how to make the fender opening bigger on a 40?

[eleblanc]

I want to cut and have my wheel opening 1" bigger, still keep the original shape and inside lip. Before i start i'd like to know how you would do it. Here are a few option, if you have other suggestion please post.

I have never welded thin sheet metal, i think most people do spot weld so that you end up with a continuous weld and then grind it flush? or you think you can do a continuous weld without heating and warping the metal too much?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Option 1 is the easiest of those IMHO.

Welding sheet metal is a lot more tedious than welding thicker metal. You will essentially just connect a long line of tack welds to make a complete line, which you then grind smooth.

Welding a 90 degree seam in sheet metal is really hard to do perfectly. You can make the outside edge nice and smooth, but the inside edge will have a little weld there which can collect dirt and water.

Alternately, you could cut the quarter panel, and fabricate a 90 degree angle piece that matches the contour of the fender open, and then spot weld/tack weld that bit to the fender. Kind of like option 2 welded. You could even run a weld bead along the edge between the flange and the fender opening, grinding it smooth.

Dan

 

[eleblanc]

For option 1 i'm not sure what kind of tool i would need. And it would work for straight line, not the radius corner. If i had a tool that would bend 6" long, i could do slit so i can bend 6" at a tme and then weld those slit back together.?

 

[fj404life]

I checked out your gallery. Your cruiser is nice man dont chop it!!

 

[eleblanc]

I checked out your gallery. Your cruiser is nice man dont chop it!!

I know, and i want to do this carefully and very nicely, i don't think 1" will change dramaticly the look, well i hope not. I'd love to see picture from someone that did this on is cruiser!