Fender Flare Mud Flaps

[joelittel]

I'm sick of cleaning mud and dirt off my car so I've been working on some fender flare/mud flaps.

First I built a cardboard template to get a sense of the size I wanted. I've always liked the extended fender flare look of the Abarth cars but I didn't want to go so extreme with mine. The real purpose of my flares is literally to keep the mud off my rockers, so I don't need exaggerated flares.

Once I had the cardboard template looking "good" I fiberglassed over that to create the basic shape and something to hold the shape/structure. Then using two part mix and pour polyurethane foam I built up the flares/flaps to fill in the shape.

Once I'm happy with the shape I'll glass over the foam and finish them off. So far I'm really happy with how they are turning out. The foam couldn't be any easier to work with. Once cured it is very firm but sands away easily allowing for easy changes and unlimited design options.

[RRoller123]

Very clever!

[xjware]

That's awesome

[Jimb]

Another, cheaper option, is to not drive it in the rain or even when the roads are wet. I can't remember the last time I gave my car a full wash. I simply wipe it down with detailer after most drives.

Jim

[Jimb]

Looks really good
Jim

[Jimb]

ooops

[Jimb]

I thought there was a way of deleting screwup like my duplicate post...but perhaps not

[fiat142]

Love the look - especially the integration of the front dam... sleek.

[joelittel]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm very happy with the look so far, but have experienced a setback with how I thought I'd attach them... however, the worst case (and most probable) scenario is they become permanent installations.

I generally avoid driving the car in the rain or on wet roads, but to access my garage I have to cross a private easement which always seems to have just enough moisture to cause this.

[Jimb]

The Volumex has very similar flares but in vinyl. They have flange that protrudes inside the wheel opening and is screwwed to the inside metal flange of the fenders.
I could send you pics of that'll be of any help.
Jim

[joelittel]

That sounds exactly like what I was trying to do with mine, but my rear wheel wells have smaller flanges than the front. I had intended on installing rivet nuts in the flanges, thinking that they’d offer a solid connection.

I would greatly appreciate the photos as well as any other ideas.

Thanks

[fiat142]

More experimental idea, but I’ve been thinking about using rare earth magnets to hold something like this on. I’ve been using them for some random stuff on my Jeep and it provides a much stronger connection than you might think. My toolkit and misc lights don’t fall off of that thing 4 wheeling so..... might be a no-holes solution?

[RRoller123]

Those things are unbelievably powerful! Good general idea.

[joelittel]

The magnets sound really interesting. Please let us know what you do.

[joelittel]

After some experimenting I think I’ll be attaching my flares with stainless M4 rivet nuts/bolts

At first there was some concern that the wheel well flange was not large enough for rivet nuts but M4 seems to fit just fine, and 5 of them should be plenty strong if not overkill.