Aluminum Spats

[Railroad]

I am ready to install a set of aluminum spats on my newly painted roadster. Too many rock chips already.
The paint has cured a couple of months and is clear over base.
I remember reading, someone used clear silicone to attach.
Is this still the best known option? Hopefully no plans to remove, but would like to have the option.
I plan on using a brushed finish. Hopefully rock impacts will be less noticeable.
The curves of the spats are not a perfect fit, but can be pressed to conform.
I have been trying to come up with a way to hold them in place until the silicone cures.
Thanks for all suggestions to make it happen.

[Papa]

I used 3M two-sided tape to install mine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BO913C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Two years on the road and they are not coming off.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119304&d=1576971551

[Namrups]

Don't know if I would use silicone. Most 1 part silicones (from caulking tubes) will only cure to a depth of 1/4" so you would just be able to use a bead around the perimeter. The adhesion may be a little sketchy on such a smooth surface without ruffing it up or using a primer. (Both the aluminum surface and the painted surface) (BTW primers are made up of solvents) Lastly, be sure the silicone you are using IS NOT ACETOXY based. You can tell by the ammonia smell. It gives off acetic acid as it cures and will do a job on your paint.

I would follow Papa's lead with the tape.

[Railroad]

I used 3M two-sided tape to install mine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BO913C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Two years on the road and they are not coming off.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119304&d=1576971551

Well, that was quick and very comforting. Only issue now, you posted such an impressive pic of polished spats.
Thanks for the great solution.
Do you recall how you oriented the tape on the spats?
I am thinking about 1/4" inch in from the edges and then something down the middle.

[Papa]

Well, that was quick and very comforting. Only issue now, is you posted such an impressive pic of polished spats.
Thanks for the great solution.
Do you recall how you oriented the tape on the spats?
I am thinking about 1/4" inch in from the edges and then something down the middle.

Yep -- I just did the perimeter of the spat set back maybe 1/8".

[magicmarto]

Where did you get those? They look awesome!

[Papa]

I got them from Very Cool Parts: http://verycoolparts.com/

[Blitzboy54]

I see a black powder coated set in my future

[KDubU]

I attached mine with button head bolts. You can see them if you expand on the pic.

174763

[Jeff Kleiner]

I see a black powder coated set in my future

Jesse,
Then the problem becomes that rock chips will show shiny aluminum. Here's a thought...I buy sheets of .100" black ABS plastic that is lightly textured on one side and smooth on the other. I cut & shape them into filler/splash panels for that void in front of the rear wheels that is open to the cockpit. It is easy to shape using a heat gun. I don't think it would be difficult to do the same to create spats.

Jeff

[Ted G]

I think if someone made these on a regular basis, they would do well. Looking for a set myself.

[Lidodrip]

Having seen the recent thread with the chrome wrapped Cobra - https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44488-Wrapped-Cobra-looks-like-a-polished-Kirkham - I wonder if creating a spat using a piece of chrome wrap maybe a good option? I have no experience with wrap so I am not sure how feasible or worthwhile this would be. I personally prefer a piece of aluminum.

[Ted G]

Having seen the recent thread with the chrome wrapped Cobra - https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44488-Wrapped-Cobra-looks-like-a-polished-Kirkham - I wonder if creating a spat using a piece of chrome wrap maybe a good option? I have no experience with wrap so I am not sure how feasible or worthwhile this would be. I personally prefer a piece of aluminum.

I think that chrome wrap would get dinged up to easily and be too thin to not hurt the paint behind. Meaning, if you replaced the wrap after some dings and scratches, you would see the dings and scratches in the new piece you places. I'm open to doing a "stick-on" spat, but I think it would need to have some "gerth" to it.

[Papa]

The roads in Colorado are treated with sand and crushed rock in the winters to provide traction in the snow. That stuff is horrible in the spring and summer. Here is what that shiny polished spat looks like after two years and ~6,000 miles of Colorado abuse.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=174775&d=1668190362

If not for the metal spat, I'd have no paint left in the lower fender bulge and would likely be well into the gel coat or worse by now.

