Bed wheel tubs stepside - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dirtracer81_2 · 07-05-2013, 04:41 PM

So im debating to do it or not. From what I measured I would gain about 3 inches of tire space on each side.. What did you guys use for fender wells?
Pictures would be awesome. Or even a tire size without the tubs in place. Seen some post where guys were running wide tires but I had 235s with an axle flip and they didnt have much room.

Speedbumpauto · 07-05-2013, 09:26 PM

Do a search. There was a recent thread with lots of ideas and pics.

mr48chev · 07-05-2013, 10:25 PM

Some of the guys have cut down the inside fenderwells for the fleetside pickups up through 87 that bolt into the pickups. It gives a clean look and the flange on the inner well bolts to the bed floor and looks like it was intended to be there. You have to be able to do some serious welding to narrow the inner wells though.

Kabwe · 07-05-2013, 10:41 PM

I used trailer fenders to make my tubs.

dubie · 07-06-2013, 10:38 AM

I'm running 275 60 15's on a Chevelle rear end so I had to make more room on the inner fenders. I took the advice of guys here that had done this mod and used 16 ga sheet metal and the original piece I cut out
Posted via Mobile Device

dirtracer81_2 · 07-06-2013, 01:13 PM

Dang never thought about that. And it looks pretty original the way the lines follow it. Dang thats alot of welding haha.

dubie · 07-06-2013, 04:14 PM

They still need to be ground down, but it took about 3 hours to fab it all up. I didn't want to warp anything
Posted via Mobile Device

papastrk · 07-06-2013, 11:23 PM

This is a motorcycle rear fender half Name: fender well pics 001.jpg
Views: 3909
Size: 31.3 KB

sqrlnts · 07-06-2013, 11:48 PM

I am thinking of cutting down a 55 gallon metal drum on my fleetside bed. I can get the drum for $15....

vht · 07-07-2013, 09:26 AM

Classic truck magazine has a article on them. Sept issue.

_Ogre · 07-07-2013, 12:40 PM

i cut my bed side with a jigsaw and welded the cutout back in with 3-4'' of 10 gauge steel

mr48chev · 07-07-2013, 01:45 PM

Those trailer fenders like Kabwe showed are usually under 20 each and can be found in bare steel at places like Tractor Supply. They also allow you to build something that has a very clean appearance rather than something that looks rat rod scabbed together.

I like that really smooth setup that Papastrk showed too along with Orge's usually high quality work.

A guy might also look at the spare tire covers off the 80's/ 90's conversion vans that had a nice curved metal face that would work well with a strip of metal the right width welded to it. The band on those is usually chrome or stainless though.

dirtracer81_2 · 07-10-2013, 09:25 PM

I like the way it looks with the section back in. And 10 gauge is pretty thick stuff
Posted via Mobile Device

07-05-2013, 04:41 PM	#1
dirtracer81_2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: rocky gap va Posts: 99	Bed wheel tubs stepside So im debating to do it or not. From what I measured I would gain about 3 inches of tire space on each side.. What did you guys use for fender wells? Pictures would be awesome. Or even a tire size without the tubs in place. Seen some post where guys were running wide tires but I had 235s with an axle flip and they didnt have much room.

07-05-2013, 09:26 PM	#2
Speedbumpauto Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 917	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside Do a search. There was a recent thread with lots of ideas and pics.

07-05-2013, 10:25 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,410	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside Some of the guys have cut down the inside fenderwells for the fleetside pickups up through 87 that bolt into the pickups. It gives a clean look and the flange on the inner well bolts to the bed floor and looks like it was intended to be there. You have to be able to do some serious welding to narrow the inner wells though. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

07-05-2013, 10:41 PM	#4
Kabwe Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inglewood, California Posts: 3,118	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside I used trailer fenders to make my tubs.

07-06-2013, 10:38 AM	#5
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside I'm running 275 60 15's on a Chevelle rear end so I had to make more room on the inner fenders. I took the advice of guys here that had done this mod and used 16 ga sheet metal and the original piece I cut out Posted via Mobile Device Attached Images __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

07-06-2013, 01:13 PM	#6
dirtracer81_2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: rocky gap va Posts: 99	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside Dang never thought about that. And it looks pretty original the way the lines follow it. Dang thats alot of welding haha.

07-06-2013, 04:14 PM	#7
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside They still need to be ground down, but it took about 3 hours to fab it all up. I didn't want to warp anything Posted via Mobile Device __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

07-06-2013, 11:23 PM	#8
papastrk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Southern Oklahoma Posts: 181	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside This is a motorcycle rear fender half

07-06-2013, 11:48 PM	#9
sqrlnts Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chandler AZ Posts: 750	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside I am thinking of cutting down a 55 gallon metal drum on my fleetside bed. I can get the drum for $15....

07-07-2013, 09:26 AM	#10
vht Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Brooksville Ky Posts: 531	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside Classic truck magazine has a article on them. Sept issue.

07-07-2013, 12:40 PM	#11
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside i cut my bed side with a jigsaw and welded the cutout back in with 3-4'' of 10 gauge steel __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

07-07-2013, 01:45 PM	#12
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,410	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside Those trailer fenders like Kabwe showed are usually under 20 each and can be found in bare steel at places like Tractor Supply. They also allow you to build something that has a very clean appearance rather than something that looks rat rod scabbed together. I like that really smooth setup that Papastrk showed too along with Orge's usually high quality work. A guy might also look at the spare tire covers off the 80's/ 90's conversion vans that had a nice curved metal face that would work well with a strip of metal the right width welded to it. The band on those is usually chrome or stainless though. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. Last edited by mr48chev; 07-07-2013 at 01:50 PM.

07-10-2013, 09:25 PM	#13
dirtracer81_2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: rocky gap va Posts: 99	Re: Bed wheel tubs stepside I like the way it looks with the section back in. And 10 gauge is pretty thick stuff Posted via Mobile Device



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.