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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10251 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 7:21 pm Post subject: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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So, I've been a little busy of late and have not gotten around to repairing the driver's fender lip - messed up when someone vandalized the van by loosening lug nuts. What have I been up to? This:
So its a transaxle vehicle very similar to the Vanagon, and of course many of you like the 944 axles on your Vanagons because they're stronger. I did a full transaxle and torque tube removal for a new clutch, rear main, etc. Then a full timing belt plus the balance shaft belt replacement, lots of sensors, hoses, front crank seal (don't ask) and a bunch of other stuff. And it would not start afterwards for 3 days of hard diagnostics due to a comedy of errors thanks to my buddy who's a 944 expert who "helped" me by moving a close tolerance sensor without telling me. Got it running a few days ago. Now its sprouted a couple oil leaks and a radiator leak and the motor mounts have collapsed. Sound familiar? That's what I thought, too. I'm never buying another German car. This thing has 59k miles and I am honored I bought it from my Dad.
So, you remember the crushed wheel lip? $2400 estimate to fix:
I just got done pulling it back into position with pliers, hammers and my Vanagon's hydraulic bottle jack I carry instead of the stocker. Then I primed it and painted it with whatever silver rattle can paint I had around. Then I put Terrawagen's EXCELLENT fender flare kit over the damage after buying it from Peter at Van Cafe:
Wow! Can I just say these guys know how to design a product? I am not exaggerating - I could have put this on in 30 minutes flat. They provide self tapping screws that are all of that and a bag of chips. I was skeptical and got the drill out and found a right size bit, etc. Then thought "WHy not, I"ll give it a shot against this thick German steel" Boy was a wrong and boy were they right. It is a pricey kit but I think it looks cool and you will not be disappointed at all. Great fit. Great material choice. A+ rating.
Doug _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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erste Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013 Posts: 1110 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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wow
Great job pulling that dent and covering it up. post some more pics! |
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macjack Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2004 Posts: 357 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Looks great Doug! And you'll get that other german humming along soon enough, I'm sure. _________________ 87 TDI Syncro Westy
81 Westy (sold)
80 Rabbit Wolfsburg (rolled)
Bike as primary transportation |
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msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Winston loves his. They completed his 'two tone' look when we installed 'em. Ecce:
They are a tremendous product, and Winston's have held up well.
Best! _________________ 'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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WestyWanter Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017 Posts: 459 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Sorry to hijack, but what mudflaps are you running on Winston?
msinabottle wrote: |
Winston loves his. They completed his 'two tone' look when we installed 'em. Ecce:
[pic]
They are a tremendous product, and Winston's have held up well.
Best! |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Glad your fender pulled out well and it's looking great again! _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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figborg Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2015 Posts: 338 Location: Northeast
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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I'm considering this kit as well. I have their Terrapods and like them a lot. Great product.
My concern with the fender flare covers is that they will trap moisture and encourage rust. Am I being paranoid? _________________ -- PF
Providence, RI
1986.5 Westy camper (G year code, grey interior), 2WD, manual transmission, Subaru conversion by Vanaru. Spoiled rotten.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662374 |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 6360 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 11:12 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Looks great Doug!
Are the self tappers stainless steel?
How did you protect the self tapping zone? I'd love these as well, but I cannot talk myself in drilling the van Would PU glue work?
Any pics of the inside of the flare?
Aloha!
Alika
PS: 944 axles are not stronger than Vanagons, they allow more angle bc of smaller CV balls (thus, theorically weaker) _________________ Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget |
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msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 11:06 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Quote: |
Sorry to hijack, but what mudflaps are you running on Winston? |
OEM VW Rubber. I had to find pictures here on the Samba to install them correctly. I took mine to help others install them.
Best! _________________ 'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10251 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 11:11 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Here's another shot:
I'm not sure about the screw material but they are extremely hard and coated black with a very hard coating. Impressive. I suspect a high carbon steel. I will see if they are magnetic. The grey line is NAPA seam sealer. A great product I used when I had the van painted. When it is dry (a week or so unless we get a warm spell) I will buy a touch up stick for the Toyota Sunburst Yellow and just run the paint down that sealer for a total hide. Like it never happened, 'cept I got those cool flares!
As for protecting the drilled holes, I am planning to pull them back off to see if I can re-install the S. African mudflaps I removed to put the flares on. I was unhappy with those mudflaps mounting system. A joke. Sure they'll stay on for an "urban warrior" type van usage with their little metal clips and the hokey thin metal screw clamps. But load those mudflaps up with some Idaho frozen slush and drag em over a stump and you'll be missing flaps in no time.
