Any options to widen rear fender

[DENALI]

Possibly needing to widen the rear fenders on a 54 3100. Problem is it is an all factory paint truck and i want to retain the weather look of the paint that is on the fenders now. I am curious to know if anyone makes a "filler" that would effectivley bolt between the fender and the bedside to accomplish this. Thanks

[Dan in Pasadena]

Not that I know of, plus it'll look weird wont it? How about

1. Using narrower wheels/tires
2. Narrowing your rearend
3. Buying different offset/backspaced rims
4. Tubbing it as a last resort?

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[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Not that I know of, plus it'll look weird wont it? How about using small wheels/tires, narrowing your rearend, buying different offset/backspaced rims or tubbing it as a last resort?
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I have multiple issues going on, aftermarket frame with mini tubs will still only allow a 10.5 wide rear wheel unless i extent the outer fender. I want to keep it looking like a heap body wise as pictured below.

[mr48chev]

Unless you are making a dualie out of it and widening the fenders to cover the duals I'd go in another direction.

One of my buddies is a wide tire freak from the word go. These tires will fit under the stock width rear fenders with tubs on his truck.

URL=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/mr48chev/media/Jim%20Rosen%20Poison%20Ivy%2048%20Chev/DSCF3075.jpg.html][/URL]



I'm thinking that those are the 18 inch wide MT Sportsmans.
He did narrow the nine inch a bunch though.

[DENALI]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Unless you are making a dualie out of it and widening the fenders to cover the duals I'd go in another direction.

One of my buddies is a wide tire freak from the word go. These tires will fit under the stock width rear fenders with tubs on his truck.


I'm thinking that those are the 18 inch wide MT Sportsmans.
He did narrow the nine inch a bunch though.

Well i am not after that type of tire or that wide. I am looking to get a 335 tire under the back.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok well we've pretty much listed your options and they DONT include any kinda "spacer" between the bed & fender. I know for '56 Ford F100's there are wider fiberglass fenders made...but it doesn't sound like you'd be interested unless you try to match the patina - that usually fails.

Just curious, why do you want MORE than 10-1/2" of rubber(!) back there? What power train is/will be in it?

If you need THAT much traction for the horsepower you'll have you don't WANT the stock rearend & closed drivetrain anyway!

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[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Just curious, why do you want MORE than 10-1/2" of rubber(!) back there? What power train is/will be in it?

If you need THAT much traction for the horsepower you'll have you don't WANT the stock rearend & closed drivetrain anyway!

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Not interested in straight line performance ...... http://www.artmorrison.com/47-53truck.php

[Dan in Pasadena]

Then why so wide a tire? You don't wanna be dragging around 13"+ wide tires with a 235 straight six.
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[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Then why so wide a tire? You don't wanna be dragging around 13"+ wide tires with a 235 straight six.
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Now this is just me thinking here, and i may be way out of the ball park on the thought process on this one......... but if one posed the above questions and was going to spend 15k on an art morrison full frame and suspension, i would assume....how ever far fetched it may seem.... that they might actually go with something slightly more modern and powerful than a 235 six...... but then again i could be totally wrong on that one.

[mr48chev]

[QUOTE=DENALI;6041653]Well i am not after that type of tire or that wide. I am looking to get a 335 tire under the back.[/QUOTE

I'm not sure I am following on the 335 tire.

Any time you get past the norm on tire sizes you end up having to do things to make it work.

The old was to widen the fenders or just jack the truck up so the tires stuck out of flare the fenders out for clearance. All three look look just as bad as they did in the 70's when it was the norm to do. We did it then because we didn't know better and every one else was doing it.

Now it is figure out what wheel/tire combination you want to run. then figure out the mounting surface to mounting surface of the rear axles that you need to fit the tires inside the fender lips with enough room to clear and then figure out what you need to do to the inside of the bed mini tub wise or frame wise but I don't see why you would need to go very radical with that set of tires. Doing a bit of searching your 335 tires usually run on 12 inch rims on factory cars they come on such as a Z06 Corvette so that in it's self means you will be dealing with a tire about 14 inches wide and the mini tub thing or wider will be needed to make it work.

[DENALI]

Ok so i just wanted to know if it was possible to do, or if anyone has done, what i inquired about. I didnt think i needed to justify why i wanted to do it i just wanted to know if it had been done. For all it matters i could be mounting tricycle running gear or tank tracks under the thing. But if you must know i am planning out a full on competitive scca/autocross truck and i plan to do it within the confines of the factory sheetmetal. Simple as that, no need to read anything else into it other than "has anyone widened their rear fenders with a filler strip of some sort".

[Dan in Pasadena]

No
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[Dan in Pasadena]

PS: If you don't want people asking questions about what you're doing why go ask a bunch of strangers on the Internet?

Seems pretty defensive to me but hey, I come here to enjoy and share my hobby with others who share the same hobby.

I'm out.
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[Bubba54]

I ran M/T 29 x 12.5 on my 54 GMC. The frame width was stock, but it will take a small tub for the bed. Also correct rear width and wheel offset. I like the pro street look myself and moved up to a M/T 29 x 18.5. Required new narrowed back half of frame.

[Midgets50]

why dont you just widen your rear fenders. i was going to do this with my 2 1/2 ton dually that didnt have a bed. i was going to put one on it and custom widen the fenders so they coverd both tires and then do your best to replicate the paint job. The thing with the patina look is that there can be different shades and it will look natural

[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Midgets50

why dont you just widen your rear fenders. i was going to do this with my 2 1/2 ton dually that didnt have a bed. i was going to put one on it and custom widen the fenders so they coverd both tires and then do your best to replicate the paint job. The thing with the patina look is that there can be different shades and it will look natural

Thats sorta what the plan is, although according to Dan in Pasmedajoint, it has never been done

[Dan in Pasadena]

I never said "it's never been done". I said it ("patina matching") usually fails.

As for making your own spacers...you asked if anyone makes a "filler". They don't as far as I ever heard.

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by DENALI

But if you must know i am planning out a full on competitive scca/autocross truck and i plan to do it within the confines of the factory sheetmetal. .

You asked for thoughts on how to do this and stay within the factory sheet metal. I've seen people cut and add strips to widen but have gone with new paint. That being said if you want to stay within the factory width of the sheetmetal then you will have to go inward it seems. After widening the rear fenders then you have to deal with the running boards not fitting and those will need to be modified as well to accept the fitting change.

[98layinframe]

Is there any room to add a tub in the bedside? Assuming the aftermarket frame isnt any wider then the factory frame would be... you should have a good two to three inches of available space there.

Or yeah sounds like the other easiest option would be to just buy those three inch wider fiberglass to market fenders and attempt to recreate the patina. Brush on heavey layers of thick silver, brown and then a close top color. Sand.
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