[TA455HO]

Looking awesome Steve. Can you tell me what type of glue/adhesive you used around the edge of the headliner?

[TransAmRIP]

As usual Steve, great work!

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by TA455HO

Looking awesome Steve. Can you tell me what type of glue/adhesive you used around the edge of the headliner?

Just regular 3M spray adhesive from an auto parts store, nothing special.

[TA455HO]

That's what I figured. My local Wesco paint supply store fellow said it wouldn't hold for very long, but it's good stuff and the trim and visors really helps keep it all in place. The 3M™ Super 77™ Multipurpose Adhesive seems like it should work just fine as well as some of their other flavors.

[njsteve]

Fiddling around with some vintage parts I located years ago. These are a set of NOS Pontiac Trans Am mudflaps.



Lest you think I drilled holes in a brand new paint job, here is the method recommended by a friend in town who has a white, original paint 68 Shelby. He has similar white Ford mudflaps and has them held on when driving with these heavy duty Home Depot mini clamps. He's been running with this set up for a while now and hasn't lost a mudflap yet. I may paint the clamps black so they don't shine so much, but other than that they seem to hold the mudflaps in place quite firmly.

[70RAlll]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Fiddling around with some vintage parts I located years ago. These are a set of NOS Pontiac Trans Am mudflaps.



Lest you think I drilled holes in a brand new paint job, here is the method recommended by a friend in town who has a white, original paint 68 Shelby. He has similar white Ford mudflaps and has them held on when driving with these heavy duty Home Depot mini clamps. He's been running with this set up for a while now and hasn't lost a mudflap yet. I may paint the clamps black so they don't shine so much, but other than that they seem to hold the mudflaps in place quite firmly.

NJSteve- I am sorry to say this, but you have completely lost me(I am sure others feel the same) with these mud flaps.. You were doing so good but these mud flaps..... man oh man... I am just sort of a lost for words....you know... they sold rear bumper guards also for these cars, they looked like sh!t also, why don't you go ahead and put rear bumper guards on also.. you are going to think I am being a jerk by making this statement-and maybe I am, but I am positive others think the same just will not say it.. Man, your car is looking so pure and perfect... why would you start ruining this,after 4 years of work, by adding stuff like mud flaps.. keep it pure and clean line'd like it has been up to now... I am sorry to say this and hope you don't take it too personally.. Sometimes we get "tunnel vision" and ,at least with myself I do, and I always like to hear others opinions whereby they can see something I am missing because of my tunnelvision... I think this is the case with you and the mud flaps...So I hope you won't pe pissed too long with me, but man... these look like sh!t.....

[njsteve]

To put it bluntly - you can have your own opinion no matter how wrong it is. I bet you think rock chips looks really great and original on a car. I personally don't care for them. The lower portion of these cars are a magnet for road damage, especially the rear fender flares. Tell me your magic secret for preventing rock chips and I'd be happy to consider it. These flaps are not permanent, that's why I used the clips, not screw holes.

I drive my cars. I don't trailer them around in $100K hermetically sealed transportation cocoons and then have white lab coated guys move them from one show to another, like some "collectors" do. Other than body work, I do all my own work.

I've had a set of black plastic mudflaps on my 1-of-1 produced hemi '70 Charger R/T-SE for 23 years and no-one has complained yet. Hell, I even ran them on my 71 hemicuda ragtop when I had that car 25 years ago. Here's a couple shots of me beating the crap out of that 1-of-7 produced, ragtops at the Musclecar Nationals in 1986. Note the mudflaps:





I remove the flaps at shows when I get there, I use them on the car when I drive it home. I'm not out to win any awards because, at the end of the day, I get to drive my car home again - that's my award.


If you'd like, I'd be happy to end this entire thread here and not post anything further if it upsets anyone too much.

[HWYSTR455]

I agree, the rear spats get peppered in short order if you drive the car, same with the front air dam. There's a few companies out there that sell very thin, clear adhesive sheets specifically to prevent this on high-end cars, and was thinking of trying one of those. Most are body-specific, though I'm sure I could either call them for a sheet or buy ones for another car that I know are large enough that I can trim. They even have been used on headlight covers, and don't discolor. I'm sure the 'sheen' will be slightly different, but it sure beats sitting there with a touch-up bottle dabbing for hours. 3M has one called ClearMask or Clear Bra, but I don't think the high-end people use it. The more tailored ones are all shooting for a patent....

.

