Fender Flares Or No?

JYD · May 27, 2016

Have a re-build in progress currently on my '76. I'm probably a month or so away from my paint job being done.

Anyway, a few months ago I bought 2 of the pre-cut/molded quarter panels at $700 each from Build-A-Bronco to avoid having fender flares because I didn't really want them on my rig. I'm planning on putting some full offset 15 x 10s on it with some 12.5 or 13.5 wide tires.

Now I'm just wondering how much my paint is going to get chipped up if I don't add fender flares. Obviously I wasted a lot of money if I do add the them, but I don't want my new paint job getting ate up either. I'm going to have 4 1/2" of lift if that will make any difference at all.

Just wanted to get some thoughts/opinions on this...

Thanks

Bferrari · May 27, 2016

I did the grafts on mine but decided to go with a narrower tire. I am running 285/75r17's. Here is a concept pic, tub is on rotisserie with tire placed under it, it is not on the chassis, but can give you an idea of the aesthetic.

kmill23 · May 27, 2016

Bferrari said:
I did the grafts on mine but decided to go with a narrower tire. I am running 285/75r17's. Here is a concept pic, tub is on rotisserie with tire placed under it, it is not on the chassis, but can give you an idea of the aesthetic.

View attachment 397195

That. Is. Sick! Love that look.

JYD · May 27, 2016

Bferrari said:
I did the grafts on mine but decided to go with a narrower tire. I am running 285/75r17's. Here is a concept pic, tub is on rotisserie with tire placed under it, it is not on the chassis, but can give you an idea of the aesthetic.

View attachment 397195

very sharp. really reinforces me not wanting the flares. I still want the wide tires too tho. :-[

BRONCOchild · May 27, 2016

That's sexy.

Timmy390 · May 27, 2016

Bferrari,

You buy those grafted rears or do them yourself?

That's the project I'm starting next month. I'm hoping to run Mastercraft Courser MXT Mud Terrain 285/70R17 mounted on Method NV (matte black) rims 17X8.5's with 4.75 backspacing.

The grafted rears were being sold by the "graveyard" but no longer. I did find I could order a set from "BAB" and am considering that vs. trying to make my own.

Tim

ScanmanSteven · May 27, 2016

Hey Tim, you've been working to hard on your Bronco lately. His post said he bought them from Build-a-Bronco for $700 each, just in case you were wondering and wanted to know. Just kidding you..

sprdv1 · May 27, 2016

Go with the flares

Timmy390 · May 27, 2016

ScanmanSteven said:
Hey Tim, you've been working to hard on your Bronco lately. His post said he bought them from Build-a-Bronco for $700 each, just in case you were wondering and wanted to know. Just kidding you..

Very true I have been working way too hard as of late. I was curious if the ones pictured in Bferrari post were in deed the ones form BAB. Worried about fitment with the wheel tire combo I want to run. Hate to buy them and them not fit after dropping $1400 for the rears and god knows how much for the wheels and tires.

I haven't decided if I'm going to build/make my own or buy them from BAB.

Either way, I'm going back to a stock front finder as my fronts are cur and have a 100 holes in them from several different sets of flares. Every fiberglass flare I've ever had on anything cracked.

Tim

JYD · May 28, 2016

sprdv1 said:
Go with the flares

so how much chipping will there be without them? i really don't want the flares, but i don't want narrower tires either.

englewoodcowboy · May 28, 2016

BFerrari did those himself. If you go into his build thread, you can see how he did it. His have turned out flawless!

Bferrari · May 28, 2016

Timmy390 said:
Bferrari,

You buy those grafted rears or do them yourself?

That's the project I'm starting next month. I'm hoping to run Mastercraft Courser MXT Mud Terrain 285/70R17 mounted on Method NV (matte black) rims 17X8.5's with 4.75 backspacing.

The grafted rears were being sold by the "graveyard" but no longer. I did find I could order a set from "BAB" and am considering that vs. trying to make my own.

Tim

Hi Tim, did mine myself. There are many ways to skin a cat but you can see what I did on my build thread, go to post 101.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234723&page=7

I am going with a 17x8.5 rim with 4.5 backspace and am squeaking by making it work. I am running duff arms and have relocated the shock mount to the top of the arm.
Ben

Bferrari · May 28, 2016

JYD said:
so how much chipping will there be without them? i really don't want the flares, but i don't want narrower tires either.

In due time you will probably end up with some degree of chipping either way. To the degree on how quick and how many you get is really dependent on how you use it, where you drive it, the tire you go with, etc. If you do a molded flare and paint them you run the same risk. As for a wider tire, I don't know if makes a huge difference. My tires will still stick out from the fender edge so I run the same risk. I chose to go a bit narrower in hopes to keep as much turning radius as possible given the backspace I am running on my rims. In my opinion, build what you want and worry about chips as they come. A good coat of wax helps tremendously but touching up a couple chips isn't the end of the world either! Enjoy it and make it yours!

JYD · May 28, 2016

Bferrari said:
In due time you will probably end up with some degree of chipping either way. To the degree on how quick and how many you get is really dependent on how you use it, where you drive it, the tire you go with, etc. If you do a molded flare and paint them you run the same risk. As for a wider tire, I don't know if makes a huge difference. My tires will still stick out from the fender edge so I run the same risk. I chose to go a bit narrower in hopes to keep as much turning radius as possible given the backspace I am running on my rims. In my opinion, build what you want and worry about chips as they come. A good coat of wax helps tremendously but touching up a couple chips isn't the end of the world either! Enjoy it and make it yours!

Sounds like great advice. Thanks!

Fender Flares Or No?

JYD

Jr. Member

Bferrari

Sr. Member

kmill23

Jr. Member

JYD

Jr. Member

BRONCOchild

Bronco Guru

Timmy390

Bronco Guru

ScanmanSteven

Bronco Guru

sprdv1

REBEL

Timmy390

Bronco Guru

JYD

Jr. Member

englewoodcowboy

Lick Creek Restorations

Bferrari

Sr. Member

Bferrari

Sr. Member

JYD

Jr. Member

Similar threads