i want to widen rear fenders

[tiddlar]

i want to add 5 inches to my rear fenders. I've talked to a lot of gentlemen and a lot have said to cut down the middle and add the metal. the guy who will be doing this for me said he would widen from where it attaches to the bed. what are your thoughts on this? would it be better to widen from the center or to where it attaches to the bed?

[T Hilde]

Which fenders? 47-55.1, by the mounting edge or 55.2-59, either way.

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by T Hilde

Which fenders? 47-55.1, by the mounting edge or 55.2-59, either way.

I have. 53 Chevy. So either way would be ok?

[Highsider]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

I have. 53 Chevy. So either way would be ok?

I think he said "by the edge (only)"

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by Highsider

I think he said "by the edge (only)"

Duh! Thanks guys

[nvrdone]

Widen at the edge due to the curve of the fender. I widened mine 3" and maintained the curve of the fender

[mr48chev]

Most of the widened fender in progress shots I have seen show the cut to be about 1 to 1-1/2 inch (s) from the lip that bolts to the bed. That gives the metal worker room to work beside the flange but doesn't put the cut out where you have to reshape the filler a lot to have it work.

Back in the 70's before narrowing rear axles was common widening the rear fenders was real common with rear axle swaps. Not always for the better appearance wise though.

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Most of the widened fender in progress shots I have seen show the cut to be about 1 to 1-1/2 inch (s) from the lip that bolts to the bed. That gives the metal worker room to work beside the flange but doesn't put the cut out where you have to reshape the filler a lot to have it work.

Back in the 70's before narrowing rear axles was common widening the rear fenders was real common with rear axle swaps. Not always for the better appearance wise though.

so what do you guys think on this truck i posted??????? im starting to have second thoughts, i widen them.. order the rear end length. .. etc.. would be hard and a lot of money to go back to stock

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

so what do you guys think on this truck i posted???????

odd duck

widening the fenders looks wrong, imo
look at some of the prostreet builds here, there are many nice ones
stock fenders and 15 to 18 inch wide tires

[Nikotrans]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

so what do you guys think on this truck i posted??????? im starting to have second thoughts, i widen them.. order the rear end length. .. etc.. would be hard and a lot of money to go back to stock

I think widening the rear fenders makes the truck look more aggressive - which is the look I'm going after. I will probably widen the rear fenders of my '57 by a couple of inches on the mounting edge so I can run some 305/45-20 tires in the rear, inside of the fenders, without tubbing.

[whitedog76]

Superior glass has fenders that 2.5" wider.

http://www.superiorglassworks.com/Re...-p/53t02lw.htm

Here's their 6" wide ones.

http://www.superiorglassworks.com/Re...p/53t02lsw.htm

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by Nikotrans

I think widening the rear fenders makes the truck look more aggressive - which is the look I'm going after. I will probably widen the rear fenders of my '57 by a couple of inches on the mounting edge so I can run some 305/45-20 tires in the rear, inside of the fenders, without tubbing.

i agree, the look is phenomenal, but with all the opinons mentioned here it made me think do i or do i not? like i said if my metal guy can some how mock it up and show me ill go from there. that backside looks awemazing

[_Ogre]

widening the fender 5 inches will make it an odd duck
easier and imo better looking is to add tubs inside the bed

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

widening the fender 5 inches will make it an odd duck
easier and imo better looking is to add tubs inside the bed

i actually love the look, i want them widened just because it looks great in my opinion.

[BigBlocksRule]

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

Yes, but the Kindigit crew chose suburban/panel rear fenders for their tubs. Those are harder to find and more expensive than rear truck fenders.

Marc

[tiddlar]

PHP Code:

 


Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

this truck has the fenders widened 5 inches

[tiddlar]

It's hard to upload pics. Here is the backside

[tiddlar]

Another pic

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

Another pic

I kind of like it!

[oldman3]

You asked so here it goes. I don't like the look, I would keep stock fenders, narrow the rear and have tubs inside the bed. Just my 2 cents...Jim

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by oldman3

You asked so here it goes. I don't like the look, I would keep stock fenders, narrow the rear and have tubs inside the bed. Just my 2 cents...Jim

your opinions are very welcomed thanks, i need to talk to my metal guy, maybe he can do a mock up so i can have a better look, but we'll see.

[crossfire84]

[tmoble]

I thuink somebody used to market fibreglas fenders that were already widened 2".

and what a couple said, easier to ask about this stuff before ordering parts that might inconvenient or expensive to alter later.

and FWIW, I agree with the others, order your rear axle so the overall length including whatever mega-tires you're going to run fit under the stock fenders, put the tubs inside the bed.

[1-ton of fun]

Get a g50 transmission and mount the engine in the bed. That should piss people off! Lol.