Interest for High rise(pre-runner style?) Fenders Fiberglass

[Senator350]

1. i'd like to send a pass fender, but the front cups are cut off of mine.

2. this front cup is what i was talking about being "radiused". my fenders need to be "chopped" about 4" off the bottom. i was inquiring what could be done with the bottom

[Mordachai]

^ awesome. I don't really need the front cups, it's the front part of the fender that I need. Feel free to cut the front of the fender off, as I don't need the whole thing. I'm thinking it'd be easier to ship the front part instead of the whole fender. PM sent.

As for radiusing the fender front, I can do that no problem. Whether you want just an inch or two taken off, or all the way to the body line like the fenders that sandking posted on the last page, or anywhere in between. I'm not at home right now, but I think taking off 4" would leave 2" or so below the body line. Either way I can make a nice finished product with a nice clean edge for ya.

Desertrat- I'm pretty sure you're right that there might be someone willing to help out financially, but that's just not me. I want to take care of all aspects of these fenders by myself( creatively and financially). Kinda my fault, knowing the upholstery shop is slow, and I spent too much money while in CO having fun expecting to have work as soon as I got back. No biggie, I'll be able to buy all the materials I need by the end of the week, and the pass. fender is still needing that front section anyways. I'm sure I can have the drivers side ready to go by then, and the passenger fender soon thereafter.

I got the inner support molds pulled off, and got the rough stuff cleaned off them. I just didn't get to finish cleaning and polishing them only because I was working fixing up my apt. to rent out and also ran out of fine (1000 and up) sandpaper and compound. I didn't get to the supply house yesterday, but I should be able to later today to get the few things I need.
Once I get them cleaned up I'll post pics. Same with the fenders, I'll take pics along the way and post up some of the process of making the model and molds.

[skoffice]

Hey I'm new on here and am interested in getting a set of 4" higher, 6" longer, 3.5" wide flare fenders for a '67 made. What do you need and whats the cost? I can do trade work as well. I work at a machine shop and an off road fab shop.

[Prerunner1982]

You could just do away with the marker light. Alot of custom truck guys shave them off anyways. If the law harasses someone they could add a small marker on the side where ever they wanted. Just an idea that may make the process a bit easier. It's looking good so far though.. Keep it up.

[Mordachai]

^ Thanks, I'm actually going to be able to make some serious progress now. Had to set them aside for a bit. Reason I haven't done much of anything on them recently, is I've been doing all sorts of odd jobs to make enough some dollars to buy this:


It's a 93 sonoma.


15 year old interior.


obligatory engine shot

Nice lil truck, got a H.O 4.3, backed up with a manual valve bodied trans with a bump-shifter. It's got some super short gearing in the back too, gotta jack it up and figure out what it is, prolly put a 'longer' diff in it for mileage etc. Best thing about it is when I do actually get my 71 back together, I can use the chassis from the sonoma under the 56 I have sitting in the side yard.



if I wasn't busy trying to get this truck I'd prolly have been busy with the fenders. but I really need a little truck, just using my Acura TL as a 'worker' was really messing it up, fiberglass and resin, tools, and all sorts of other crap that I need to move around were taking their toll. Also I've had to turn down some general handyman type jobs because I haven't had a truck to haul tools and supplies to those jobs. I used to do alot of that stuff for extra cash, but my 71 has been stripped to the frame for almost a year now.

So the upholstery shop might be closing as it's so slow and everyone wants dollars for pennies, Even with a sign saying you can have it cheap, you can have it fast, or you can have quality, but not all at once; it's still all low ball offers and complaints. Alot of jobs being quoted, not much work, and I know their pricing is on the average to low side for the area. But I am going to try to re-do the sonoma after-hours before the upholstery shop closes. As long as I buy the material, I don't think it will be a problem at all. So anyways it means no work, but now I can start doing handyman stuff whenever needed and really get going on the fenders. Good timing to swap up the vehicles, so the TL is gonna get sold to fund my 71 and these molds and finished fenders etc.



I actually have all the plaster and filler etc that I need to finish the fenders. As soon as they are done I'll go pick up everything I need to make the molds. The molds will actually be alot easier and faster for me, as that's where my real experience is. Actually making the fenders I have to think and tinker alot to figure out what works good and seems to take me more time. The mold, I know just what to do and can run through it.

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

You could just do away with the marker light. Alot of custom truck guys shave them off anyways. If the law harasses someone they could add a small marker on the side where ever they wanted. Just an idea that may make the process a bit easier. It's looking good so far though.. Keep it up.

Thanks.
It sure would have been easier to shave the light, but to graft a factory style light back in would be pretty tricky, and some people might want a more stock look. I'm aiming to have a fender that looks like it could be a stock fender if you didn't know it wasn't.

