mud flaps/ mud guards?

[jtb]

Hi,
I am contemplating running some mud flaps on my GT as my rear tires kind of 'stick out' - almost to the edge of the stock flares. Has anyone got some that look good, or will it just ruin the lines of the car? I've seen a picture of a Manta (I think) with some on the back that have the blitz logo, but they look a little big for the GT. I can fabricate something out of aluminum, stainless, or plastic (black or ???) if nothing is available commercially.
Any comments / suggestions/ pictures are appreciated.

Thanks!

jtb

[MonkeyNutZ]

The GT I just got has one mud flap I'm not really a fan though. Were they ever an option?

[RallyBob]

Mud flaps are a matter of taste and need. If you live on a dirt road, have a nice paint job, and have wide tires...then I'd say you probably need them to keep from damaging your car. Otherwise it's mostly a styling exercise. I like them for a daily driver, but not so much for a weekend 'nice' car.

A little hint as well, try to use plastic or polyurethane rather than metal flaps. If you ever hit a curb or something with a metal flap you could transfer that energy directly to the wheelwell and might damage the body and/or paint of your car. A flexible flap won't have this issue.

HTH,
Bob

[namba209]

My opinion on mud flaps is only based on what happened to Willit? after I removed the four that were on it when I bought it. I didn't plug the holes the screws left when I removed them and that caused severe corrosion to all four rear corners of the wheel wells. Put them on or take them off, either way. But be sure to seal the holes left behind.

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by jtb Hi, I am contemplating running some mud flaps on my GT as my rear tires kind of 'stick out' - almost to the edge of the stock flares. Has anyone got some that look good, or will it just ruin the lines of the car? I've seen a picture of a Manta (I think) with some on the back that have the blitz logo, but they look a little big for the GT. I can fabricate something out of aluminum, stainless, or plastic (black or ???) if nothing is available commercially. Any comments / suggestions/ pictures are appreciated. Thanks! jtb

I have seen some made out of Poly (like the late model car's bumper covers) Nissan comes to mind and I think they are also available for Toyota & Honda. Painted the same color as the body they look pretty good, but chrome or polished stainless looks out of place on any Opel and really looks like crap on a GT. You may have to trim and fit them to get them to work on a GT but they are not as expensive or labor intensive as Flairs.

[baz]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 poliched

(Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert

(Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert

(Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert





i like flaps when as bob says you are going on mud and gravel but the aero drag is a killer on the road if you want economy

ps sorry about the bold , some thing's playing up today

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by baz (Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert (Klaxon) Otto alert i like flaps when as bob says you are going on mud and gravel but the aero drag is a killer on the road if you want economy ps sorry about the bold , some thing's playing up today

Sorry about the typo, but I had just washed my hands and couldn't do a thing with my fingers As far as aero drag that is why where I was raised they are knowed a Arkansas Air Brakes

[West Coast GT]

I've also been considering mud flaps. After last year's road trip down Route 69, and this year's road trip to the Tacoma Gathering, I spent hours removing road tar. I've also have acquired chips from gravel thrown up along the sills.

I'm tired of the mess, cleanup, and damage. But I'd like to be able to quickly / easily remove the flaps once I arrive at my destination.

Hope you guys collectively come up with a great idea to this problem.

[jtb]

Thanks for the input!

I have heard the plastic flex not-damaging-the-body theory before. Makes sense. I don't live on a dirt road, but there's plenty of crap on the paved roads, too. As for holes, I was figuring on using some kind of clip, as I too have had bad experiences with rust starting at those holes. I like the idea of paint-matched, but I'm a little late for that now...
What about no flap, but some kind of clear plastic film, like what is used to protect driving lights and the front edge of the hood on some cars? Would that stop the chipping and make it easy to clean off the tar?

jtb

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by jtb What about no flap, but some kind of clear plastic film, like what is used to protect driving lights and the front edge of the hood on some cars? Would that stop the chipping and make it easy to clean off the tar? jtb

That works well too. Can't really apply it to the *edge* of the wheel arches however, it's not that flexible and will likely peel. But on the flatter surfaces it works excellent. A friend of mine applies this stuff professionally, and on some new cars like Porsches he has done the entire front end, the hood, the metal above the windshield (!), the rocker panels, the fronts of the mirrors, and the areas behind the wheel openings. When the cars are traded in a few years later, the stuff it peeled off and the body and paint are perfect beneath the film.

[Mistrbones]

Made some out of acrylic when I bought my car new. Didn't do much for looks but it saved a lot of damage to the paint.

[teppy]

Originally Posted by jtb Hi, I am contemplating running some mud flaps on my GT as my rear tires kind of 'stick out' - almost to the edge of the stock flares. Has anyone got some that look good, or will it just ruin the lines of the car? I've seen a picture of a Manta (I think) with some on the back that have the blitz logo, but they look a little big for the GT. I can fabricate something out of aluminum, stainless, or plastic (black or ???) if nothing is available commercially. Any comments / suggestions/ pictures are appreciated.

Right now I don't have mudflaps. I have seen many pickups pulling their RVs that have a wide mudflap under the rear bumper. Got to try on eBay or at cs.

[Lindsay]

Used to find black plastic or rubber mud flaps at local auto parts stores. I haven't looked in awhile. One set had "c-clamp style" attachment brackets for easy installation and removal. Prefer the rubber material instead of plastic or stainless.

[grslightng02]

While driving some errands today I passed a Corvette show at our local airfield. I stopped and looked at some of the late 60's and 70's Vettes for obvious reasons.

I found the Corvette had a slight (hint) of a mudflap that came off of the rear fender flare line. I suppose you could do something like this on a GT.
I've seen it done on a GT, and although the fabrication and bodywork was sloppy, what they were shooting for was good.