Splash Guards

I bought them and paid about $60 a set (same price for front or rear) from a forum sponsor on another forum. Against the rules to give them props here if they are not a forum sponsor here. PM me and I can give you a couple of sources if they are not available through the sponsors on this forum. The reason I bought them is that I was taking museum delivery and wanted some added protection for the trip home. The fronts extend out from the very bottom of the fender about 1 1/4 inches and the rear about 3/4 of an inch. They are not that obvious at all but they are important. The design of the fenders slightly roll in towards the bottom of the fenders which exposes the area behind the tires to damage coming from a small area of the tires that are not blocked by the fender itself. Remember, these are summer (sticky) tires and will pick up and throw stuff. If you put a C7 with the splash guards next to one without, you would have to look close to notice the difference. They are also simple to install. GM currently has a plastic piece that protects the fender as it rolls into the wheel well, but it does not protect the area behind the wheel wells. That piece is attached with one 7mm screw into the bottom of the fender and about 5 trim type tabs that go into trim tab slots in the fender. Remove the 7mm screw and GENTLY pull the piece away from the fender and the tabs pop right out. Reverse the order for the splash guard starting with the top tap and work down, then reinstall the 7mm screw. Easy peasy! Took me about ten minutes to do this before leaving the museum. They would not let me install them on Corvette Blvd because it was on camera, but after delivery they let me take it back to the area where the PDI is performed and I installed them there.

Glen, I know you are installing the cleartastic, but the splash guards might be something that would help working with the cleartastic. I think it would probably extend the life of the clear film for you. JMO.

Here is a pic after doing a little detail on the new vert. I did not take the pic to specifically show the splash guards but this is a typical view that people will have of your car. You can see the right front a little more than the rear but that is because it is a little large to provide the appropriate protection.

ALF01 said:

Rich

If you would be so kind…PM me the link as well?

I also saw some Adam's stuff in your photo - know him well, do some work for him occasionally….

THANKS!

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Adam Pitali is a great guy and sells very good products. I met Adam about 10 years ago and he actually came to my house in Maryland. That was the start of my using his products. You are right, there were a few bottles of Adam's stuff in the pic, I did not mean to include them. If you saw my Gladiator tall floor cabinet, it has basically all Adam's stuff in there.

As far as a PM, it looks like Glen has posted a few recommendations. I did not do this because a while back I posted a supplier recommendation and I got a nice email telling me that it did not comply with forum rules, so I was just trying to make sure I did not do something wrong. Now that Glen has made his post, I would suggest giving Gene Culley a call at GMPARTSHOUSE.COM. I believe they are a Buick dealer in PA and they normally are very competitive with their prices and if it is in stock, it ships very quickly. I have used them for various C5 parts, but especially tire pressure sensors. If they do not work for you, also reach out to Fichtner Chev. in MT. There parts department (Bob, I think) is also very good. I hope this helps!

Steveinaz said:

Here is a quote from my Corvette sales rep when I asked him about the splash guards...."The GM part number for the splash guards is 19170234 and we can get it usually within a week. They cost $130 plus installation (extra, about $100 or less)"

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I am not sure if there is a single part number for both front and rear because they can be bought separately. The going price will differ from dealer to dealer, but in the range of $60 an axle plus shipping. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT pay someone anything, let alone $100 to install the splash guards. Each guard is fastened with a single 7 mm screw at the very bottom of your fender plus four or five push in trim tabs. Go out to your car and reach down at the underside of your fender directly behind your wheel well and you will feel the 7mm screw head. Back that out and GENTLY pull away the current piece that protects the fender where it rolls inside the wheel well. If you pull easy, it will pop the trim tabs out of the fender one at a time. Then replace in reverse order starting with the top trim tab. Then replace the 7mm screw. It will take anyone that has any mechanical ability about 10 minutes to do the four guards. If you are tool challenged, then maybe 30 minutes. If you are not sure this is something that you can do, go out and remove your current piece on one of your wheel wells and then replace it. You will see how simple this is. If you insist on paying someone and in the Fort Myers area, I will do it for you for 1/2 of what you are quoted, ...or maybe a beer would work too.

Songcat said:

My splash guards are scheduled to arrive today and I really appreciate this installation tutorial!!
I just drove my new C7 to Nevada from the national museum. Unfortunately, the protective film in front of the rear tires and extending underneath the door was completely pitted by road debris ( sand, rock salt, pebbles, etc. encountered on roads in New Mexico during the holidays ) and some of the clear coat and paint was chipped off near the film. This is my first Corvette and I love the car, but I think GM should have either mandated splash guards in the front wheel wells, or designed the front wheel well to come out a little further. I don't think anyone who takes pride in wanting to keep their car looking like new, appreciates having the paint chewed up through no fault of their own.

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Thanks for the PM. Sorry to hear about the chips. I know this must be a little disappointing, but it is part of owning a sports car. If you look at the pic in my original post to this thread, you will see a '69 Vette in the background. Exact same problem with the front tires throwing road debris onto the painted surface just prior to the rear wheel well. Quite frankly, the C7 is the first Vette to at least try to provide some protection with the clear film, although I do believe it is not enough. Here is what I would suggest to you. If the chips are truly just that, I would look into something like Dr. Colorchip to repair the paint chips. It is not perfect but does a decent job and in the area where you said you got the chips, will be hard to notice with this type of repair. I would then intsall the splash guards and consider replacing the factory film with something like xPel and maybe cover a little larger area around the rocker panels. Don't let this deter you from enjoying your new car. If you drive them you will get some chips in the paint somewhere, nose, hood, windshield, etc. Drive it and enjoy it!

MachSilver08 said:

So a small ratchet (1/4" drive) with a 7mm socket is the only tool required? If they will fit in my luggage (duffle bag) I may put them on myself at the museum as well (or at the hotel in BG as we are spending the night in BG). Do the snaps need a special pry tool or anything? I hate the plastic snaps that have the tendency to break. : (

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When I took delivery of my vert in early Dec, I found that I had a few things that I wanted to take with me that I did not want to take through airport security (license plate, splash guards, some basic tools, window cleaner, detail spray, etc). So, I checked with Lori and Shane at the museum and got their permission to send a small box to them and they held it for me until I arrived the day before my delivery (I also know of a few people that ordered the splash guards and had them shipped directly to either Shane or Lori). It was not very expensive to do this and I had piece of mind that FedX would get it there verses taking my chances with TSA. Before I left Florida for my flight to Nashville, I had confirmation from FedX and from Shane that my package was waiting for me at the museum.

As far as tools are concerned, all you really need is the 7mm socket and a small ratchet. The current guard does not extend beyond the fender opening. If you run your hand down the wheel opening to the bottom of the fender and then move your hand back an inch or so, you will feel the 7mm screw head. Just remove the screw, then gently pull the bottom of the factory guard towards the tire. The clips will start to pop out of the holes in the fender and continue with this pulling motion until the top clip has come out. Take the new splash guard and start with the top clip and insert into the top hole, moving downward. Then reinstall the 7mm screw head and you are done. All four wheel wells can be done in 10 to 15 minutes. Easy, peasy! I did take a couple plastic pry tools (Harbor Freight), but to be honest I did not need them.

The museum people will not let you install them while your car is on Corvette Blvd. But once you exit the museum it is an easy and quick install in the museum parking lot. I hope your weather is better than when I took delivery. It was 18 degrees, so the fact that the guards went on quick was very important!

I hope this helps!