16 replies to this topic

[Sphinx]

I've been massaging the fenders on my car for tire clearance purposes.  I'm just trying to gauge how much is enough.  You can only tell so much with the car static.  Is the objective to outwardly stretch the metal?  Or to simply bend up the sharp edge? 

[GROOTS]

The object is to ROLL the inside fender lip up so that there is no sharp contact with the tire. Flaring not so much. I dont think thats allowed as per the Book. Not that it doesnt happen a little when you roll that lip. Just Sayin ! 

 

Groots

[James York]

You are not allowed to "flare" the fenders.  Rolling the lips should give you plenty of tire clearance running legal wheel offsets.

[Sphinx]

You are not allowed to "flare" the fenders.  Rolling the lips should give you plenty of tire clearance running legal wheel offsets.

 

Sorry bad choice of words.  I meant to say "roll."

[fishguyaz]

is there a special tool used to do this nice and cleanly, or will "something" i have in my toolbox be sufficient?

prefer not to buy a tool only to be used once.

[john mueller]

I used one of these...

 

[Bench Racer]

 

prefer not to buy a tool only to be used once.

True, untill you rinkle a fender.

[svvs]

There is a tool, I think it's about $250

 

http://www.autobodyt...CFUZV4AodAnwA2A

 

Seen it used in a couple of youtube videos....looked pretty slick.

 

When I put on new fenders I use a rubber mallet before the fender is mounted and beat it over.  I have also used said mallet while fenders are mounted in an emergency.

 

I have been getting rubbing with the hoosiers and my 25 mm offset wheels.  We'll see how this roll job went.  I may go back to 30 mm offset wheels.

[Sphinx]

There is a tool, I think it's about $250

 

http://www.autobodyt...CFUZV4AodAnwA2A

 

Seen it used in a couple of youtube videos....looked pretty slick.

 

When I put on new fenders I use a rubber mallet before the fender is mounted and beat it over.  I have also used said mallet while fenders are mounted in an emergency.

 

I have been getting rubbing with the hoosiers and my 25 mm offset wheels.  We'll see how this roll job went.  I may go back to 30 mm offset wheels.

I just bought said tool.  Sold through Eastwood.  It works well, but you have to heat the paint up pretty good to avoid cracking it.  From my experience last night, a 120-140 degrees is about right.  Less than that, I got a fair bit of cracking.  My tool is now available for rent.   If you really want to buy the tool, get it off of ebay - sold through eastwood but cheaper.

 

The reason I didn't use a pipe or a baseball bat was simply that the temperature of the paint would drop too much between heating up and then getting in the car and moving it - and I didn't have a reliable helper.  This way, I can apply heat and move the tool simultaneously.  (That's what she said).  If it was summer time, it might have been fine.  But right now, it's cold.

 

One word of caution is that the tool doesn't work well with long studs.  But that's easy.  Either use a spacer or a set of lug nuts to "shim" the tool.

[MazdaSteve]

Thought we had this discussion!

 

First time you do a little side by side racing the cracking paint on the bottom of the fender wells will be the least of your problems.

 

[Sphinx]

Thought we had this discussion!

 

First time you do a little side by side racing the cracking paint on the bottom of the fender wells will be the least of your problems.

 

 

Unlike some people,  some of us don't have to repaint our cars each year!

[Brandon]

Nah, just repaint the fenders.  Race up here in the NE and you're bound to find someone to rub panels with...

Had my car for four years and only now getting to a 'full car repaint' - but it's had 3 sets of fenders!

:-p

 

I'll be following Vic's process to bend them over pre-mounting this year, then some love with the random orbital....

[MazdaSteve]

Unlike some people,  some of us don't have to repaint our cars each year!

 

 

Dude, at least I put my car on the track when I am in-state and close enough to touch it. As long as that hotrod of yours sits in the garage collecting cob webs, the only painting you will be doing is on your nails...

[MazdaSteve]

Unlike some people,  some of us don't have to repaint our cars each year!

 

In fact, next time we are on the track together we might just might have to have a "drafting" incident so I can get a little McLaren Orange on that car of yours. Infact, I hold off replacing the fenders this time until I do so!

[Glenn]

There is a tool, I think it's about $250

 

http://www.autobodyt...CFUZV4AodAnwA2A

 

Seen it used in a couple of youtube videos....looked pretty slick.

 

When I put on new fenders I use a rubber mallet before the fender is mounted and beat it over.  I have also used said mallet while fenders are mounted in an emergency.

 

I have been getting rubbing with the hoosiers and my 25 mm offset wheels.  We'll see how this roll job went.  I may go back to 30 mm offset wheels.

Really?  I have used a flat faced hammer since the early 80's and it never costs a dime  Even "rolled" the cut edges of my doors to get rid of those nasty sharp edges

[Sphinx]

Dude, at least I put my car on the track when I am in-state and close enough to touch it. As long as that hotrod of yours sits in the garage collecting cob webs, the only painting you will be doing is on your nails...

 

Sad, but true....

 

In fact, next time we are on the track together we might just might have to have a "drafting" incident so I can get a little McLaren Orange on that car of yours. Infact, I hold off replacing the fenders this time until I do so!

 

So long as I keep you behind me, bring it on!

[MazdaSteve]

Sad, but true....

 

 

So long as I keep you behind me, bring it on!

 

 You mean when I am lapping you?