i want to widen rear fenders - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tiddlar · 11-23-2014, 04:23 PM

i want to add 5 inches to my rear fenders. I've talked to a lot of gentlemen and a lot have said to cut down the middle and add the metal. the guy who will be doing this for me said he would widen from where it attaches to the bed. what are your thoughts on this? would it be better to widen from the center or to where it attaches to the bed?

T Hilde · 11-23-2014, 04:59 PM

Which fenders? 47-55.1, by the mounting edge or 55.2-59, either way.

tiddlar · 11-23-2014, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T Hilde

Which fenders? 47-55.1, by the mounting edge or 55.2-59, either way.

I have. 53 Chevy. So either way would be ok?

Highsider · 11-23-2014, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiddlar

I have. 53 Chevy. So either way would be ok?

I think he said "by the edge (only)"

tiddlar · 11-23-2014, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highsider

I think he said "by the edge (only)"

Duh! Thanks guys

nvrdone · 11-23-2014, 05:51 PM

Widen at the edge due to the curve of the fender. I widened mine 3" and maintained the curve of the fender

mr48chev · 11-23-2014, 10:06 PM

Most of the widened fender in progress shots I have seen show the cut to be about 1 to 1-1/2 inch (s) from the lip that bolts to the bed. That gives the metal worker room to work beside the flange but doesn't put the cut out where you have to reshape the filler a lot to have it work.

Back in the 70's before narrowing rear axles was common widening the rear fenders was real common with rear axle swaps. Not always for the better appearance wise though.

_Ogre · 11-23-2014, 11:18 PM

widening the fender 5 inches will make it an odd duck
easier and imo better looking is to add tubs inside the bed

BigBlocksRule · 11-24-2014, 08:12 AM

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

**youngrodder** · 11-24-2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

Yes, but the Kindigit crew chose suburban/panel rear fenders for their tubs. Those are harder to find and more expensive than rear truck fenders.

Marc

tiddlar · 11-27-2014, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Ogre

widening the fender 5 inches will make it an odd duck
easier and imo better looking is to add tubs inside the bed

i actually love the look, i want them widened just because it looks great in my opinion.

tiddlar · 11-27-2014, 05:35 PM

PHP Code:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

^ this
and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

this truck has the fenders widened 5 inches

tiddlar · 11-27-2014, 05:45 PM

It's hard to upload pics. Here is the backside

tiddlar · 11-27-2014, 05:48 PM

Another pic

tiddlar · 11-27-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Most of the widened fender in progress shots I have seen show the cut to be about 1 to 1-1/2 inch (s) from the lip that bolts to the bed. That gives the metal worker room to work beside the flange but doesn't put the cut out where you have to reshape the filler a lot to have it work.

Back in the 70's before narrowing rear axles was common widening the rear fenders was real common with rear axle swaps. Not always for the better appearance wise though.

so what do you guys think on this truck i posted??????? im starting to have second thoughts, i widen them.. order the rear end length. .. etc.. would be hard and a lot of money to go back to stock

_Ogre · 11-27-2014, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiddlar

so what do you guys think on this truck i posted???????

odd duck

widening the fenders looks wrong, imo
look at some of the prostreet builds here, there are many nice ones
stock fenders and 15 to 18 inch wide tires

**oldman3** · 11-28-2014, 12:47 AM

You asked so here it goes. I don't like the look, I would keep stock fenders, narrow the rear and have tubs inside the bed. Just my 2 cents...Jim

crossfire84 · 11-28-2014, 09:56 AM

1-ton of fun · 11-28-2014, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiddlar

Another pic

I kind of like it!

tony58 · 11-28-2014, 02:30 PM

I think it could look good but 5" is probably too much. 2" would probably be plenty and a little more subtle.

tiddlar · 11-28-2014, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldman3

You asked so here it goes. I don't like the look, I would keep stock fenders, narrow the rear and have tubs inside the bed. Just my 2 cents...Jim

your opinions are very welcomed thanks, i need to talk to my metal guy, maybe he can do a mock up so i can have a better look, but we'll see.

tmoble · 11-28-2014, 07:31 PM

I thuink somebody used to market fibreglas fenders that were already widened 2".

and what a couple said, easier to ask about this stuff before ordering parts that might inconvenient or expensive to alter later.

and FWIW, I agree with the others, order your rear axle so the overall length including whatever mega-tires you're going to run fit under the stock fenders, put the tubs inside the bed.

