Repair mudflaps

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Repair mudflaps

Post by dragonflyjewels » Thu Jun 04, 2020 9:57 pm

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....

Image
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

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by jifflemon » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:43 am

Ooooo did Engineer brother happen to make a few sets of inserts? ;)

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by dragonflyjewels » Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:56 am

The inserts are Al's creation, I keep my bro busy with much harder stuff :shock:
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 :lol:
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

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MisterH
480 Is my middle name
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Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by MisterH » Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:09 am

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!
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
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Location: York

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by dcwalker » Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:10 am

Thanks for this Sylvia (and Al ;) ).

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!

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by jamescarruthers » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:29 pm

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)

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by jifflemon » Sat Jun 06, 2020 2:40 pm

MisterH wrote:
Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:09 am
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!
Less toying, more doing! :lol:

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Repair mudflaps

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sat Jun 06, 2020 3:06 pm

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

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