Wider Fenders

Posted this before & saved it: An "easy" way for an amatuer to flare wheelwells is to find flares or buldges you like on another car (preferably in a junkyard :-), cut them off & weld them on your car. This gives you great results with alot less welding than completely fabricating the flares. I've used VW (Beetle)fenders - they're great if you want a rounded "bubble" flare. Just remember to keep the heat down: just weld spots & if you still get warping cool off with a wet rag between welds.

**** You can also find aftermarket fiberglass flares. I'm planning to make fiberglass flared ft. fenders (bolt on) & rear flares for an A1 project I'm working on. I also plan to make 'glass hoods - pics on bottom of page at (car is sold).HTH, ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

Sheesh: just realized I'm in the *aircooled* forum: best bet for wider Beetle fenders is to buy them - available in both 'glass & steel. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

"ThaDriver" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

Thanks, but not what I have in mind. I want to make these myself and use the fenders I have to do it. The fenders I have are real german fenders and are by no means of the imagination perfect. I have another set of fenders that are also true german but are off a 68 bug and are also far from perfect. Both sets are riddled with dents and ruff edges, and the set for my 64 have been bondo'd to make look good and the bond has fell out of the doe and the time has come to fix them right. I have wheels on my bug that stick about and inch past the fenders both front and rear. I don't want fenders that are 2 inches wide or more as that would just not look right. I was hoping someone could give me some pointers as to how to go about doing this and how/where to cut the fenders to make this doable. I need to just sit down with a fender and tape measure and figure it out I guess.

I know there are those here that frown on doing things like this, and even if they had an idea as to how it needs to be done would never say. I am no purist and could never afford to be and have NADA want to be a purist. I just enjoy "MY" bug and do not force my stance on anyone else. To each his own, I like mine my way. If that offends you, well....OK by me and my bug.

"ThaDriver" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

I also searched the googlechives and found nothing on this subject, but did find info that enforced my feeling that I did not want to narrow the front beam.

I really like the look of wider fenders and in thoughts should not be a really big job as long as you have the right tools and take the time to do a decent job. I had not thought about the running board either. That will be the next project after the fenders.

My thoughts on the cut point would be to cut about a 1/4 inch from the body mounting holes and weld in(stitch) the needed amount of metal for clearance.

Whatcha think?

Terry, i have done what you want to do before...i used two sets of fenders....i also plan to do this again soon for my 68....what i did was take the fenders that were BATH and cut them at XXX(being the measurement of width you want to add)from the bolt flange , then cut the other fenders at the point they turn "down" to the bolting flange...i bolted the "long flange" on to the car and then lined up the fenders that just had the flange cut off and tacked them together....welded up, needed a bit of metal bumping to get them "right" then a skimcoat(think THIN) of plastic....looked nice...i did two inches wider on each side to clear some cragar SS's....LOL..(us rednecks like those...)

"JT" had the right idea, although I would think starting at the front & cutting two inches out from the body, & gradualy moving out to the point where the fenders are "horizonal", & continuing the cut down that line (in other words whereever possible cut the fenders where they come straight out from the body). With this cut you can then add in the inch or so you need, using other fenders cut back further, or add in a strip of sheet metal the width you need + 1 inch. In either event, flange one edge (you can buy hand or pneumatic flangers) where the sheetmetal joins & spot weld them (overlapping the flange of course). Keep spotting them at intervals untill you have a fully welded seam (this is to avoid heat warping). Use a wet rag to cool them down between welds if they start to warp. If you take your time you'll have fenders that need only grinding smooth & a thin layer of bondo to finish them out. BTW I like to *epoxy* primer them after grinding & before & after bondoing to insure good adheision. HTH, ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

"Joey Tribiani" wrote in news:jS9Td.1552$Sn6.780@lakeread03:

Thanks Joey, I too have redneck tendencies. I got a good deal on the rims that are shown on my bug on my web page and an even better deal on the cooper tires. The only thing is they hang outside the fenders, not a problem to begin with, but now I want to tuck them in.

It is nice to get back info that you were thinking about trying from your own contemplations. Those kinds of thinking can get you in real trouble sometimes.

I will try to document this when I do it and put it up on my page.

Thanks to all who responded!!

I have no personal experience to offer, but Donald (57drag) at volksrods.com did his rear fenders by using another set of fenders. Here's his project page:

volksrods.com

Try this link:

"Scott H" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net:

Now that is exactly what I needed to see, Thanks Scott. I had not thought about the fenders dropping lower. That is why you ask first. I still plan on doing this and will do it like this guy did. We will see when the time comes.