Making stepside front and rear wheel wells the same?

[gofastnut]

I've been looking at lots of stepside pics lately and have finally noticed that the front wheel well is larger/taller than the rear. Anybody ever seen someone make the rear one larger, you know equal to the front?
Ignorance is bliss and I'm usually a happy guy, but this is kinda buggin me, now that I've noticed it.
Do tire/wheel combos make it less noticeable?

[markeb01]

The wheel well size never bothered me as much as the fact the entire bed and fenders were designed for a 1955 model with compatibly designed front fender openings.

As a 12 years old car kid, I thought the stepside bed looked silly on the 1960 models, being too narrow and having the “old” fenders on it. Retrospectively it’s obvious all of the design money was invested in the new fleetside models, and the stepside models received a restyling budget of zero. I’ve read where GM management initially intended to continue using the 1955 rear fenders on the 1967 series trucks as well.

Here’s an earlier thread discussing the topic of restyling the fenders:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...fender+opening

[sigshooter]

I agree the beds are obvisouly left overs from the previous body design. I do like the looks of the Stepside but I think GM should have put some effort into making a rear fender that matches the body design of the front half of the truck. It is just so obvious that they fenders were designed for the 57 era trucks, the contours just dont match up.

[TheManInBlack]

All Chevys have higher front wheel wells than rear.

[Narxoleptic Customs]

It's the plan to match em when I find the right bed...
Posted via Mobile Device

[jbgroby]

I would think that the main reason for the height difference is because if you're turning and hit a bump YOU'RE going to hit the fender, ask any lowrider. The guy I had got the truck from lowered the torsion bars so much that if you turned too sharply and hit a curb, you hit the fender bending it out.

Just my 2 Cents

[srziemkowski]

Here is my shot at photochopping it with my crappy skills,raised the rear opening along with a few other obvious changes,sorry,couldnt help myself.lol

[srziemkowski]

Here

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by srziemkowski

Here

There ya go!! Nice job!!

[gofastnut]

OK, several things in no particular order:
1) I was an idiot for wanting to prime over it, starting and not finishing, and thinking it would be "cool" with aerosol black.
2) Lowered with an equivalent rear wheel well is b!tch!n!!
3) srziemkowski, you've got Awesome PhotoChop skills compared to mine!
4) markeb01, thanks for the link, but szriemowski has the idea.
I appreciate all the input, guys

[srziemkowski]

Sorry to keep changing things but i had added the same tire as the rear,shaved the handles,tank and emblem,and lost the rear bumper lol

[gofastnut]

Originally Posted by srziemkowski

Sorry to keep changing things but i had added the same tire as the rear,shaved the handles,tank and emblem,and lost the rear bumper lol

Dang it srziemkowski! I think you and your visionary photochopping skills are kryptonite to both my meager time and monetary allowance.
With that said, it's interesting how you put in a post more or less what I had envisioned.
I really like opening up the rear fender, I think it lets the lines of the truck flow pretty smoothly, without changing the "personality" of the truck. Except for the centerlines, those have got to go. I'll put steelies back on it first...if it ever gets on the road.

Thanks for the input!

[65Gregg]

You could do what shrunken66stroker did to his, he made the fronts smaller. His work is showcased in the build section.

[forestb]

I have always liked the way the front wheel wells are bigger than the rear. A nice set of big back tiers look real nice tucked into those rear fenders. If you wanted to make them match I would spend my time making the front ones smaller.

[srziemkowski]

I put the rear bed opening on the front to see how it would be,did a quick job so looks bad but you get the idea

[srziemkowski]

Steelies

[gofastnut]

Hey srziemkowski, what's your nick name? My brain hurts trying to pronounce your "regular" name. Or, can you spell it phonetically? (why isn't phonetically spelled phonetically?)
And, I think it looks MUCH better with the steelies than centerlines.
Can you put a faded red color on it?

[srziemkowski]

Lol,i have been tring to figure out how to change it on here

[srziemkowski]

Here ya go

[srziemkowski]

Or

[gofastnut]

Right Friggin On!!
After seeing all these awesome trucks with their patina'd paint. I'm gonna leave mine that way for, well, quite some time. and it has nothing to do with having no money.

srziemkowski, you've got mad skillz! (I'm the guy that had to google OG, and I make hank hill look hip)
Thanks alot man! VERY inspiring!

[doobiebro]

srziemkowski I would like to make a request. With your mad photoshop skills can you slam my truck with the same wheels? Maybe the next thing on the list. Hope the pic is clear enough....

[srziemkowski]

Thank you but i dont think im very good,very limited on what i can do lol,someone painted my truck the same color as your is and hate it,going light blue and white.

[gofastnut]

Originally Posted by srziemkowski

Thank you but i dont think im very good,very limited on what i can do lol,someone painted my truck the same color as your is and hate it,going light blue and white.

I can't do it, so you're doing awesome!

[srziemkowski]

Do you have a bigger picture,is very small