DIY: plastic rear wheel skirts (Geo Metro)

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Pics, pics, pics:

Next, on to the new non-drilling-the-car attachment method. A crummy shot of the DIY bracket. It's made from flattened copper pipe, stainless nut, bolt & washers:




I made 6 of those special brackets in total, 3 per side. Once tightened, they're well clamped down and very solid.

The other two brackets per side attach to the lip of the plastic bumper, so I just made simple 90 degree bends in the copper pipe, drilled & bolted them on:

I made my own metrompg brackets today for my rear festiva wheel skirts using a piece of 3/8 galvanized i had Pro design bud!

[gone-ot]

Use Dzus fittings!

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Use Dzus fittings!

I'll look into it, but.. i had a half hour into making em and they were free and I have them already and they're cool cus I made em?

[freebeard]

I have seen....the light! I'm going to get some sheet ABS plastic tomorrow. The local recycler has a sheet big enough to do 2 skirts for like $4.00, and tomorrow I'm eligible for the Veteran's discount.

[Christ]

I really liked Darin's clamp method here.. I've shared it with a good many people and even had a printed image of it to make the explanation easier. Quite a few people have benefited from the idea and it seems to work VERY well for their [un]intended purpose.

Plus you can make them from trashcan scraps.

[freebeard]

I picked up the ABS, and a 2nd smaller pieces that should be big enough for a pan from the front valance to the McPherson struts.

So now I'm thinking about flanging the edge of the ABS. You show the edge cut and bent into tabs. Do you think I could heat the edge with a heat gun and hammer/bend it over a form without it cracking? Or crimp it with a hand tool? I'm thinking a 1/4-3/8" continuous edge rather than the tabs. I guess I can experiment on a scrap.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I picked up the ABS, and a 2nd smaller pieces that should be big enough for a pan from the front valance to the McPherson struts.

So now I'm thinking about flanging the edge of the ABS. You show the edge cut and bent into tabs. Do you think I could heat the edge with a heat gun and hammer/bend it over a form without it cracking? Or crimp it with a hand tool? I'm thinking a 1/4-3/8" continuous edge rather than the tabs. I guess I can experiment on a scrap.

If you put it on a wood table and heat up the entire edge with a heat gun, it will start to fold over on it's own. When this happens, keep a bucket of water and a rag handy, wet/wring the rag and use your hand to force it over the edge into the angle you need and the water will cool it down while you're holding it so that it forms to the angle and won't return to straight.

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Not sure if there's a name, or if you can buy them.

Yes, I flattened a 1/2 inch copper pipe with a hammer and drilled it with a regular bit (copper is pretty soft).

Did you use copper pipe 'cuz that's what you had, or was there another reason?

I've used 6 pieces of 4" long by 3/4" velcro. So far they seem to work fine, but I do find your clamps appealing.

Awww, I just realized I could have used this idea for mounting a Kammback to my truck topper. I previously went to Lowe's and bought some sliding window lock clamps for this purpose. Here's a picture:

[MetroMPG]

Copper pipe, cuz that's what was handy/appropriate from the scrap metal pail.

[benphyr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

...the new non-drilling-the-car attachment method. A crummy shot of the DIY bracket. It's made from flattened copper pipe, stainless nut, bolt & washers:




Next, the same bracket, shown installed. Another crummy shot - sorry:



I made 6 of those special brackets in total, 3 per side. Once tightened, they're well clamped down and very solid.

Metro,

Thanks for the excellent idea in post#14. I'm subscribing so I can find it back!

Cheers,
Ben.