1-ton of fun · 11-29-2014, 09:12 AM

Get a g50 transmission and mount the engine in the bed. That should piss people off! Lol.

tiddlar · 11-29-2014, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1-ton of fun

Get a g50 transmission and mount the engine in the bed. That should piss people off! Lol.

BigBlocksRule · 11-29-2014, 10:01 PM

You can widen them 2" and stretch 'em out a bit to get almost another inch without screwing up the look of the entire fender. Add the strip on the flattest section front to back, use filler sparingly to round it just a bit. Add tubs. I want to use bottoms of real washtubs in my '55, nicely patina'd.

11-23-2014, 04:23 PM	#1
tiddlar Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 517	i want to widen rear fenders i want to add 5 inches to my rear fenders. I've talked to a lot of gentlemen and a lot have said to cut down the middle and add the metal. the guy who will be doing this for me said he would widen from where it attaches to the bed. what are your thoughts on this? would it be better to widen from the center or to where it attaches to the bed?

11-23-2014, 04:59 PM	#2
T Hilde Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Faribault, MN Posts: 385	Re: i want to widen rear fenders Which fenders? 47-55.1, by the mounting edge or 55.2-59, either way. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414646

11-23-2014, 05:51 PM	#6
nvrdone Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Moxee WA Posts: 1,427	Re: i want to widen rear fenders Widen at the edge due to the curve of the fender. I widened mine 3" and maintained the curve of the fender

11-23-2014, 10:06 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,345	Re: i want to widen rear fenders Most of the widened fender in progress shots I have seen show the cut to be about 1 to 1-1/2 inch (s) from the lip that bolts to the bed. That gives the metal worker room to work beside the flange but doesn't put the cut out where you have to reshape the filler a lot to have it work. Back in the 70's before narrowing rear axles was common widening the rear fenders was real common with rear axle swaps. Not always for the better appearance wise 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.

11-23-2014, 11:18 PM	#8
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: i want to widen rear fenders widening the fender 5 inches will make it an odd duck easier and imo better looking is to add tubs inside the bed __________________ 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

11-24-2014, 08:12 AM	#9
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: i want to widen rear fenders ^ this and if you can find it, the crew at Kindigit used old fenders to build tubs on one episode of their show, looked really nice when they were done.

11-27-2014, 05:45 PM	#13
tiddlar Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 517	Re: i want to widen rear fenders It's hard to upload pics. Here is the backside Attached Images

11-27-2014, 05:48 PM	#14
tiddlar Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 517	Re: i want to widen rear fenders Another pic Attached Images

11-28-2014, 12:47 AM	#17
oldman3 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: West Plains, Missouri Posts: 7,555	Re: i want to widen rear fenders You asked so here it goes. I don't like the look, I would keep stock fenders, narrow the rear and have tubs inside the bed. Just my 2 cents...Jim __________________ my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br />

11-28-2014, 09:56 AM	#18
crossfire84 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: wind lake WI Posts: 1,747	Re: i want to widen rear fenders __________________ LIL ERV the 50-3600 396 BBC stroked to 415 cid Richmond 6spd over drive C4 rear Porter built a arms Never give the Devil a ride,because he'll want to Drive!

11-28-2014, 02:30 PM	#20
tony58 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orange, Calif Posts: 183	Re: i want to widen rear fenders I think it could look good but 5" is probably too much. 2" would probably be plenty and a little more subtle.

11-28-2014, 07:31 PM	#22
tmoble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,062	Re: i want to widen rear fenders I thuink somebody used to market fibreglas fenders that were already widened 2". and what a couple said, easier to ask about this stuff before ordering parts that might inconvenient or expensive to alter later. and FWIW, I agree with the others, order your rear axle so the overall length including whatever mega-tires you're going to run fit under the stock fenders, put the tubs inside the bed.

11-29-2014, 09:12 AM	#23
1-ton of fun polishing a turd Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: houston, tx Posts: 674	Re: i want to widen rear fenders Get a g50 transmission and mount the engine in the bed. That should piss people off! Lol. __________________ 59 chevy apache 31 4x4 - my project: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=8668512 53 buick special - straight 8 sled - blow through turbo 47 gmc - flatbed hot rod build 99 ford econoline e350 - 4x4 converted family roadtrip/overlanding rig AKA 'Monstervan' AKA 'Daddy-Van'

11-29-2014, 10:01 PM	#25
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: i want to widen rear fenders You can widen them 2" and stretch 'em out a bit to get almost another inch without screwing up the look of the entire fender. Add the strip on the flattest section front to back, use filler sparingly to round it just a bit. Add tubs. I want to use bottoms of real washtubs in my '55, nicely patina'd.



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