Thread: '34 Fat Steel Front Fenders

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I need some more width on the front fenders of my '34 Steel Ford tudor... I know that on more modern muscle cars, you can often roll the fenders for more space.... is this the best way to go? Does anyone produce "fat" steel fenders? Thanks!

What are you trying to get clearance for.....fatter tires, rims, suspension? Reason I ask is that there may be other solutions.

Don

Don,
I switched rims from some old Cragers to Rocket wheels, and the backspace was different. Running 195's on the front and when I cut a tight corner, such as into my driveway, the tire rubs on the fender lip. So I guess the answer is "rims". I thought about mounting a set of 165's on the 15x6 rims, as a solution, but was uncertain as the 165's (continentals) says it will fit on 15x4 to 15x5.5's.
I raised the adjustable coil-overs to where anything higher would make the stance look just plain silly... raised the rear to keep it looking "right" as well.
Bart

IMO ..... ditch the incorrect spaced wheels ..... you'd be hard pressed to find something that'd roll those lips & look "right".

Also with the correctly backspaced wheels you'd be able to run a taller tire. If I remember my '34 truck front fenders had a pretty deep well.

Ratty 46

Originally Posted by REGs

IMO ..... ditch the incorrect spaced wheels ..... you'd be hard pressed to find something that'd roll those lips & look "right".

Also with the correctly backspaced wheels you'd be able to run a taller tire. If I remember my '34 truck front fenders had a pretty deep well.

Ratty 46

I wouldn't mind doing that, but I have not been able to locate any rims that had the backspace/offset of the old Cragars! These were from the early 80's, as best I can tell.

I checked many different wheels at www.newstalgiawheel.com/ and all seem to have similar or slightly lower backsets, which would push the wheels further out. The best "improvement" appeared to be, the Am Racing Torq's 15x6 with a backspace of 3.62", while the 15x6 Rockets I have have a 3.5". If I'm not mistaken, that then means that the amount of rim on the outside is apprx 2.38" & 2.5". Not a significant change! I even looked at 15x4 rims, and those were the same outside distance! (backspace was 1.5", so showing side was 2.5"!)

Before I modify the fender lip, I think I'll mount 155r60-15's on the 15x6 rims. Looking at the tire calculator ( http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp ) it seems that section width then drops from 7.67" to 6.1", which would pull the tire in by 3/4" on each side (pretty much flush with the rim sides), and the sidewall height drops from 4.22" to 3.66". The only fly in the ointment here is that the recommended rim sizes are 15x4.5 to 15x5.5, so I will be flattening the tire slightly. Anyone do this before? Any insights?

Is my logic correct in that this drop in width/height will allow the tire to clear if it is currently just slightly rubbing at lock? I assume if the car sits to low in the front, I can just adjust up the coil overs a little more to account for it, but I am correct in assuming that it should be a minor adjustment?

That said, Any suggestions as to another rim which will sit back further in the wheel well?

Bart

Post a pic of the car.

Is it still straight axle? or has it been switched to ifs?

I think I would avoid screwing up the shape of the fenders. 34 fenders are beautiful as is.

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Post a pic of the car.

Is it still straight axle? or has it been switched to ifs?

I think I would avoid screwing up the shape of the fenders. 34 fenders are beautiful as is.

mustang 2 with coil overs

Heidt's used to sell some tubular control arms that were a little shorter so wider tires would fit under the fenders

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Post a pic of the car.

.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...3112010017.jpg

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Heidt's used to sell some tubular control arms that were a little shorter so wider tires would fit under the fenders

I have those..I want to say they are 3/8" narrower on each side?

Don't tell the purists, but once upon a time I cut a pair of '34 fenders apart and added 1 1/2" section to make them wider, then redid the outer radius to match the wheels's contour... It was a customer's car, and he wanted to run a specific wheel and that's how we got it to work... But, like I said, don't tell the purists what I did!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Don't tell the purists, but once upon a time I cut a pair of '34 fenders apart and added 1 1/2" section to make them wider, then redid the outer radius to match the wheels's contour... It was a customer's car, and he wanted to run a specific wheel and that's how we got it to work... But, like I said, don't tell the purists what I did!!!!!

Cunning guy,Dave..Ya secrets safe with me...

Hey Dave, Thats a neat trick and I also won't tell anybody. I actually split the front guards of my Anglia and added 2" and 4" to the rear guards but I found it a h#ll of a job as I didn't have the use of a wheeling machine (english) and had to do all by hammer and dolly. The finished result looked excellent after a heck of alot of blood sweat and tears. Cool car btsave, I think I would try narrowing the suspension arms first befor attacking those guards.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Hey Dave, Thats a neat trick and I also won't tell anybody. I actually split the front guards of my Anglia and added 2" and 4" to the rear guards but I found it a h#ll of a job as I didn't have the use of a wheeling machine (english) and had to do all by hammer and dolly. The finished result looked excellent after a heck of alot of blood sweat and tears. Cool car btsave, I think I would try narrowing the suspension arms first befor attacking those guards.

i have done that as well but with glass fenders on a anglia fun fun steel would of been abit more work for sure .i cut the flip up front on the same anglia to make room for the 482 bbc added a pie pice thru the middle of the flip up. so the cowl stayed the same

One of the guys in our club is building a 38 Morris Eight...Custom chassis,narrowed 9inch etc,blown 350Chev,for street and strip,and he has widened the front and rear fenders by putting a 3inch wide strip thru the centre of the fenders..Keeps em looking like they belong,,