How to roll fender wells on a GN?

[V6Power87]

Whats the easiest way to do this?

Cut them out?

Thanks!!

 

[galoush]

rolling fenders

I had to try this myself after cutting up a set of drag radials and they still rubbed . The offset on Centerline autodrags in 8.5 sticks out more with 275/50/15s than the stock car rims i was runnig before them. I ended up cutting the wheel wells out some which i would NOT recomend unless you paid $150 for your regular Regal and have GNX flares on the car ,it would be a shame to chop up a Gn or T . The 2 bags keep it from rubbing too if you dont have em already .

 

[galoush]

Dan just curious how much boost your running , turbo , and timing?

 

[V6Power87]

I do have air bags.

I run 32 to 33 psi boost with a "junk" Reds 108 chip. Whatever timing is in that.

 

[John Larkin]

I used a 3lb sledge with a rag thickly wrapped around the face of it. Remove the wheelwell molding and begin at one end. Beat them in a little the full range of the arc. Repeat until they almost touch the inside of the wheelhouse. Paint will flake off, but you can sand it down by hand with 180 grit and reshoot them. Then slit the wheelwell trim and screw it onto each lower end. Then start beating it in to fit. As you go, install a screw as you work your way to the middle. Mine gave me and extra 1/2".

 

[V6Power87]

Thanks for the help John. That sounds easy enough, I will have to give it a try.

 

[MAP]

Greetings John,

Did you distort the outer sheetmetal at all? Reading your post, I get concerned that one hammer blow too heavily struck, and there'll be major body work to pay.

Thanks,
MAP

 

[Buicksx2]

I saw my buddies Neal Whytes car and what he did was pretty neat. Take a jigsaw with a metal blade and cut slots every inch or inch and a half then bang it down with a hamer. It works great and doesnt hurt or distort the outer sheetmetal at all.

Hope that helps.

 

[John Larkin]

No outer skin metal distortion happened. Best way to describe my technique was I let the hammer "bounce" off the metal. Your arm will be really tired after finishing one wheel lip. It'll take going back and forth around the wheel lip about 3, maybe four rounds to get it all crushed in properly. The first round is just getting the metal to move a little. Try to get it to fold as closely to the outer edge as possible. Once it starts to fold, it'll go faster. The two bottom ends (at least the first 3 inches) don't really need folding in; start your folding just above this point because there is alot of tension in that part of the wheel lip. Take your time and massage the lip inward, knocking down high spots firmly but gently and get as even a look to the roll as possible. I'd do this over 4 days (2 days wheel lip, 2 days wheel lip trim) if you see what I mean. It's easy to get frustrated so take your time. I repainted with a spray can of gloss black enamel.

 

[V6Power87]

Cutting little "relief" slots in the metal makes a lot of sense. I would think that would make it a lot easier to bend.

 

[CraigT]

Remove your wheel and trim, then bend edges up with vise grips. This will get the metal going in the direcection you want. Let the weight of a big hammer tap them up. Don't cut the trim, you can put them on later with all the screws except the top ones.

If you are having clearance problems, check your body on frame alignment. Might be time to put on body mounts and equal out each fender well.

 

[V6POWER]

V6Power87--How do you manage to run 32-33# boost? What is your combo? Thanks.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

"Rolled lipz"!!

I tried 2 air bags and they both moved out and divorced me!!

I did see 1 real, sho nuf trik that worked well.. A friend took a ball bat and put it in between the tire and the lip and the had the car rolled forward, slowly. The bat rolled between the two contact areas and the lip slowly rolled up. The amt of force applied is controlled by the amt of "lift" you apply to the bat handle...
He then hit his old lady w/ the bat and she too left

Guess she moved in w/ my 2 old bags!!

 

[Steve Wood]

after reading that, I have an extra pair of bags I think I will send you and avoid the headaches....we always used a ball bat....an ash bat works best....aluminium just does not sound right.

 

[V6Power87]

Engine combo.....

PTE 52 turbo, 009's, ATR frontmount IC, Reds doublepumper, voltbooster, THDP, ATR singleshot exhaust, AC 9" conv. and a Mike Kurtz shift kit. The engine is completely stock except for the valve springs. I have never even cleaned the throttle body!!

I think the NW cars just flat run. Must be the good air

 

[v6togo]

Use a baseball bat. Set the baseball bat on top of your tire ,put the car in nutural and roll the car back and forth. Cause of the taper on the bat you can control the amount you bend it each time.

 

[V6Power87]

So do you leave the trim on when you do the baseball bat method?

 

[v6togo]

I would take the trim off.