Rear Quarter Panel Stone Guard

[toddbowie]

My 86 944 has a fairly large square stone guard on the rear fender, in front of the tire on the passenger's side but the one on the driver's side has been removed. I want to remove it before I get the car painted. Before I start with a heat gun and try to peel it off I just want to make sure that is the best way to remove it. Anyone else ever removed one and if so, how?

Thanks,
Todd

[944 Ecology]

Yes, have removed several. Heat gun (or hair dryer) with a lot of patience and a plastic scraper will remove the plastic sheet. After the sheet is removed, us 3M Adhesive remover or a non-acetone nail polish remover to remove the remaining adhesive.

[v2rocket_aka944]

+1 to the above.

I didn't reinstall those guards after painting my car ... I should have. Let my scratches be your lesson!

[akaKJB]

My 1987 944S has the under paint rock chip material covered with the body color paint. I've got rust under the chip guard material on the right rear quarter panel. I suspect it has gotten through from the inside and some ot it appears to have infected part of the fender where it folds into the wheel well. There's a smaller bit of paint bubble rust on the back that I'm confident I can handle myself but I'm not so sure about the fender / wheel well bit as this is going to be more than a sand & light fill jiob. Suggestions?

[toddbowie]

I hate to say it but the first thing you'll have to do is remove the stone guard to assess and fix the damage which is pretty time consuming having just removed mine, Problem in your case is you'll have to touch up paint after you put the new stone guard on. I wouldn't wait too long, as we all know rust will only get worse. Good luck and keep us posted.

[akaKJB]

Will do. The stone guard stuff appears to be of the spray on carpet, not the solid piece attached to the metal. I do have the spray-on rock guard in a version that is made to take automotive paint once it has dried.

I'm truly to avoid replacing the entire quarter panel but it may wind up being cheaper in the long run. The paint has enough wear that it could use a respray. The drivers side rear quarter panel has a crease in it that most people think is just some odd light glare. No rust in that panel at all but it might be too long to just pop out even using some Edd China / WHEELER DEALERS-level body shop dark magic. Might just hire the bullet and do both at the same time, probably putting fresh paint on both before install, unless I get really lucky and find a couple of immaculate panels already in that '87 Porsche metallic dark blue.

Hey, it could happen! LOL

[toddbowie]

Hey, it could happen!

Anyway, to get the stone guard off just do like explained before. Get a heat gun or hair dryer and a plastic scraper and heat and peel. Just don't do both at the same time or you'll melt your plastic scraper (Don't ask me how I know this). It is a slow process but just be patient. When you get the bulk of it off use some adhesive remover and keep slowly working away at it. Like I said, it is a painstakingly slow process but it works, just don't rush it. Took me about 3 hours to get one side off.