[GTBradley]

The clear spatz are actually not bad. I've done 14,000 miles with these. Not perfect though - the problem with all of them is they don't go to the edges.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=174786&d=1668198719 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=174787&d=1668198719

I am investigating other options like the aluminum ones and my own black leather-like vinyl ones. I'm intrigued by Jeff's idea "sheets of .100" black ABS plastic that is lightly textured on one side and smooth on the other"

Dave, are you doing the Baja 600 again in your roadster?

[Papa]

The clear spatz are actually not bad. I've done 14,000 miles with these. Not perfect though - the problem with all of them is they don't go to the edges.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=174786&d=1668198719 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=174787&d=1668198719

I am investigating other options like the aluminum ones and my own black leather-like vinyl ones. I'm intrigued by Jeff's idea "sheets of .100" black ABS plastic that is lightly textured on one side and smooth on the other"

Dave, are you doing the Baja 600 again in your roadster?

Nope! All paved roads since my one off-road adventure.

[GTBradley]

Nope! All paved roads since my one off-road adventure.
You mean your washboard gravel road drive or did I miss something?

[Alan_C]

Rather than clear vinyl spats, I used a 3M carbon fiber look material. Yes it takes damage, but because it is darker and it has a pattern in it, only the larger dings are noticeable. I made my own using NiceGuyEddie's pattern as a starting point and adjusted to better fit my MK4. If you go this route, get enough of the wrap vinyl to make extra as the first one for me was a throwaway. Trying to get the vinyl to smoothly conform to the compound curves takes a little practice. For me the best solution was to cut slits into the backing and only expose a strip down the center. This gives you a lot more control during initial placement. Once happy with the position, remove the backing on one side and work from the center out to avoid bubbles and wrinkles. Then finish up the other side. Once I used this approach, application was far easier with better results.

[Papa]

You mean your washboard gravel road drive or did I miss something?

That's the one. ;)


https://youtu.be/tjV_nQQKRaE

[GTBradley]

That’ll do it!

You know there are many car-show-only Cobra owners that have watched that and questioned your sanity, right?

[Papa]

That’ll do it!

You know there are many car-show-only Cobra owners that have watched that and questioned your sanity, right?

I built it to drive it. When it breaks, I know a guy that can fix it.

[john42]

Mine is nothing fancy. Used dip peelable paint, flat black. Easy to touch up and peels off easily if I want to redo it. I bought a set of carbon fiber spats that I’ll install “someday”.

174794

[Jeff Kleiner]

I built it to drive it. When it breaks, I know a guy that can fix it.

That’s what I like to hear :D

Jeff

[nucjd19]

One of the best recommendations I have gotten was from Fman who put on subtle mud flaps on the front rear wheel wells which catch those small stones. Knock on wood I have not gotten one stone chip in that area with over 1000miles on mine so far. You can't see them unless it is on the lift and was a super cheap addition.

[Blitzboy54]

Jesse,
Then the problem becomes that rock chips will show shiny aluminum. Here's a thought...I buy sheets of .100" black ABS plastic that is lightly textured on one side and smooth on the other. I cut & shape them into filler/splash panels for that void in front of the rear wheels that is open to the cockpit. It is easy to shape using a heat gun. I don't think it would be difficult to do the same to create spats.

Jeff


That’s genius. Thanks Jeff!

[Goose]

One of the best recommendations I have gotten was from Fman who put on subtle mud flaps on the front rear wheel wells which catch those small stones. Knock on wood I have not gotten one stone chip in that area with over 1000miles on mine so far. You can't see them unless it is on the lift and was a super cheap addition.

Where'd you get the flaps from?

[nucjd19]

Where'd you get the flaps from?

post number 372 from Fman....https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?35778-Fmans-Dart-427-build-9818-Moroso-Catch-Can-PF4-EFI-update/page10


I bought them on Amazon for super cheap.

[steno]

I just used the Rustoleum version of Plastdip. Spray it on and peel it off when it’s beat up. Then respray.

[Jim Wehr]

I had mine wrapped with flat black material locally. Still doing well after 4000 miles.

[Fman]

One of the best recommendations I have gotten was from Fman who put on subtle mud flaps on the front rear wheel wells which catch those small stones. Knock on wood I have not gotten one stone chip in that area with over 1000miles on mine so far. You can't see them unless it is on the lift and was a super cheap addition.

I am up to 4600 miles now and zero chips in my rear fender area, the $10 poor man mudflaps seem to be doing the job!:)