And it'd be really easy to shave the markers on the glass fender. just using the light bucket it could easily be glassed in.

[72blazer_mud_bogger]

how hard would it be for you to make half doors for a 72 blazer

[Mordachai]

^ I think there's already companies making half doors.
Try US Body and similar companies for them.


anyways, on the fenders I've done very little on the fenders

but I got the thing all set up to go now
mounted the fender and cut off lip in an appropriate position and started to fill the gap to make a working surface.


The lip is shimmed so the profile jig runs along it level, and the fender is mounted to the table. I have to be able to take the fender off the table once 1 section of the mold is complete, but until then it needs to be solid so I can pull the profile and do the block sanding etc. I used clamps and boards where the lower part of the fender sits off the table, but the top part of the fender(inner support) was tough to get to, even with that lip cut off 2.5", so I had to use a few pieces of scrap to screw the fender down to the table, Scrap wood screwed from inside of fender, then same piece screwed to the table.
I did mark with two black lines on the table where the two crucial screws are to releasing it from the table, you can see them in the pics. at the very worst, I'll have to go under the table and drill/cut out the screws.

but anyways, a few more pics:
all glued up and waiting for some fiberglass



here it is glassed and trimmed up



and here's a pic of the profile gauge in place.


The reason it's glassed and trimmed up is so I can do my work in steps. The fiberglass will give the new plaster profile and the mold a 'method' of staying firmly in position on the fender while I work it and when I have to move it. I'll pull the profile, and then block and primer/paint as much of the fender as I can get to. Then I'll do the lay up for the wheel well section of the mold. Then I'm going to have to take the fender off the table to do the other two sections. The two screws that are holding the top of the fender down are in at an angle, and I should be able to back them out just under the edge of the cut fiberglass, and the foam and any plaster will cut away like butter. So that's the reason for the foam and fiberglass.


Also, now that jig will probably make more sense to anyone wondering. the lower corner is 2" in from the edge of the jig. The jig will run along the stock fender, at a lower height and the new wheel-well will be exactly 2" larger than stock, with a stock shape in both lip edge, and opening shape. The opening isn't a perfect circle, and also not a ellipse(oval). If it was I could have used a circle/oval jig. The stock fender has more of a tear-drop shape, so following the stock opening is the best means of reproduction imho. But mounting the stock lip on the table just right was actually a pita. if you look at a fender on your truck from the front, you'll see the lip curves towards the top of the truck and the ground. I had to mount and shim the old fender lip just right, so the height was correct from one corner, to the top, down to the other corner. Good the thing lip cut off the fender is really flexible... But I got it mounted firmly and it runs along the stock lip and newly glassed work surface really nicely.


Between the shape of the opening and the profile of the lip, I think this will give the best results. I guess we'll all find out in due time.

[MickMc]

Put me in line for fenders...

Keep us posted.


Mick

[Mordachai]

Just a little update,
haven't forgotten about this project, just haven't had much time for it.

Oh, and Block sanding SUCKS!

That jig worked out really well.

here's a pic after the first 2 or 3 layers of plaster.


one of the first almost full passes, but still rough.



and after a week or so and a bunch more pulls it starts to take shape for real:






One thing I didn't even think about was how damn long it takes for plaster to cure/cry out. you can't add plaster on top of still damp plaster, so the plaster layers were added days apart


now it's time to fill the lower corners or 'cups' of the fender. Same foam trick as for under the plaster pull.



glued in place and glassed over the foam edges.

[Mordachai]

well, after the glass fender edges were cured a bit, I could cover them in filler and start to shape the new fender line and fender 'cup'.
I didn't take any pics of the filler, rough rasping in green stage more filler etc steps.

but after a few rounds of filler, it started to look like something, so I hit it with some primer.










Some quick roughing out revealed some low spots. Quick bit of filler and rough them out again and I started to see a nice shape appearing.




then another guide coat of primer
[/QUOTE]

Then on to the tedious and long process of block sanding and building until all the surfaces are as crisp as I want them to be.

Sand
fill
sand
fill
sand
Primer
fill
sand
fill
sand
fill
sand
^yeah, that's been me.... sanding until the back/shoulders/elbows/hands are numb!





There's a ton of work inbetween the shot below and the last two shots even if it's hard to tell. I left out alot of pictures...


Oh yeah, I cut the table so I could have better access for sanding...


high build sand-able primer


and then, after a shot of white primer, it actually looks like a decent fender again!

Also check out old stock lip still screwed to the table that I used as a guide for the profile. you can see how much bigger the new fender opening is, but still retains the old style pretty good imho.








I've got a handful of spots that need to be tweaked with a tiny bit of filler/primer, I worked on it a bunch this morning, and now my handful of spots that need attention are down to just a few minor spots and already looks better than in the last pic.

