Front Clam Spray

[mr2turbo300]

Since the nice tax man (never thought I would say it) gave me a refund this morning I decided I might blow it on a front clam spray (8k miles - front end in a pretty bad way)
Can anybody recomend a body shop they would trust around the Chesterfield/Sheffield/Nottingham area that knows what they are doing with GRP cars ?

Anybody got a rough price that I should expect to pay?
Finally without starting the whole debate again, anybody got Armourfend on a Black one, what are the lines like ?
Thanks,
Rob.

[DanH]

Don't think black is the ideal colour for armorfend, but its really a personal thing whether you prefer a few seams, or a pebble dashed front.

[richsd]

I have viewed a number of cars with the Armourfend. It seems like the line shows more on the darker colors like black, indigo blue and dark green. It looks fine but definitely a personal preference. For me, the line bugs me. One option (which I am going with on indigo blue) is to put the Armourfend on the front section but do not bring it up on the top section of the front clam shell. The line that shows the most is the line that is on the top section of the clam shell. If you stop with the lower section you will avoid this primary line and still protect your front lower section where most of the chips will likely occur.

Do you have many on the clam above the Noble badge or are they mostly on the lower section?

[joust]

richsd said:

Do you have many on the clam above the Noble badge or are they mostly on the lower section?

See here for mine
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=26&t=128321&h=0

Most are on the top section unfortunatly, and quite a few are even above where the amourfend whould have been.

J

[DanH]

Yeah the chips do land high

Part of the problem is that the noble front clam is an awkward shape for the armorfend so its harder for them to hide the seams along creases in the body panel. Still if you polish it carefully, the seams don't have to be that visible.

Worst case with armorfend, you can always remove it and the pain will be better underneath than if you didn't have it.

[duplicity]

http://photobox.tiscali.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=13635375

http://photobox.tiscali.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=13635376|http://photobox.tiscali.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=13635376

Mine is black and I have ArmourFend fitted. I know this photo is not great, but the ArmourFend finishes about half way between the badge and the vent. You can also just see the sheen on the wheel arch.

If you like I can email you some better photos.

Sure its noticable if you look, but not enough to bother me.

I think my main concern is the how well the ArmourFend will last, its my first car fitted with it and there seems to be very mixed opinions!

>> Edited by duplicity on Tuesday 12th October 10:38

>> Edited by duplicity on Tuesday 12th October 10:39

>> Edited by duplicity on Tuesday 12th October 10:40

[DanH]

Can't see your photos? Its demanding I log in?

With regards to it lasting, it survived perfectly only Elise for 16k miles/3 years. The job on my noble is inferior and is looking a bit tatty on some edges after 2 years.

I reckon they did a substandard job on the templates. Also it stops too low on the front clam, and ought to go up to the air outtake on the front rather than stopping short. This would both protect the paint and hide the seam.

[mr2turbo300]

Mines obviously worst low down, but there are also loads on the main higher sections (even as high as the Air intake)
Rob.

[duplicity]

Sorry. Thought that was a public gallery. Try this address.....

www.pbase.com/duplicity/noble

[dodgy]

It is very noticeable on my Azure Blue. Will see how it looks after it is clean.

I am a bit dissapointed - it seems more noticeable than the ones I have seen on the Elise.

[DanH]

Can't see it in your pics at all duplicity. Nice looking car btw

p.s. Have you got anything within the rear wheel arch where the paint wraps around? On most cars you'd have a mudguard here, but there isn't one on the noble, so its gets sandblasted in very short order.