Thread: Any tips before i do this?

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Next weekend i'll probably be tackling a job i've been putting off all winter, stretching my wheel openings on the goat.

As it is now i have to jack the back of the car up about 3ft to clear the slicks so i am going to stretch the wheel opening about 4" to fix this problem. I've been searching for awhile now on info on doing this and with my background and being a welder i should be able to tackle it without too many problems. Before i get started though i figured it might be wise to ask anyone that has done this on their cars if theres anything i should be careful of, or any tips/tricks that would be helpful?

The cars a 69 gto and the tires are 31x18.5 with no interior or floor right now, just the shell welded to the tube chassis.

Thanks for any input.

BG

Not sure if you mean stretch them out thus widening the "hips" of the car, or making the opening longer front to back. I'm guessing front to back.

One way is to cut out the entire wheel opening lip area..............picture a rectangle starting just in front of the opening, ending just past it, relatively close across the top. If what serves the intent is to spread your stretch evenly from the centerline of the axle then you cut the rectangle down the middle. Trim 2" from the front of the new "hole" in the quarter panel, and 2" from the back. If you use the cut out piece as a template, or are carefull about how you trim, the joint should be very tight, or trim as necessary to ensure a tight seam. Then butt weld the sections back in. You'll have to form a 4" piece in the top center to match the "flair" shape, and/or rollunder. If you've trimmed close to the opening this should be a fairly small piece.

First, you should . . . . nevermind. Do what Bob said, and use bunches of tiny welds to avoid warping.

And always remember, cut twice, measure once - er something like that.

Yup Bob thats what i'm doing, widening front to back 2"s each way. Thats pretty much what I planned on doing so thats kinda what i was looking for, just to be sure i had the procedure in mind correct since i have never done it.

You also bring up a something else i was wondering when you say stay close across the top. Looking at it i'm thinking cutting 1" from the lip across the top, should i stay that close to the opening or leave myself a bit more room for any reason?

BG

An inch is probably okay, if you don't have a flair to reshape. If there's a flair you might need to give yourself a little more to blend with. Also check the backside of the panel, it could be that will move your cut line a bit to accomodate.

Like happens so often, in rereading the response, for each application there could be other factors. Planning the cut line should also include keeping character lines stamped in the panel face in mind (which I don't recall your Poncho having except maybe down by the rocker). The central idea is to make the rejoin have the minimum of deviations to deal with. In the case of your Tempest it may have that long "bulge" to the length of the quarter panel. You may have to use a relief cut in the relocated pieces to help form the radius of the bulge, or you may just be able to get away with a little hammer and dolly work. Jack's commentary about controlling warp of course is very helpful.

Thanks Bob I appreciate the help, i'll look it over good this weekend to see where the cut will pose the least amount of reshaping for me. And also will heed Henrys advise and stitch the panels back on with tacks allowing for some cooling in between.

Should be starting this next weekend and hope to at least have one side cut out properly and tacked back into the new position so i'll post some pics of the progress at that point.

BG

Well had the flu last weekend so didnt get out to the garage but got out there today, felt good to get back to da goat after not touching it for a few months

Ended up cutting the line 2 inches above the opening as that looks like it will be the easiest to get smoothed out. I got the one side all cut out and the edges cleaned up so now I will be spliting the opening in 2 pieces next weekend and start tacking it back into the new position. Should have some pics of it next weekend...its pretty ugly right now with the square opening

BG

Well heres where its at right now. Taking a bit longer than expected (dosent everything ) mainly because the lip was not in as good of shape as I had thought once I got it out so I'm waiting for some patch panels to go any farther.

Pretty "square" huh daddy'o

Kinda' looks like the cut-away car @ the NASCAR track.

Keep us posted. It only get better from here on out.

Yup but it never hurts to be reminded, I'm as guilty as the next guy to get in a hurry and forget to do something properly

BG