Fender fix??

[Mightydog]

Epoxy. Smelled just like bondo.

Both make me loopy!

[bledsoe3]

Steve-

I don't know if this helps, but it is interesting!

http://www.retroteardrop.com/project/build/fender1.php

Cheers,

Coop

That floating fender idea is cool! I would be worried about it smacking the side of the tear though.

[Mightydog]

I don't think there is that much throw on a torsion suspension axle is there?

[madjack]

there would be no problems with a torsion axle since the torsion arms go straight up and down...onna spring axle there could be clearance issuessince they travel in an arc
madjack

[john]

Photos of my driver side fender from front:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/johngwalk ... pg&.src=ph


and rear:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/johngwalk ... pg&.src=ph

[Steve Frederick]

It looks like what I'll do is set the fenders on a bench, make a few measurements to ensure that the fender is parrallel to the bench at the wheel opening. Once I've got it right, I'll secure it in the correct position and 'glass away!!
It appears that the front of the fender is wider than the rear??
Thanx, John, For the heads-up!

[Mightydog]

there would be no problems with a torsion axle since the torsion arms go straight up and down...onna spring axle there could be clearance issuessince they travel in an arc
madjack

Thanks for the info, Jack. That helps a problem that Mrs. Dog and I were banging our collective heads against this past weekend.

Pix of the outcome will be on the way.

[john]

It appears that the front of the fender is wider than the rear??

On mine the front is about 1" wider and it is not a resut of my repair. The repair did't extend to either end of each fender and both fenders have the same 1" increase in width at the front.

[Steve Frederick]

On mine the front is about 1" wider and it is not a resut of my repair. The repair did't extend to either end of each fender and both fenders have the same 1" increase in width at the front.

Would you add to the back, or trim off the front?
How about info on the tire/wheel/axle setup?

[john]

After taking a closer look at mine today it seems that the diff in width is the result a gradual widening that begins about 1 foot up the front of the fender.

Maybe material could be removed in a V cut on the flat part of the front of the fender and as close to the outside (curl) but not getting into it as possible. If faceing the front of the driver fender my first cut would be on the left and paralell to the back side of the fender and go up one foot. My second cut would begin one inch right of the first at the front bottom of the fender and end at the same point the first cut did. This would make an upside down V of removed material.

At this point I would try to see how much flex I could get out of the fiberglass and close the V. I don't think it would close, though. Another cut would be required. This cut would begin at the top point of the V and curve torward and down the arc of the outside fender lip and stop just as it entered the plain of the fender that is paralell to the side of the trailer. Removal of this last bit of material sould allow the V to close.

The alternative is to live with it and enjoy the $$ saved. That is what I chose. It is not that bad and it is one of those things that only the builder sees.

Is yours wider at the front??

[john]

I forgot the wheel/tire/axle question.

tires 235/70/15
4" drop axle with 4.5 hubs from etrailer on leaf srings
wheels are off some old chrysler
moons are from autozone

I wish I had ordered hubs that would have fit GM cars. There seem to be more wheel choices for that size.

I wanted to fill out the fenders and should have gone with 16s but was afraid to go too big. Going too big for these fenders is hard, though. The wheels and tires just looked so big standing there alone. I ended up chooseing a size too small, but i am ok with it. When these tires wear out (they are used) I can replace them with something that has taller side walls.