[The Boss]

Sweet cars Steve - don't let one negative comment get you down.

Everybody has an image in their mind of what these cars are and how they should look. Personally, I think it's awesome that you drive them and beat the **** out of them! There is nothing I enjoy more than to come home after a bad day and go out for 20-30-50 mile ride, banging gears and spinning tires - all the troubles fade away!

Finish the car and keep us posted - then drive it!

Thanks

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

I agree, the rear spats get peppered in short order if you drive the car, same with the front air dam. There's a few companies out there that sell very thin, clear adhesive sheets specifically to prevent this on high-end cars, and was thinking of trying one of those. Most are body-specific, though I'm sure I could either call them for a sheet or buy ones for another car that I know are large enough that I can trim. They even have been used on headlight covers, and don't discolor. I'm sure the 'sheen' will be slightly different, but it sure beats sitting there with a touch-up bottle dabbing for hours. 3M has one called ClearMask or Clear Bra, but I don't think the high-end people use it. The more tailored ones are all shooting for a patent....

.

Actually I found a supplier for the bulk 3M material and that is what I will be experimenting with on the forward facing portion of the rear flares and maybe the lower front spolier. I've run that stuff on my Viper race car for 16 years and it stops everything this side of a hockey puck. (even deflects those orange marker cones pretty nicely)

[aronhk_md]

Steve,

Just an idea....if you pulled the rubber off those clamps and just cut down the handles, and maybe even the mouth sides of each clamp a bit they would be a lot smaller. Trim the rubber down and slip them back on. You could even sandblast and paint black like you said. Either way you could probably reduce the mass of each by about 50% and they would have just as much holding power. Might need a pair of pliers or really strong fingers to take them off without the leverage of the long arms, but....

[bird72]

Awesome job on car, been following silently the progress. I can't argue the practical of mud flaps, but I would have a tough time using them myself, the front fenders get not as much, but similar wear and they look kind of truck like on the front, and then there are nose chips..... it never ends...... I do remember when every other TA had TA mud flaps it seems, I used to on one I bought that way. Sorry, took em off (78 WS6 W72 4spd). But yours are unique, never seen that type....

[70RAlll]

I had a feeling my comment was going to piss you off, and I am sorry that it did. Just you car has,up to now, looked so damn sweet and pure, just absolutely sweet. The flaps while functional, just detract from the look of these cars. That is my opinion, and it is your car and you can do what you want to with the car. Hell, you could put those little metal "feelers" that keep you from scraping curbs if you wanted to.. I too drive my cars, actually if you read my previous posts, I had already made this point.. Steve, I was just posting my thoughts. I never told you to take them off or anything, just MY thoughts... This is a forum where we all get to post our thoughts and opinions. Apparently you have taken it personally and from your response it has upset you. I am sorry that my comments did. I was just making the point, that after the laborous detailed restoration you have done with the extreme documentation of originality, sort of caught me off guard that you would start adding stuff like this. You had mentioned once that you were just putting the car back to original, as you found it.
And as far as function items, Steve there is a list of preservative items that were used in the 1970's that you could add. How about the clear plastic seat covers?? Yes, on a car that is driven new seat covers are a magnet for dirt and wear, so a clear plastic set of seat covers would make perfect sense to ensure there is no wear on your new seat covers.. You see my point... we can justify all day long doing things to a car... I was just taken a back to see this on your car after the 4 year documentation of your quest to reassemble with such demanding original requirements.. That is all I was commenting one.
Like I said, PY's and other forums are spots where fellow enthusiast can comment with our opinions and share knowledge. This was/is just my opinion.. Sorry it pissed you off. But I will still say, I am sure there are others on this board who agree but just aren't going to post like I did that those mud flaps detract from the clean lines of these cars.... I will be gone for almost a month on business, so you won't have to hear my opinions for the balance of the summer... Good luck on your car and sorry I pissed you off so...

[aronhk_md]

I think 70RAIII is a pretty decent guy from what I've seen on this forum. I think he meant to rib you hard Steve, kinda like a close friend might...but it carried astray. I think everyone here respects Steve. I certainly know I do. And just because he uses the flaps doesnt mean he wants to use plastic seat covers. Everyone goes as far as THEY want to, and I know I have certainly done some ridiculous things over the years...some of which I'm glad nobody ever saw! LOL

Also, 70RAIII.......he did say he takes them off at destination. If he had a pink car cover and carried the car around on a trailer with that we might give him a hard time, but if the pink car cover worked well we'd all probably start using one....LOL

[schalmat]

Car is gorgeous! maybey you could get some of that plastic magnetic sign sheeting in the same white and just cut some pieces large enough to cover that rear area.when you get to the show or whatever,just simply pull them off.Dang someone should make those and market them..hmmmm

[njsteve]

The problem with that stuff is that if you even get one microscopic piece of dirt under there, it bores its way into your paint as you drive. Good idea though, I've seen it done on race cars.

