Flare It??? Opinions?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Flare It??? Opinions?
I had this posted in another thread, but it kind of gets lost buried there so it seemed to make sense to start a new topic.
OK, the bodywork on my '76 is done and the car is ready for paint. Car has mods like L88 hood, LeMans cap, custom front and rear 'glass bumpers blended to the body. I am seriously considering flaring the fenders for wider tires, like 275 front and 315 rears. The frame limits how far in the rears can go, even with offset trailing arms. If I go with a 10-inch rim in the rear, I think it will need flares. I've kind of looked around, and am not that crazy about the ZL1 style flares, and can't find much other on the market.
Just want to go with a subtle flare, 1-1/2 inch rear and about 3/4 front. I am real close to just pulling out the cut-off wheel and hacking the stock fenders and laying up some custom flares with resin and mat. The idea is to slice at the stock point of curvature and then space out the original lips and then 'glass, bond and blend them back in. On the other hand, it is just more work and a setback to the progress on the car. To flare or not to flare; that is the question.
-dulcich
OK, the bodywork on my '76 is done and the car is ready for paint. Car has mods like L88 hood, LeMans cap, custom front and rear 'glass bumpers blended to the body. I am seriously considering flaring the fenders for wider tires, like 275 front and 315 rears. The frame limits how far in the rears can go, even with offset trailing arms. If I go with a 10-inch rim in the rear, I think it will need flares. I've kind of looked around, and am not that crazy about the ZL1 style flares, and can't find much other on the market.
Just want to go with a subtle flare, 1-1/2 inch rear and about 3/4 front. I am real close to just pulling out the cut-off wheel and hacking the stock fenders and laying up some custom flares with resin and mat. The idea is to slice at the stock point of curvature and then space out the original lips and then 'glass, bond and blend them back in. On the other hand, it is just more work and a setback to the progress on the car. To flare or not to flare; that is the question.
-dulcich
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
315's really need at least an 11" wheel. I say flare it, but I like big flares. I don't know if there's any rear flares available that only extend out 1-1/2", so I'd say you're looking at something custom made.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12
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69AXR, your car looks really great! I was looking for something a little less radical; You are probably right about the 11" wheels. I think I can go 1" to the inside on the rear wheel width from where the stock ralleys are, and maybe an 1-1/2 to the outside with a little flare, so that would be 10.5. How much inboard can you go with offset arms? Seems like the frame would interfere before the arms go in much.
-dulcich
-dulcich
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
buy the wheel/tire combo you want, and then build your flare to fit. That's what I did, and considering how many flares I've seen that looked awkward because of the wheel size I really think it's the best way.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Wow, Suprjames, that looks fantastic. What kind of flares are those, or are they custom? How wide are the tires and what is the rim size?$ Stock trailing arms, or offset? Backspacing?
Unrelated topic, do you have any good detail pictures of the hingebox area of the jamb you can post? I knocked all the body dope out of mine and don't quite remember how it goes, especially at the top where the fender/cowl flange and hinge box kind of congregate.
-dulcich
Unrelated topic, do you have any good detail pictures of the hingebox area of the jamb you can post? I knocked all the body dope out of mine and don't quite remember how it goes, especially at the top where the fender/cowl flange and hinge box kind of congregate.
-dulcich
Last edited by dulcich; Feb 10, 2008 at 02:14 AM.
