| Author | Message | ||
     Jeffrey McCarthy Experienced User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2007 |
Does anyone know which fairly easily available mudflaps will fit onto a Silver Shadow series 1 ? I removed my back bumper yesterday to change the bulbs on the numberplate lights and had to clean out far too much grunge from under the back of the car. I currently have no mudflaps fitted. I also posted a small photo essay on the work on my weblog here http://geocities.com/jefmac2003/blog.html...if anyone else is considering doing this or has any advice. (Message edited by jefmac2003 on 14 August 2007) (Message edited by jefmac2003 on 14 August 2007) | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 926 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeffrey/ Strange thing about mudflaps. The originals may still be available if you are lucky. If they are not you won't be! The problem is that Bentley Motors who now make our parts do not have access to the RR logo - this has been handed to BMW to adorn the Phantom. The rear mud flaps on our cars always had the RR logo so when stocks run out we are up that well navigated creek! I think they are a great idea and they certainly help with the paint chipping problem not to mention the grunge up the side of the car. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Experienced User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 33 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hmmm...doesn't sound promising. I saw a set of new old stock go for just under a couple of hundred pounds on ebay about a month ago. And last week somewhere in my approximately 100 RR shortcuts I saw them for sale in the UK. I'll go through the searches again and post the link if I can find it...after I order a set. I imagine "universal" mudflaps will look out of place but might be better than nothing on the local roads (they really are bad-especially for stones and mud). Maybe Bentley ones might fit -- the logo at least bears some relation to the car. | ||
| Paul Yorke Frequent User Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 79 Registered: 6-2006 |
Bentley ones fit perfectly. They do different style logos ( Winged B, Large B, or small B ) if you go for the small B ones they are not too bad. And certainly a better fit than after market ones. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Experienced User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 35 Registered: 5-2007 |
I just checked that link I had; it was on the Collette site and no longer applicable. Bentley ones it is then for now. Thanks guys for the help as usual. | ||
| Bill Heath Yet to post message Username: bill_heath Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2007 |
I have seen RR mudflaps on http://www.darkforce.com/royce/access.htm The picture looks to be of a Spirit or Spur, but worth a try? | ||
| bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: client-86-29-83-35.brig.adsl.tesco.net |
Universal mudflaps will fit and look ok. Depends how much care is taken with the fitting and be prepared to trim them. The Bentley logo could be buffed off. Or mudflaps are easy to make and do not need to be big to work. Some cars have very small flaps on the unside of the rocker or sill panel which can not be seen unless you look underneath. I prefer not to fit accessories to cars. The first thing I did when I brough my Jeep was to remove the bull bars light guards side rails and spotlamps, and throw them in the bin. The Jeep looks better because the lines are not interupted by junk. My Shadow looks better sans fog lamps. It would look even better without door handles and wipers but I need those bits. When my electric ariel fails ( been waiting 18 years for it to go wrong ) I will weld up the hole and fit a concealed one. The number plate bulbs can be replaced with out removing the rear bumper. They pull out. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Frequent User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 71 Registered: 5-2007 |
Well I've finally managed to find a set of front mudflaps at least. They come with the instructions (below) which includes the direction to "remove" a part of the plate closest to the ground. Am I correct in assuming that this has to be cut off ? This plate seems to stuck to the other plates in the wheel lining - is this just muck or is it deliberate ? Meanwhile I'm taking all the screws out and cleaning up and applying fish oil everywhere. Cheers, Jeff  | ||
| Paul Yorke Prolific User Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 208 Registered: 6-2006 |
Yes it's got to be cut off. Yes it's usually stuck on, but only with sealer. The biggest problem is usually trying to get the shallow screws out. Replace them with hex heads if you can. | ||
| James Feller Experienced User Username: james_feller Post Number: 36 Registered: 5-2008 |
Jeff, For whatever it's worth, I tracked down a proper orginal RR set for my Spirit at Montague & Co in the UK. They hold huge amounts of original Crewe spares. I went and saw their set-up while on holiday in UK last year and I informed the Forum about them a while ago. Like you I wanted some protection for the sills and to stop dirt flicking onto the body work. I drive my car regularily and was keen for a set of originals. I rang a few places here in Sydney, those who knew what I was talking about as most simply said they would be out of production, were doubful they could track them down. I was simply bowled over at the RRP they were quoting me, from memory Paradise quoted me close to $800 for a full set ( 2 rear and 2 front) and then said they had none, hadn't seen them years, would have to order them from the UK and perhapes they would be out of production.... I did a bit of searching on my own and found exactly what I needed, get this, a full set for about 90GBP... yep about $200 Aussie dollars. They were still in their plastic wrapped Crewe boxes too with the proper RR logo for the rears. They were a devil to fit though... anyway give them a try and see if you have any luck. J | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Frequent User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 72 