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metal fenders widening
Learner - November 17th, 2006 at 09:36 PM

hello there has anyone ever widdened their fenders? where can i go in melbourne to do it? cheers!!! (i need to do it ASAP) please help


68AutoBug - November 17th, 2006 at 09:41 PM

there may be someone on here who can do it...
My Son widened the rear fenders on his 56 Beetle by adding in pieces of rear guards...
Not sure if He used two extra guards for each side...

You can't tell by looking at them....

so You need a good MIG welder operator and a few spare guards...

You can add some metal to the outside, but they look trashy... imho...

or you can buy widened fibreglass guards...

Lee


volks67 - November 17th, 2006 at 09:55 PM

I saw it done on the Hotrod show on Bris 31 the other day. as lee said you have to be a good welder if you are not experienced suggest you contact a local hot rod club the boys in that field do it all the time with their toys like 32 fords to take the fat wheels that run with the v8 diffs.
what was done was you cut a long section out of the guard and widened it and then weld in another section thus effectively widening the guard but kepping the body line effectively pressed in the mold but making it wider,


Learner - November 18th, 2006 at 04:46 PM

eh can't find any clubs within melbourne!


68AutoBug - November 18th, 2006 at 05:02 PM

Keep asking, there must be someone handy with a MIG welder near you...
Lots of VW owners can do it....

The trick is, to make it look like it hasn't been widened...

in the US, I have seen widened running boards and widened bumpers for sale......
then no one will know You have illegal sized wheels..

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 


Learner - November 18th, 2006 at 06:15 PM

hehe good trick i'll keep looking but i'm in a hurry coz my current wheels are too big and a load at the back of the wheels makes the tires touch the fenders


BiX - November 20th, 2006 at 08:34 AM

I have seen the strip method done. Eg just cut a strip from a second guard, and then weld it into the the guard.

I have also seen a alot more complex version. where triangles are welded into slots in the side of the guard and a new lip welded on to keep the same arch. I was told took 50+ hrs a guard........... if your paying for somebody to do that even at a super cheap rate of say $50hr your still looking at $2500 a guard!!!


Learner - November 20th, 2006 at 01:39 PM

better off getting fiberglass ones


xornge666x - November 20th, 2006 at 03:15 PM

50 hrs a guard?? WOW!!
Someone good with panel work and fab should be able to do this in 1 day, maybe 2. Plus paint etc.
Speak with John at Johns Rod and Custom in Berwick to get an idea, he is amazing with panels...


helbus - November 20th, 2006 at 06:04 PM

Mmmmm I could do them widened and metal finished at $600 a guard. Would take more than two days thats for sure.


BiX - November 20th, 2006 at 06:21 PM

That was perfect, not a single imperfection and using the wedge method. He was a spray painter, not a panel beater (though he had help).