lasts. Once it was set he drilled fixing holes through the new inserts, then reinforced broken holes in the triangular section with acrylic sheet. My task was to repaint the silver lettering on the rear flaps. The bodyshop said it's the front wheels that throw the stones up so the front flaps are for stones and the rears are for advertising....
Sylvia
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any
Re: Repair mudflaps
Ooooo did Engineer brother happen to make a few sets of inserts?
- dragonflyjewels
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 1590
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
- Location: Norfolk
Re: Repair mudflaps
The inserts are Al's creation, I keep my bro busy with much harder stuff
The stainless came from ebay and wasn't too difficult to cut - he used snips to roughly cut first then tidied them up on the grinder. If they'd needed to be accurate and/or look pretty it would have been outsourced to my go to engineer
The stainless came from ebay and wasn't too difficult to cut - he used snips to roughly cut first then tidied them up on the grinder. If they'd needed to be accurate and/or look pretty it would have been outsourced to my go to engineer
Sylvia
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any
Re: Repair mudflaps
Very good! I was toying with the idea of making repro parts as our family business is in rubber components, but it is certainly a relief knowing they can be repaired.
I've go the front flaps but not the rear ones, so will have to find those somewhere!
I've go the front flaps but not the rear ones, so will have to find those somewhere!
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Re: Repair mudflaps
Thanks for this Sylvia (and Al ).
Looks a very worthwhile exercise...
David
Looks a very worthwhile exercise...
David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2509
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Repair mudflaps
Tell Al I'm impressed!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
Re: Repair mudflaps
Less toying, more doing!
- dragonflyjewels
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 1590
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
- Location: Norfolk
Re: Repair mudflaps
Just added a small refinement to the process - Kurust on all the old rust stains, especially inside the slit. Might just hold back the rust that will eventually get the stainless.
Sylvia
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any
Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo
no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any