Fender patch market demand?

[snailwagon]

Even my dogs know that fj55 lower fenders rust. A while ago someone mentioned fender patches with floorboards or something, I don't remember. Anyways that got me thinking of why we can't buy fender patches for these guys. With an english wheel and a break you could bust them out all day long.

Since I don't own nor could I afford an english wheel and a break, I asked some of those foreign metal working wonders about producing those and doing one bulk order. Price came back in the range a little higher than I expected, and shipping would also not be insignificant. The price for one is what I thought the price for a pair would have been.

So is there an actual demand enough for these? I don't have rusty fenders, so personal demand isn't driving this. Now what do you feel a fair price would be?
Also, would a patch without the inner vertical support work for most?

My initial thought was to skip all the bull**** of trying to organize a bulk order from a bunch of people that say they want something built until the bill comes, and just purchase them myself and then distribute them. Negative, but it seems to happen with most limited demand custom items here. But since I'm one of those starving college student types at the moment, spending a quarter's tuition on parts I can't sell doesn't sound ideal.

Let's hear it.

 

[Gumby]

Aren't the lowers pretty much flat? If you have the skill to weld in a patch, you should have the skill to make a flat panel.

edit - I do see that there is a little bit of a curve. Still seems like an easy fab.

rear corners on the other hand...

 

[OffRoad Rage]

Lower rear corners

Highjack on:
I don't have the contacts with metal shops I once had but I keep thinking the rear lower corners could be done with two dies and a metal stamping shop. High up front expense but every pig owner would buy them if you could get the price right (even if just for spares).

Highjack off.

 

[snailwagon]

I was looking at an 8x10" patch. It isn't a hard shape and could be made with minimal tools and a wooden buck if you had the time. I'm personally a fan of just chopping it out witht he rockers, gaining an inch or two in clearance, and welding 2x4's in. The fenders on both my pigs have been very lucky, but most have not.

 

[inkpot]

Highjack on:
I don't have the contacts with metal shops I once had but I keep thinking the rear lower corners could be done with two dies and a metal stamping shop. High up front expense but every pig owner would buy them if you could get the price right (even if just for spares).

Highjack off.

Howdy! Check the most recent CSC posts. Somebody up in Flag posted up advertising his metal fab skills. John

 

[snailwagon]

This is a pic of rare spares' patch. I think with limited demand and comparable prices, if people want them that bad they'll buy them from Oz

 

[n2666s]

i need sheet metal for my 55 rust bucket..........front fenders, rear corners, floor patches, door sills quarters.............even used cannot find them and don't want to go fiberglass!.........count me in!

lou

 

[jm599]

I need front and rears both sides