Has anyone re-lettered their mudflaps? What paint is best to use? (1 Viewer)

[TheElegantFox]

The mud flaps on my 62 are in salvageable condition, but the white lettering has pretty much worn off.

What’s the best method and materials for restoring the mud flap lettering?

 

[Saucerman]

6PC White Paint Pen Marker Waterproof Permanent Car Tire Lettering Rubber Letter | eBay

6PCS/Lot Universal Waterproof Permanent Paint Marker Pen Car Tire Tyre Rubber Oil Based. Material: Oil-based paint marker. 6 x Marker pens. Open the lid, erect the pen, nib up, and press the nib with your hand for about 3-4 seconds.

www.ebay.com

These work well but you have to be neat about it.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@CaptClose is a master at this. Hope he can chime in.

 

[LCnAZ]

The pen looks like a pretty good product. I didn't know of this when I restored mine last year. I did use an ad hoc version of the same with a piece of high density foam and FLAT white enamel...and a lot of patience. Builds - Sentimental Restoration of Family 1990 FJ62

FWIW, I also coated the metal inside surface with black Flex Seal after cutting out the old and prepping the surface which required sanding out some corrosion. Upon installing back on the vehicle I did a fresh bead of the black silicon caulk (RTV) used from the factory in the channel where the flap snugs to the wheel well/fender metal.

 

[86aggie]

I used a paint pen from the local craft store. Different tips are available. They also work well for touching up the black on the badging.

 

[CaptClose]

@CaptClose is a master at this. Hope he can chime in.

This gets asked often enough to be sticky I think. Here’s my *how to* post:

FJ60 Mud Flaps - Please respond again!

I don't know what happened but I put out a post weeks ago about finding a good set of FJ60 mud flaps. Someone sent me a great response about refurbishing my existing flaps. It was a great post with information on how to clean them using steel wool and pictures of the process, even a picture of...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[TheElegantFox]

Thanks for that, sticky is probably a good idea, haha.

 

[hygge]

x2 on the white paint pen from art store and patience.

 

[Lordhelemt]

If the paint it completely worn from the rubber my wife may be able to print them (if they will fit in the machine). She'd be happy to do a test if you pay for shipping.

 

[lcwizard]

If you still have mudflaps your tires aren't big enough

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

They do get dirty unless it is a garage queen and the white lettering contrast fades. Depends on the level of OCD one wants. I just let them be.

 

[Big Timber]

just glad to have mine all in one piece and still attached, but I hear the paint pen is the way to go too.

 

[Jdog]

So glad I saw this, didn't think possible to make the most look this good.

Any thoughts on how to fix if mounting holes are torn?

I wonder if white flex seal liquid would work well for the lettering?

 

[86aggie]

The rubber on the body side of my flap was rough, so I cleaned it out. There was a recess that a washer fit in, so I put tape on the tire/wheel side, used flex seal caulk and a SS washer to fill in the entire hole, and a putty knife to smooth it out. Then masked off the section and sprayed with black flex seal. When I reinstall it, I'll use an awl to mark the holes, and drill out the flex seal. I also used some bar stock in the horizontal portion, where the metal inside the rubber had rusted out. I cut it to fit, and sealed it in with the flex seal caulk.

 

[Gretsch]

I used a white sharpie paint pen I got from Home Depot. Not a sharpie but they make an actual paint pen. Like @CaptClose mentions in his thread, I found dabbing the paint on worked better than strokes. Because of the way the paint flowed out of the pen, stokes would just spread the paint thin around allowing the black from the flap to show through. I did this with the flaps on the truck still but would have been infinitely easier to do if they were off the truck. Worked well:

 

[TexasBlue]

I used a white sharpie paint pen I got from Home Depot. Not a sharpie but they make an actual paint pen. Worked well:

View attachment 2171979

Looks good