So anyways, while updates haven't been posted here, I'm working on it here and there when I get a chance to. It's really a hobby or a labor of love that I would love to see turn into a 9-5, but for the time being whenever I have the time and funds I'll be working on it.
I did cut the lip off the pass side fender, but my table is too small to mount both of them on at the same time, so I can't get going on that until my driver's side mold is 2/3 -3/4 complete.

anyways, just thought I'd post some pics of the slowish progress but progress nonetheless.

[Senator350]

HOORAY!!! fenders in time for warm weather???

can i put some on layaway yet?

[va_tlc]

wow, it turned out great, and im sure you have alot of time into it. i sure hope you get some return profit from all your labor. good luck and keep at it.

[Mordachai]

Thanks for the Pos responses guys.
I'm going this morning to get all the rest of the supplies to get the mold for the driver's side fender going. As soon as I get 2 of the 3 sections made, I can move the driver's side off the table and get the passenger side under way.

Senator- Don't sweat it, I got you covered!

[jaros44sr]

Any progress is better than no progress

[hereinmissoula]

personally i think all your work and labor is fantastic and deserves a bump....

i am lifting my 68 4" and am using 36" hummer goodyears... only 12.5 wide but i was going to cut... now i will definately be looking to you for a set of fenders... will be very interested in the 3rd version....

you are very talented and am sure that alot of members on here recognize that... thank you for the parts development!!! greatly appreciated..!!!

your fenders rock

[thirdstreettito]

Looks great!

[desertrat]

Looks good Mordachai !

Keep us updated.

[71 TopCat]

Hey Fellas, Havent forgotten about you guys just been REAL busy.... got separated from wife a couple of months ago and between work and kids i havent had a chance to do much but I started working on my K5 again. Havent been able to do the rest of the motor work that had been planned but was able to put some longer and softer leaf springs on and really noticed how bad I need some of your fenders Mordachai ! I wiil send you some pics when i get a chance but I had to trim a couple of inches of both lower ends, just dont look rite. I know when your doing some serious wheelin your rig isnt going to look like a show truck but if i can keep that cool factory look and it work with my wheelin.... that would be great.

[fun in dirt]

I too was wondering if there's any update on these fenders?

There's a guy in the 67-72 trucks section thinking about bagging instead of going prerunner style if he can't find fiberglass fenders

[project 67 sub]

hahah thats me lol. it was because i couldnt make up my mind on what i wanted to do with my burb. first i wanted to bag it then prerunner and back and forth. but now im deffinately gunna bag it.

Originally Posted by fun in dirt

I too was wondering if there's any update on these fenders?

There's a guy in the 67-72 trucks section thinking about bagging instead of going prerunner style if he can't find fiberglass fenders

[project 67 sub]

heres a rendering of what my burb would have looked like all prerunnered out. looks kind of light but i guess thats what the scanner did to it

[CDA 455]

Any updates?

[Mordachai]

hey guys,
Thanks for the comments.

Been busy as hell, doing something I would have never ever guessed- yep sewing Auto upholstery. Looked like my job at the shop is secure as long as I could learn to sew... I figure it's just like any other tool/machine - band saw, welder, tractor, sewing machine- it's all the operator! so 2 months later, been doing some full custom jobs and a lot of little repairs. Even did a custom bike seat and some other really cool work! But hasn't left me much time for other things.(such is the way of life I guess) Although the more I do, the faster the pattern making/sewing goes...

I actually have gotten a good bit of work done on the fender. I wasn't happy with some of the little edges and curves around the fender lip, so I reworked them. Also spent a good bit of time getting the front trim and edges of the fender straight. Re-painted and sanded smooth etc.

A little here and there and the mold(s) are coming underway. I have taken some pics along the way, but haven't even put them on my pc yet. be patient and when I get a chance I'll post some pics.


The one thing I really REALLY do need is the front 4"-6" of a 69-72 passenger fender. I started cutting my pass fender to start making the larger lip, and remembered that I still need that front edge.(my pass fender is 67-68 style)

Please, if anyone can help me find it will help the process along...

Project 67 Sub- I've been talking with a local guy who has a slammed truck, he's tucking 20's in the front. I told him about these fenders I'm making and now he's interested in tucking 22's... When I first started these, I was only thinking of lifted trucks(doh!), but fender clearance is also an issue with the slammed rides...

[jpholman]

Just remembered these fenders, any progress on them? Seems like you had alot of interest

[yodi]

heyy was wondering if u could think about pre-runner style fenders for a 58-59' chevy, i know it would be a totally new concept but i have just been inspired by this thread, i have been looking for any type of alternative to cutting on my fenders. thanks