I plan to run these screws through the mudflaps AND the fender flares. That way they are solidly mounted and ready for real weather.
So, when I pull them off to do that, I plan to brush some paint on the holes, then after they are back on, shoot that purple battery terminal waxy coating on the back side where the screws protrude. The flares won't trap moisture as there are air gaps here and there that will allow for spray shot up there to also dribble back out. They don't have rubber edge seals which is good - those might trap moisture. They'll also take a wack from a car door without leaving a mark. My wheel lips already have a car door ding in two of them. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Nice write up. I've had my Terrawagen flares for four and a half years and they still clean up nicely with some Back to Black. A very well tought out addition to the van. _________________ '84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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MsTaboo Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 4097 Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Doug-you're probably better off going with the original OEM mud flaps (like on Winston) rather than trying to get the stiff plastic S.A. mud flaps to fit with the fender flares.
The OEM mud flaps are much better quality, the only downside being the need to drill holes into the body, but the result is a stock setup. The frame already has the mounting holes-you just need to drill the ones in the sheet metal.
The hardest holes to match are the ones for the front mud flaps, being a blind fastener. On my van I changed this slightly by moving the flap forward to allow the two upper fasteners to have a nylock nut on the backside instead of the plastic blind fastener. By moving the flap forward these become accessible from the front wheel well. The lower mounting points remain the same, only in front of the jack point instead of behind. _________________ Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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Team WorldTour Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 2426 Location: Der Vaterland
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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I have my OEM's mounted to the fender flare as well. I was considering getting the Flare Kit, and remounting the mud flaps them through the kit. But now that I see the Flares a bit closer, I'll have to reconsider that.....
A word about the OEM's and the S.A. mud flaps; Domo had a set of the S.A.'s, and I have the OEM's on Frank. Both held up to German winters just fine (and Austrian, and Italian...), they were fitted to the appropriate vans. _________________ 1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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Tristar Eric Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: Portland, Or
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Impressive repair! I seriously can't even tell once the flares are on.
Thanks for buying our products! _________________ Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected] |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3800 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Very impressive repair. It looks great - your hole van looks great!
Did these decals come stock? I'm pretty jealous
_________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10251 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Eric,
Well done - great product. So, up close all you can see is some dull areas of paint. I could NOT get the rubber marks off the paint - seemed melted in. So I used some wet sanding and now I should go back finer and finer to restore the gloss. I used a rubber hammer to really whale on the metal after getting it pushed out with the jack. I also cleaned out the crack of all remaining seam sealer, then used dental picks to clean it deeper, then could even sand it a bit in there. After that I cleaned it with brake cleaner sprayed deeply in it a few cycles. Some air to dry it, then a heat lamp for a half hour to fully dry it. Let it cool. Then masked the crack and sprayed self etching primer deep into it and let it run out the bottom. Another coat. Heat lamp for a half hour while I got the jack and found out the clever hydraulic tool my buddy lent me had dried out seals.
Pushed it back out into shape and the seam closed mostly. Then I pounded on the forward edge of the lip to shove the seam closed again. Then seam sealer. I also cleaned the inside of the fender to reveal the factory seam sealer had cracked due to the force. So I cleaned it with a wire brush, then brake cleaner, then filled the crack with the seam sealer and about a half inch on each side of the crack. I let all that get a good start drying while I started mounting the flares.
It was a really stellar fit. I could see where the fender lips of my freshly painted van were starting to take hits from gravel and it would be a losing battle with all the back roads we love. So these summarily ended the battle in my favor by completely covering them in durable UV stable plastic. They even looks good in the bargain!!
There's enough of a stand off (added width) that I suspect these also catch a LOT more gravel the tires previously tossed against the side of the van.
As a quadruple bonus, my family thinks I'm a genius for fixing $2400 worth of damage in 2 hours. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3416 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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I am very happy with the fender flares from Terrawagen.. when I bough my van it has a small dent on the passenger side fender lip. The body shop gave me an estimate of $1K for repair and repaint the whole rear quarter panel, so I got the fender flares to hide it and give it a nice look too...
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WestyBob Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004 Posts: 2346 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Back right quarter panel just behind the wheel was backed into by a minivan in an Autozone parking lot. Caved in that panel area up almost horizontal (broke at the seam). The Terrawagen flare went with it, didn't break and didn't even mar from the hit. Bottle jacked it out, the flare came out after the severe twist like new, totally unaffected. Amazing. |
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Honuak Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009 Posts: 521 Location: AK
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Terrawagen Fender Flare review. |
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Slush season is back here in AK. Do the flairs stick out much more than stock? How much? I'm hopin got reduce the amount of spray that ends up on the side of the van. |
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