Making The Front Fender Lip Look Like The Back

[lakeroadster]

Am I alone on this? I really like the way the fender wheel opening lip looks on the stepside fenders. But the front fender lip looks absolutely nothing like the stepside style? The front fender lips look cheap, IMHO.

Now I know the difference is because the stepside fenders are an older design. My question is has anybody tried to restyle the front fenders, perhaps by using an older truck front fender, like a 55 - 56 -57, and cutting out the fender lip and welding it to the 60-66 front fender?

Would that be easy? Nope? Would it look way cool? I am thinkin yes.

Stuff that makes you go hmmm? What do you guys think?

[markeb01]

I’m on the same page, the front lips look wimpy to me too. I like the concept, the front fenders would look much more stylish with the rear flares. I’m not sure it wouldn’t be easier to use rear fender lips, compared to front flares from an older fender. Seems like it might take less fabricating to finish the lower ends both front and rear, but I'm not a sheet metal craftsman.

[creep]

Anything is possible. My buddy put square body Ranger wheel well arches on his 88 S10. Now we call it the STRanger. It turned out really nice and if you don't know about it you might never notice it.

[jonzcustomshop]

I would use the 567 fronts, biggesr issue would be flowing the wheel well lip into the rocker, 60-6 curves in, 55-9 curves out...
might look cool!

[jonzcustomshop]

** this just in...use the rear of the lip off a step fender, then use a 67-72 rocker and cab corner... alot of work , but might look cool.

** look how the rear of the wheelwell blends into the fender on your first pic, then imagine the shape of the 67-72 rocker...
rocker would probably fit close, because the inner rockers and front floors are basically the same 60-72.

[markeb01]

Having nothing to do with anything, I went through 27 pages of 55 Chevy gasser photos yesterday and was studying and admiring the radius fenderwells that were well done. Then I remembered this thread and wondered – how would a short stepside look with 60-66 front fender lips transplanted to the rear fenders. This would raise the top of the fender lip and also open it up quite a bit. It might look really cool with huge rear tires stuffed underneath, and both front and rear would then match. If I can manage it I’ll probably try the concept on a 1/25 scale model.

[jimmydean]

Look at Frizzle Fry's C5 truck build. He did Corvette style wells front and rear. One of my all time favorite mods, period.

[vin63]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Am I alone on this? I really like the way the fender wheel opening lip looks on the stepside fenders. But the front fender lip looks absolutely nothing like the stepside style? The front fender lips look cheap, IMHO.

Now I know the difference is because the stepside fenders are an older design. My question is has anybody tried to restyle the front fenders, perhaps by using an older truck front fender, like a 55 - 56 -57, and cutting out the fender lip and welding it to the 60-66 front fender?

Would that be easy? Nope? Would it look way cool? I am thinkin yes.

Stuff that makes you go hmmm? What do you guys think?

It would take some sectioning pre-planning, but shouldn't be too difficult. I dropped the lip of my front fenders just to make the tire-to-fender-lip proportion a little more consistent front to back on my fleetside. It took three panel sections. If you use the entire fender opening, I could see doing it in two sections.

[jocko]

DON'T MESS WITH PERFECTION!!!

Just kidding, I can see what you're saying - is a bit of a mismatch. Would be an interesting mod - if it was something that someone would walk up to and NOT notice when you're done with it, then I'd say you nailed it!

[kieth]

Boy am I glad I have a fleetside bed, we had enough trougle just getting those compound curves consistent and smooth, would not want to tackle what you guys are contemplating. I had my hands full just getting the bodywork done halfway and getting this thing painted.....Kieth

[vin63]

It's not too bad...the toughest part is the pre-planning of cuts and sections. Here is what I did to drop the lip of my front fenders. I basically had to cut out the original opening and section in a new one. The outside edge of the blue tape represented my cut line.

[lakeroadster]

Looks good Vin63. I really like the dropped upper lip modification.

Wonder if a guy could section in the rear fender lip on the front? I personally think the stepside rear lip looks better. It is more defined.

If I lived in Hollywood I guess maybe a fat injection in the 'ole fender lip would work...

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=312899

[vin63]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Looks good Vin63. I really like the dropped upper lip modification.

Wonder if a guy could section in the rear fender lip on the front? I personally think the stepside rear lip looks better. It is more defined.

If I lived in Hollywood I guess maybe a fat injection in the 'ole fender lip would work...

Thanks...I think it might be easier to work with the patch panels (front and rear sections) of the fender opening type you like and draw out your patterns. You may need to have some extra straight sections of lip because you may have to stretch the opening a bit since front fender opening is usually larger for turning.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Look at Frizzle Fry's C5 truck build. He did Corvette style wells front and rear. One of my all time favorite mods, period.

Thanks jimmydean and 1Bad62Pro/Street. Those are 67-72 arches.

I've actually thought about doing the opposite lakeroadster; put a front arch in the back.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Thanks jimmydean and 1Bad62Pro/Street. Those are 67-72 arches.

I've actually thought about doing the opposite lakeroadster; put a front arch in the back.

Frizzle,

You have any updates on that truck?

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

Frizzle,

You have any updates on that truck?

Update: I got it out of the death grip of my ex-wife just in time to be completely engrossed in a new project (the Tahoe). Now it's like 4 projects deep surfin the back back burner... Sad, I know, but the day will come!

Here's what i was talking about. Front arch in the rear ( my PChop)

[justcuz]

I matched the rear wheel openings to the front on my 65 fleetside longbed. Worked great for stuffing bigger tires and wheels on the rear, looked cool too. Sold the cab, put the engine in my 68 wagon, cut the frame off at the firewall and made a trailer out of it. Front suspension was very rusty from several Bonneville trips, as was the front fenders. That was over 20 years ago, still have the trailer though...and the 68 wagon.

[Rich 5150 69]

back in `71 when they first came out with the so called wide tires, I matched the rear fenders on my `65 chevell with the front, except they were one inch lower, I was running H-60`s under the car in the rear..equivalent to 265x15`s today