Installing Front Fenders into the rear quarter panel

benhoopes · Nov 10, 2009

Guys,

I have used the search option for the last hour and still cannot find any good step by step directions on how to properly cut the front fenders to work as rear fenders. Please help. This is something I am definitely considering.

t.lay · Nov 10, 2009

I don't know that there's anything written down - from the couple I've seen I'd say trim down a front fender to a workable size. Clamp it in position - if they're on reversed, the body lines look like they about match up towards the rear. draw a line around it. Pull it off, draw a second line inside the first - maybe 3/8" (give yourself room to flange the new panel). Cut rear fender on the inside line - flange new panel - drill holes in the rear for rosette welds, clamp/rivet/cleko it in place and burn it in.

Dan's73 · Nov 10, 2009

I remember reading about this a while back. From what I recall, a driver's side front can be cut & flipped to form the flare for the pass. side rear and vice-versa for the DS rear. I'd guess that you measure the rears to determine how much metal you'll be removing & need to replace with the cutouts from the front fenders, mark the fronts accordingly and then go about grafting them in. Seems that there was some additional fab/metal work to make them look "factory".....Hopefully someone more "in the know" than me will pop up and offer a link or real-world advice.

Wyflyer · Nov 10, 2009

Ben, here is one link

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104580&page=2&highlight=steel+flare

I've attached some pictures of how I built my flares. I can't call this a step by step guide since the pictures do all the talking. I don't have the bronco painted so I have no before/after photos.

I cut the flares out of the old fenders, leaving a border that you can see in the photos. I laid the cutouts over the front fender, (think of how coffee filters are all stacked inside one another). Then I measured down from the body line of the front fender and drew a horizontal reference line to use to align them on the rear. I also found center using the front axle as my reference. I then aligned them onto the rear fenders, measuring down from the rear body line. (I used a sting line from front to rear of the vehicle since a string is straighter than a body line). I taped them to the rear and checked all my measurements, and finally drew a cut line on the original rear fender. The first one took quite awhile, the second was fairly quick. Take care to keep the fender straight from front to rear in the area just over the wheel, and between the flare and the upper body line. Once you cut the factory flare away it will flex and you will need to keep it straight during reassembly.
I did not cut out and reverse the flare (IE: left front to right rear, etc) The shape of the flare was not identical and I wanted mine to replicate the front. I did have to fabricate a filler for the front of the fender

benhoopes · Nov 10, 2009

Wyflyer said:
Ben, here is one link

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104580&page=2&highlight=steel+flare

I've attached some pictures of how I built my flares. I can't call this a step by step guide since the pictures do all the talking. I don't have the bronco painted so I have no before/after photos.

I cut the flares out of the old fenders, leaving a border that you can see in the photos. I laid the cutouts over the front fender, (think of how coffee filters are all stacked inside one another). Then I measured down from the body line of the front fender and drew a horizontal reference line to use to align them on the rear. I also found center using the front axle as my reference. I then aligned them onto the rear fenders, measuring down from the rear body line. (I used a sting line from front to rear of the vehicle since a string is straighter than a body line). I taped them to the rear and checked all my measurements, and finally drew a cut line on the original rear fender. The first one took quite awhile, the second was fairly quick. Take care to keep the fender straight from front to rear in the area just over the wheel, and between the flare and the upper body line. Once you cut the factory flare away it will flex and you will need to keep it straight during reassembly.
I did not cut out and reverse the flare (IE: left front to right rear, etc) The shape of the flare was not identical and I wanted mine to replicate the front. I did have to fabricate a filler for the front of the fender

Wow, Thanks for the pictures that was just what I was looking for. Does anyone have pictures similar to these but showing front left on back right and vice versa?

englewoodcowboy · Oct 26, 2010

I know I am a litle late on this but that is the nicest fender job I have seen. I hope mine turns out as well.

DirtDonk · Oct 26, 2010

benhoopes said:
Wow, Thanks for the pictures that was just what I was looking for. Does anyone have pictures similar to these but showing front left on back right and vice versa?

Not sure I'm getting you there Ben. Isn't that what he just showed you? Or did I miss something in what you were asking?
Not trying it myself, but interested to see what you end up doing anyway.

Paul

benhoopes · Oct 26, 2010

I ended up just cutting out the fender lips and having them welded into the rear fenders. The right front was welded into the right back and same on the left side. I will post up some pictures once I get it back.

PhL0aTeR · Oct 27, 2010

benhoopes said:
I ended up just cutting out the fender lips and having them welded into the rear fenders. The right front was welded into the right back and same on the left side. I will post up some pictures once I get it back.

please do

CosmicArkie · Oct 29, 2010

There are a couple of shots of my right to left and vice versa at:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1682926#post1682926

That's how it was done back in the day. I never even gave a right/right &
left/left thought. Interesting result there.

Jim

Installing Front Fenders into the rear quarter panel

benhoopes

t.lay

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Dan's73

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Wyflyer

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