Cons to fabricating a driver-side rear wheel well splash guard?

[jeremy93ls]

My 78 didn't come with a splash guard inside the rear wheel well of the driver's side but does have one in the passenger side. I remove the passenger side guard whenever I swap the pre-pump fuel filter for better access.

My driver's side would benefit from a similar piece since my botched exhaust work really stands out.

Is there a logical reason that the driver's side well did not come with one of these? Before I get crafty with some sheet metal, is there any harm in covering that gap? I'm guessing it wouldn't matter a bit but wanted to throw it out there before I find my tin snips.

[zKars]

The pass side guard isthere specifically to shield the gas tank fill tube not as a generic splash guard. I'll admit this is a guess, but it makes sense from a safety perspective I think.

The muffler hangers and exhaust on the other side would generally be in the way of splash guard on that side but feel free to fab up what plate fits your fancy.

[CanTechZ]

I was just looking up this part the other day on my parts CD, as mine is cracked, and I can confirm what Jim said. There is only one splash guard, on the RH side, and it is called "Protector - Filler Hose".

[rossiz]

funny you should bring this up - i've been thinking about the same thing on my '78... i never noticed it when i had the original exhaust, i guess because it was too dark to stand out, but now that i have a new exhaust it's really glaring to me. just seems odd to see guts hanging out into the wheel well.

i was thinking about forming something out of plastic - probably a sheet of abs and use a heat gun to mold it. otherwise maybe wire mesh and bondo to make a form, then make a mold and fiberglass.

or maybe i'll paint the muffler black and pretend it's not there...

[jeremy93ls]

I've heard of people cutting up a small plastic trash can and heating it to bend into the desired shape. I'd rather use some scrap metal I've got laying around. Spray a few coats of undercoating or truck bed liner on both sides and it would look like it was always there, I'm hoping.

At the right angle, I can see my Budweiser can 'exhaust leak fix', haha

Edited September 18, 2014 by jeremy93ls

[John Coffey]

Maybe Nissan thought getting some air flow around the muffler was good idea?

[TomoHawk]

Stay away from ABS plastic. it gets brittle from heat and age, and will quickly crumble off. What you probably want is some kind of HDPE or a rubber-like material, that will hast a long time.

Don't forget to apply a good rust-preventing paint, like a bedliner coating to the rear wheel well, since there isn't an inner inner there like the front wheels have.

Edited September 19, 2014 by TomoHawk