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

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Post a pic of the car.

.

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

Originally Posted by btsave

IBefore 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?

Bart

Bart,
You are within 1/2" of their "recommended" rim width, which is not going to be a problem. The tire may be slightly harder to seat on the rim initially, but I doubt you'll notice much, if any difference between a 5.5" and 6" rim. I strongly agree, I would not consider cutting up the fenders until you exhaust all other options.

Originally Posted by rspears

Bart,
You are within 1/2" of their "recommended" rim width, which is not going to be a problem. The tire may be slightly harder to seat on the rim initially, but I doubt you'll notice much, if any difference between a 5.5" and 6" rim. I strongly agree, I would not consider cutting up the fenders until you exhaust all other options.

What's your thought about inserting an inner tube on this wheel? I know that on some of the older "miss-fitted" tire applications, this was a way of insuring against accidental loss of the bead seating.

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 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?

Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe

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

The Heidt's are 5/8 narrower per side. Another alternative is a set of "shallower" hubs and rotors, look at ECI brakes for examples. Another option is to check with Rocket and see if the offer custom offsets by special order.

I'm with REG's, don't screw up the car because of wheel fit.

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...