Input on making fender flares
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Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Input on making fender flares
I would like to make fender flares front and rear on my lowered '90 to fit the 335s I have for race tires. The 315s rub a bit on the front and 335s will take the fender right off. I know C4s are not regular fiberglass so I dont know if I would be ok making flares out of regular fiberglass, or is there something better I should use? I also have some repairs to make where some places have cracked from other repairs made (car was in a rearend collision years ago and fixed by someone else). I want to make sure that if the tire rubs the flare it will not crack or break off because the materials are not compatable.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
They're made of SMC (Sheet Molded Composite) and require a special resin.
Should be available at you're local auto supplier.
Here's some nice flares I saw out in SoCal.
Should be available at you're local auto supplier.
Here's some nice flares I saw out in SoCal.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Thanks for the info and pics. Thats exactly what im looking to do, only on the front as well.
Would I use that special resin with regular fiberglass matte? Or is the matte different as well?
Would I use that special resin with regular fiberglass matte? Or is the matte different as well?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Ok thanks Brian. I see the front flares now. I would need something like the rear in the front of mine.
Corvette Enthusiast
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flares
If you buy some pre made flares you will save yourself a ton of work and headache. If you buy the pre made flares, line them up where you want them to be. Use some small screws to hold in place. When you have it ajusted perfectly, take out the screws. Apply SMC resin on fender and flare. Put flare on the vehicle using the screws to hold it in place until the SMC dry's. Pull the screws out and do your finnish bodywork. Make sure and grind off all the paint where you will be applying the resin. Good Luck. Pm me if you want more info.
Corvette Mike
Corvette Mike
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
If you buy some pre made flares you will save yourself a ton of work and headache. If you buy the pre made flares, line them up where you want them to be. Use some small screws to hold in place. When you have it ajusted perfectly, take out the screws. Apply SMC resin on fender and flare. Put flare on the vehicle using the screws to hold it in place until the SMC dry's. Pull the screws out and do your finnish bodywork. Make sure and grind off all the paint where you will be applying the resin. Good Luck. Pm me if you want more info.
Corvette Mike
Corvette Mike
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Chandler Arizona
even universal flares are easier to "mold to the c4" than trying to start from scratch.
Team Owner
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
I took the Z out to the Redline Corvette show in Simi Valley this morning to eyeball some rides, and met the legendary Dick Guldstrand. After drooling over is C4 I inquired about fender flares and let him know there is some interest here on the board...Only option WAS the GS which some like/some dont. I dont know if they can reproduce those but it was brought up.
Now...The good news is he mayu be open to making abunch of flares up like he has for us if there is enough interest. THink 315s and 335s on your early C4.
Im sending this link so he can view it....For those in the area out here he does C4 tuning, suspensions, mechanical, the whole nine yards.
It was a pleasure to meet the man himself who has dedicated a good portion of his life to the C4. Also included some snapshots of some other C4s spotted there.
First remember all the other flare threads....Only pic I had was of lars87 friends overseas car..
So naturally I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this!!
This car looks sick, I love it!!
The legend Dick Guldstrand himself and some jerk
Now...The good news is he mayu be open to making abunch of flares up like he has for us if there is enough interest. THink 315s and 335s on your early C4.
Im sending this link so he can view it....For those in the area out here he does C4 tuning, suspensions, mechanical, the whole nine yards.
It was a pleasure to meet the man himself who has dedicated a good portion of his life to the C4. Also included some snapshots of some other C4s spotted there.
First remember all the other flare threads....Only pic I had was of lars87 friends overseas car..
So naturally I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this!!
This car looks sick, I love it!!
The legend Dick Guldstrand himself and some jerk
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Those flares look very well done. I will have to see if he is making them currently.
Team Owner
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From: Phila., PA burbs
Here's a link to a guy who was talking about making them recently
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...are-molds.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...are-molds.html
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
Never heard anything back from Dick, noone really responded to him so I guess there wasnt enough interest for him to do it.
Cant hurt to call him though.
If Dick makes them they will be nice but they probably wont be cheap.
Cant hurt to call him though.
If Dick makes them they will be nice but they probably wont be cheap.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 253
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From: Fayetteville NC
If you're making your own from fiberglass you can get alot of advice from fiberglassforums.com or vettemod.com. I think alot of people here are saying not to do it yourself but if you used matching balsa wood chips so that both sides could be built up identical to each other, it should come out very nice. But there are many ways to go about it. Also, as previously stated use SMC resin, random matte for flat ares, and use woven matte on your corners. Yeah, using existing molds would be easier in one sense, but you'd still have to alter them until you are satisfied. Check out the Bailey Blade project or any of the fender flare projects on these sites if you decide to DIY. Sounds like an awesome project! Good luck!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I have decided to make them myself and also decided to wait till the car is parked for winter. I will post pictures of the final result.
I have heard using regular fiberglass matte and SMC resin will be ok. I have done fiberglass flares on older Vettes before but this is my first SMC experience.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 253
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From: Fayetteville NC
I will be making my own as well. Have to finish the bodywork I'm already doing first. Plan on putting meats in the back. Currently finishing a custom body I've been working on in my spare time. What kind of adjustments did you guys have to make to put 315s or 35s on in the back? Do you have to change your gear ratio or is it as simple as buying the big tires and and slapping them on? I know this is a stupid question.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,700
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I will be making my own as well. Have to finish the bodywork I'm already doing first. Plan on putting meats in the back. Currently finishing a custom body I've been working on in my spare time. What kind of adjustments did you guys have to make to put 315s or 35s on in the back? Do you have to change your gear ratio or is it as simple as buying the big tires and and slapping them on? I know this is a stupid question.
315s bolted on to the back without rubbing or needing modifications. I ran 315s all around with only minor rubbing in the front. All four wheels were 17x11 50mm offset. I now need to make flares because I need more caliper clearance for my brake upgrade and the front wheels have to be spaced out a little bit. I am only modifying the rears so it matches the front.
Team Owner
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