[schalmat]

you would think someone could make the magnet sheeting with a softer backing .where theres a will theres a way.

[72Formula]

Steve, I get it. It's about protecting your car from road rash and still have it look good after you get to where you want to be. It's about avoiding costly and time-consuming repairs while still being able to fully enjoying your car. IE chipped paint=exposed metal=onset of rust=... It's about all of your efforts and trying to make them last. I get it.

Apparently, 70RAIII does not. Too focused on keeping it "pure and perfect" ALL the time irregardless of whether it is moving or static.

M2C

Steve, if you come accross a better solution, ditch the flaps. The car looks better without them.

[CaptCrunch]

Originally Posted by njsteve

The problem with that stuff is that if you even get one microscopic piece of dirt under there, it bores its way into your paint as you drive. Good idea though, I've seen it done on race cars.

Beautiful car.......you've done an awesome job!...........as far as the rock chips, I've heard that adding the flex additive to the paint like you use on the nose will greatly reduce the tendency to chip........love that Hemi car story too.......

[70RAlll]

Originally Posted by 72Formula

Steve, I get it. It's about protecting your car from road rash and still have it look good after you get to where you want to be. It's about avoiding costly and time-consuming repairs while still being able to fully enjoying your car. IE chipped paint=exposed metal=onset of rust=... It's about all of your efforts and trying to make them last. I get it.

Apparently, 70RAIII does not. Too focused on keeping it "pure and perfect" ALL the time irregardless of whether it is moving or static.

M2C

Steve, if you come accross a better solution, ditch the flaps. The car looks better without them.

72formula- yes I do get it.. Thouse of us who were driving in the 1970's understand and remember how cheesy and stupid trans ams became by the late 1970's. Our cars were basically a joke because of all the sh!t that every redneck(including myself) added to their car. My favorite was the sun shades on the rear window. NJSteve, why don't you get a set of those also, you know... the rear deck panel is a magnet for sun bleaching and those rear window sun shades were designed to protect this very problem. Plus you can remove these sun shades in about 3-5 minutes..
you guys are welcome to jerk me around for my comments. But I stand by what I said...those mud flaps look like junk especially with Home Depo clips.. Steve, it is your car, do what you want.. But as I said when I 1st commented about them, it is counterintuitive to your 4 year thread documenting the correct restoration of your 72 TA.. Those mud flaps are in the same league as the metal feelers,plastic seat covers and rear window sun shades-all cheesy add on's that were popular in the late 1970's..

And for what it is worth...I was one of those 16 year olds who put those stupid sun shades on my first Firebird...

Steve, you never would have recieved my comments if you hadn't made such an issue,almost a fanitical documentation of the correct reassembling of this car then only at the end to start adding parts that are not original. I assure you, there will be more normal wear problems to worry about from driving this car than the rock chips on the rear quarters. I finished my 70 1 year ago and it aleady looks worn from driving it. I know 2 restoration shops who have customers bring their cars back every year or 2 for freshening up.. Any car that is driven will start looking worn almost immediately.. And adding cheasy mud flaps just looks stupid.. You know... it is too bad that everyone is so damn politically correct these days that we are too affraid to make an observation that might offend someone. I for one am not. There is no way in hell fellow members can honestly think those flaps, especially using Hope Depo clips, look good ,especially considering this 4 year thread documenting a correct numbers restoration as Steve has. Just no one has the kahuna's to say so..
Steve , if you are so worried about chips...buy the clear plastic material that Porsche and BMW uses on their rear flares. It is so thin,that is is almost impossible to see and will achieve the same result you claim these mud flaps will.

Anyway, there is my last post on this subjet.. Do what you wnat Steve, it is your car.. It just looks funny to start adding incorrect ,non stock items after 4 years of detailing how correct you have been, almost fanitical, in restoring your car correctly as it originally was.That is all I am saying, and anyone who thinks i am out of hand saying so.... great... we are all welcome to our opinions.....