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hi James, It was after reading your earlier post that I contacted Monty at Montague (thanks for the thumbs up) & he has just sent me the front set. Owing to a mix up he thought that he'd found a rear set and spent some time searching for a matching front set for me - which he couldn't find. I'm just about to send him another email in case he does have a rear set, but I suspect it was just an email writing error and that he doesn't have any. I'm now sending enquiries around the world for even a used or damaged set as I have a friend who does a lot of resin moulding as a hobby and has agreed to help me make a set out of rubber compound if I can get something to mould around. Montague's prices are, as you say, absolutely amazing. I got the front set for about twice the cost of a good universal pair - & that even included the postage. Paul - thanks as well - I didn't want to go chopping up metal bits without double-checking. I know what you mean about the screws! It took me hours and I still have one that I think is rusted in that may need to be drilled out. I'll try and get some stainless self-tapping hex screws next time I'm in Albury. Unfortunately the last person who did work in this area managed to put a screw right through the engine ID plate on the other side of the wheel arch. I think it can be repaired with a bit of solder and sandpaper. When I put the plates back on what should I replace the sealer with ? Auto silicon ? Cheers, Jeff (Message edited by jefmac2003 on 18 September 2008) | ||
| Paul Yorke Prolific User Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 209 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hi Jeff. Don't use silicone, just in case you need to get it off again. Use either a non setting mastic or "Dum-Dum" if you can get it over there. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 190 Registered: 5-2007 |
EUREKA ! (or whatever the vocative plural is in ancient Greek) I have just received in the mail from eBay UK what must be one of the last remaining new sets of Silver Shadow rear mudflaps on the Planet. I am currently using a set of Spirit ones from Montague UK that I laboriously hand-trimmed. They do the job (just) and look OK (just). Rather than put the new ones straight on the car I like to get a set of moulds made for posterity. The only place I've found (in Perth) quoted AU$2000-3000. Does anyone know if it's possible to get this done more cheaply? A one-off mould would do but a quantity mould would be better. I don't, unfortunately, have the time to learn how to do it to an adequate standard myself using the moulding kits that are available. This is the only set of these I have seen on ebay (UK, USA, France, Germany & Australia - I have monitored them all daily since before this thread started in August 2007) and the bidding reflected their rarity. Montague still had some front mudflaps a couple of years ago but these too I imagine are disappearing. It would be a pity not to preserve this no longer made, or available, part before it is no longer possible to do so. All suggestions welcome, Cheers, Jeff | ||
| Colin Silver Prolific User Username: colsilver Post Number: 123 Registered: 8-2008 |
Jeff, welcome to the world of die costs I know of a couple Australian firms, one who is considered by friends to be very good. The die cost seems on target. Once made, your per unit cost might not be much compared to what you can retail for. Thoughts. - Can you sell enough to get your investment back? - The die/mould, whilst yours, may not be transferable to other rubber moulders. - Do you know enough of the Concurs expectations of purchasers to finally sign off your die/mould ? - Patent legalities that are ignored by my friends :-) - Has someone already done this and will eventually undercut you? Sorry for the negatives, but you did ask for suggestions. I've seen this done successfully for profit. I've seen others done, only to have others mould become the preferred. Regards Colin | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 191 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks Colin for the thumbs-up. I wasn't thinking of making them to sell -just to make sure that someone, somewhere had a mould for future reference. I don't think patent issues would apply for personal use, but then I'm not a lawyer. I doubt the company would care much about a few amateur restorers running up a small number for non-profit distribution but it might be possible to check. From what I can tell from years of searching no-one has reproduced them commercially yet; I've sent over 60 emails around the world to various places. One RR restorer in the UK assured me that he'd never seen mudflaps on a Rolls Royce and wasn't sure they were ever supplied by the factory. I'm not currently in a position to get the dies made at that price; too many other things to do on the car first. Perhaps if there's enough interest from fellow owners at some point we could get together and share the pain. Could you email me with contact details in any case for the die-maker who is considered to be very good? cheers, Jeff | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 197 Registered: 5-2007 |
Well fortune rewards the patient.. Thankyou everyone who emailed me with suggestions and warnings about the pitfalls of die-making. The best piece of advice was to try and get a second set before I put them on my car: not much hope of that I thought. Then along comes another set on eBay and I managed to score those as well. So the situation is now somewhat more time-flexible. I'm not really interested in organising the process myself but if some iteration of the self-help groups and/or the Shadow register should decide at some point over the next 5 or so years that the project is worthwhile (i.e. if enough people show interest in clubbing together to make the cost bearable) then I'm prepared to lend my second set (also brand new in original packaging with instructions)to whatever die-maker is decided upon. They look absolutely perfect on SRH20280. Cheers, Jeff | ||
| Colin Silver Prolific User Username: colsilver Post Number: 127 Registered: 8-2008 |
Great news Jeff. As time moves on, the cost of the die/mould will reduce. |
