[kimmer71]

I ended up using almost the whole patch but I made a mistake cutting a strip of metal to create a lip and cut back on burn through. I put a little bit of a curve the length of that strip because of the contour of the fender. Net effect was a un-malleable seam. There were a couple imperfections but I could not hammer them out. Ended up removing the strip.

Im thinking ill be using nearly all of it too. I am considering flanging and spot welding along the straight section of the cut then using the fiberglass filler as 1st coat. Im of the opinion at this point that i can do a better job plus the repair will outlive the rest of the fender anyways. Ill warp and buckle the hell out of it if I try to butt weld it entirely. I will butt weld the edges though. At this point, im more interested in getting to the flare part of the project. Pretty high likelyhood ill be ordering new fenders in the near future unless this 1st one turns our miraculous somehow.

 

[kimmer71]

I have that mini Holley 144 for the 357 we're building for my kid, I have the Torqstorm for my 406. Gotta have an intercooler for the injection system, no carb cooling on that beast

Thats right, I do remember you posting that. My bad. Hows the little huffer engine coming along? Will we be seeing run vids anytime soon?

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Thats right, I do remember you posting that. My bad. Hows the little huffer engine coming along? Will we be seeing run vids anytime soon?

Stalled a bit on it with the METHTRAP build but buying parts for it an tools to build it so, vids coming this summer!!

 

[kimmer71]

Trimmed and fit the fender and the patch, used the entire thing, cut the fender match. So far, its going pretty smoothly.

 

[kimmer71]

Finished the fender brace and partially welded the patch on. Mounted the fender and started adjusting again. Not there yet but workable I believe. Still a good chance I buy new fenders tho. Its a ton of work to get these ratty old fenders into shape. Smart money is new I think.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Finished the fender brace and partially welded the patch on. Mounted the fender and started adjusting again. Not there yet but workable I believe. Still a good chance I buy new fenders tho. Its a ton of work to get these ratty old fenders into shape. Smart money is new I think.

View attachment 453946

View attachment 453949

View attachment 453948

View attachment 453947

Gettin' there!!! Gotta love welding things together and making it all fit like we want it to! Nice work!!

 

[J Mark]

Finished the fender brace and partially welded the patch on. Mounted the fender and started adjusting again. Not there yet but workable I believe. Still a good chance I buy new fenders tho. Its a ton of work to get these ratty old fenders into shape. Smart money is new I think.

How did that work removing the vertical brace from the patch and welding it up first. I welded it up as one piece. Also how does it butt up against the rocker mine was butted all the way but giving me a wide gap between the door and fender.

 

[kimmer71]

How did that work removing the vertical brace from the patch and welding it up first. I welded it up as one piece. Also how does it butt up against the rocker mine was butted all the way but giving me a wide gap between the door and fender.

that was my original plan too. Then I had to cut more of the fender away because of rust. It did allow me to weld it on both sides and paint it. Same fitment issue, it sounds like. I noticed that before I cut the fender though, the gap at the front door bottom. No question I’ll have to use metal to correct the gap. I mostly focused on trying to get the 2 main body lines as good as possible. Ive been bumping the door bottom with a sledge and 2x4 to get it lined up with the rocker. I still have another session with the floor jack on that door too. I’ll probably be replacing all the door bushings again by the time im done. Little tweaks over and over again with panel alignments is evidently just the way it goes. I have new door skins too. Already made the mental note to push the skin forward on the shell when it goes on. Adjustable door hinges would be a nice feature to have.

 

[J Mark]

that was my original plan too. Then I had to cut more of the fender away because of rust. It did allow me to weld it on both sides and paint it. Same fitment issue, it sounds like. I noticed that before I cut the fender though, the gap at the front door bottom. No question I’ll have to use metal to correct the gap. I mostly focused on trying to get the 2 main body lines as good as possible. Ive been bumping the door bottom with a sledge and 2x4 to get it lined up with the rocker. I still have another session with the floor jack on that door too. I’ll probably be replacing all the door bushings again by the time im done. Little tweaks over and over again with panel alignments is evidently just the way it goes. I have new door skins too. Already made the mental note to push the skin forward on the shell when it goes on. Adjustable door hinges would be a nice feature to have.

Yeah, I started building out the fender to close the gap and improved it a little. Good idea on the door skin to close it up a bit.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

I have new door skins too

Whooo hoo hoo!!! Gonna be nice! Just started mine today. Follow along, if ya wanna. Pretty easy so far and you can make some adjustments while welding... Unless you already started...

 

[kimmer71]

Whooo hoo hoo!!! Gonna be nice! Just started mine today. Follow along, if ya wanna. Pretty easy so far and you can make some adjustments while welding... Unless you already started...

Will do. Thanks.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Will do. Thanks.

Starting at #665 (link is directly to that post):

Build Thread - '70, AKA- METHTRAPNOVA

You’re such a copier. Viking stuff is ultra badarsed Hey, I'm tryin' to flatter you, bro!!! :p friggin' awesome stuff though!!! It's SOOO PRETTY!!! ...except they friggin' sent me the 450# springs and not the 550# I ordered... Hoping to get that resolved today...

www.stevesnovasite.com

There's a bit of nonsense in between but it's good fun Enjoy!!

 

[kimmer71]

Finished welding the fender, put it back on the car and sectioned it. Spaced the wheel lip with a 1.5” piece of metal and tested the clearance. Bit tight at full lock. Looks like I’ll try 2”. Maybe 1.75”.

 

[J Mark]

Good job

 

[kimmer71]

I decided i better test the fender-tire clearance with the tire turned out just to be sure i had enough room. Glad I did, had to go out another inch (total 2.5” fender to lip spacer) to clear the tire, at full suspension compression. Im pretty comfortable I have full clearance now but got to thinking, would the oem suspension hit the fender at full lock turn, full suspension compression? Am I ever going to encounter a situation where that would occur? I don't know, I guess I’m looking for an excuse to pull it back in a bit. The lip of the fender is way out there. I made a pattern for the 1st cut so I can replicate this process on the other side. Im nervous as heck about what this thing is going to look like when Im done. I don't have many choices at this point, but to make it work somehow, if I ever want to drive this car. This should be interesting at a minimum.

 

[sudden_impulse]

Would moving the opening up a little help with the width? I feel you could probably raise the top of the wheel opening up an inch with nobody even noticing.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Would moving the opening up a little help with the width? I feel you could probably raise the top of the wheel opening up an inch with nobody even noticing.

'cept all of us... now that you mention it

 

[kimmer71]

Would moving the opening up a little help with the width? I feel you could probably raise the top of the wheel opening up an inch with nobody even noticing.

Yeah, possibly. Im going to cut some paper templates and tape them on to see what it looks like then adjust accordingly. I may have to but i also dont want to exaggerate the already high front lip. At least this way, it’s moving in the right direction, down. I’m hoping it isn’t so “in your face” crazy looking with some paper sheathing. I do think ill be trimming the lip down more and possibly the fender cut up more. Its just going to be yet another part of this car that consumes hours and hours. Then I get to do it all again…wa-hoo.

 

[J Mark]

Get a load of modeling clay like they used to do it.

 

[kimmer71]

Get a load of modeling clay like they used to do it.

Thats a good idea! Thanks J Mark. I may have to try that.

It baffles me how i see people posting they have 265 and 275 series tires on these cars. I can only assume they have to run a huge gap between the tire and the fender. I mean like tall ride height in the front, plus deal with tire rub. As you can see, I'm more than maxed out with a 245x45 tire on a 17x8 wheel.