[Z06] chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH
OK, I know folks have posted pix of this issue, and some of them are really scary. the tires hang outside of the wheel wells, therefore *%_^& flies up and chips the paint on the lower areas all the way down the car, but particularly just behind the front and rear wheels.
I have a 5 week old MS '04. I QD it every freakin' night, clean the wheels, glass, everything. I am seeing chipped paint appearing everywhere behind the front and rear wheels. The silver is a saving grace as it hides it better than some other colors. I don't live anywhere near a dirt road, and rarely hear/feel gravel or rocks being picked up by the tires.
My question is; is there ANYTHING short of getting a set of mudflaps with chrome naked ladies on them, that I can do to prevent/slow this process down?
Is it a fact of Z06 life, and I will just have to get it repainted at some point in time?
I would really value the opinions of some of you that have 2 or 3 year old Z06's as you must really be pulling your hair out at this point :mad
I have a 5 week old MS '04. I QD it every freakin' night, clean the wheels, glass, everything. I am seeing chipped paint appearing everywhere behind the front and rear wheels. The silver is a saving grace as it hides it better than some other colors. I don't live anywhere near a dirt road, and rarely hear/feel gravel or rocks being picked up by the tires.
My question is; is there ANYTHING short of getting a set of mudflaps with chrome naked ladies on them, that I can do to prevent/slow this process down?
Is it a fact of Z06 life, and I will just have to get it repainted at some point in time?
I would really value the opinions of some of you that have 2 or 3 year old Z06's as you must really be pulling your hair out at this point :mad
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,821
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
StonGard (http://www.stoneguard.com/shop.asp) out of Washington state makes a full car kit from the 3M film that will cover all of the lower areas: Behind all the wheels, the rockers, the lower doors, around the wheel wells. They also have rear fascia trunk opening, front fascia and hood coverings although they aren't as necessary.
Full Custom kit is priced around $900 but you still have to add some Optional Pieces and find an installer.
Bill
Full Custom kit is priced around $900 but you still have to add some Optional Pieces and find an installer.
Bill
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (Bill Dearborn)
I plan to buy a set of these Cleartastic vinyl protectors for my 8-week old Z very soon.
http://www.cleartastic.com/corvette.htm#
http://www.cleartastic.com/corvette.htm#
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 3
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
...
My question is; is there ANYTHING short of getting a set of mudflaps with chrome naked ladies on them, that I can do to prevent/slow this process down?
Is it a fact of Z06 life, and I will just have to get it repainted at some point in time?
:mad
My question is; is there ANYTHING short of getting a set of mudflaps with chrome naked ladies on them, that I can do to prevent/slow this process down?
Is it a fact of Z06 life, and I will just have to get it repainted at some point in time?
:mad
flaps...
Seriously though, I don't have any rock chips yet, and my car's lowered. I
do, however, get the splatter from tire dressing all over the front of my
mirrors and all over the side of the car after washing it. I've driven over
gravel many times; I guess I've just been fortunate. But, I know it's just a
matter of time before I get them; I had chips all over my '02. It's just a fact
of life, IMO, for cars in general.
[Modified by 04msmZ06, 11:33 AM 6/22/2004]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 0
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
The cheap, flat black ABS flaps screw on/off and are about as inconspicuous as you can get, if you keep them clean. Despite the instructions, no drilling is necessary and they can be on/off in a couple minutes whenever you want.
Not a perfect solution, but it's not a perfect world, and you already know the alternative. Might be worth a try. Here's an example:
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.7.558
BTW, the back 3/4 view is about as noticeable as they get. From the side or front they tend to disappear.
[Modified by rwd, 6:18 PM 6/22/2004]
Not a perfect solution, but it's not a perfect world, and you already know the alternative. Might be worth a try. Here's an example:
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.7.558
BTW, the back 3/4 view is about as noticeable as they get. From the side or front they tend to disappear.
[Modified by rwd, 6:18 PM 6/22/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
From: Augusta GA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
I bought the clear film from Ecklers for $70 I think. They will go on after work tomorrow, wait, the Hurst goes in tomorrow if MSGHuff isn't busy 
Good luck and I say the clear platic solution should work well.
Dave
Good luck and I say the clear platic solution should work well.Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,040
Likes: 3
From: "Same as it always was"
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
I've got 14,000 plus miles on my O4 ZO6 and I know what you mean about the "rash or chips" along the side. I have a MY and you really can't see them unless you are way up close and point it out to someone. At this point, if you have that many, don't sweat it and enjoy it. Paint it later if it gets to bad. That's what I've deceided to do. No point trying to stop it now, it's still going to be there If you try to cover it up with clear plastic or 3m....MHO.
I tried Cleartastic and it flew off
Good Luck!
I tried Cleartastic and it flew off
Good Luck!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (Racin Z06)
Chips on these cars are unavoidable... the sexy curvy design lends itself to getting sandblasted. If I had to do it all over again I'd get 3m clear guard custom done behind the wheels and on the rockers... not I try not to care. One day I'll get her re-done then get the film.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (Cobra4B)
I'm using the Atlec, molded and painted to match the body color, stone guards. They work awesome for blocking chips behind the front and rear wheels but, do very little for the chips that will soon show just in front of the rear brake ducts. That area is really starting to look like crap on my car.
If you are scard to drill holes in your car then go with the cleartastic. If you don't mind a little more permanent solution; go with the Altec molded stone guards. I think the guards are better for actually preventing the chips.
If you are scard to drill holes in your car then go with the cleartastic. If you don't mind a little more permanent solution; go with the Altec molded stone guards. I think the guards are better for actually preventing the chips.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
Short of what you've already heard, there is not much you can do. Wait until you see how torn up the rear the brake ducts get (my car has 14k). The only good news is that most of the chips are so low on the rockers that it really is hard to see them if you don't know they are there. Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 426
From: Fulshear TX
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
Based on my experience, I disagree with 04msmZ06, RacinZ06, Cobra 4B, and Kraff. I bought the 8 mm 3M film in bulk 24" wide sheet and made my own patterns for the lower front quarter panels, lower door panels, lower rear quarter panels, and the wheel openings. I am not saying my application of the film is perfect, but it does protect my car from stone chips. The film has been on my Z06 for over 3 years.
I just completed a 5500 mile road trip from Houston to San Diego, San Francisco, Grand Junction (CO), Breckenridge, and back to Houston. the film protected me from fresh gravel, fresh road tar, and stones on unpaved roads. I am a believer.
I just completed a 5500 mile road trip from Houston to San Diego, San Francisco, Grand Junction (CO), Breckenridge, and back to Houston. the film protected me from fresh gravel, fresh road tar, and stones on unpaved roads. I am a believer.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Re: chips in the lower panel areas....AAAARRRRGGHHHHH (jnjboc)
The rock chips bothered me for a while, but then I just learned to accep them as a price of having fun with the car. Now I look at them as battle scars from all the wonderful canyon drives I've done. I think, yeah, they're rock chips, but damn I had fun at the time they got there. 
You can't really see them unless you bend down low and get close up to them. So I have a 4 ft. car now - looks great from 4 ft. away
You can't really see them unless you bend down low and get close up to them. So I have a 4 ft. car now - looks great from 4 ft. away