Fender Lip

[sm3570]

I'm thinking about getting the fender lips rolled. What do you guys think? I know the pro's, but what about con's? How about expected cost?

 

[Obsidian11]

Do you mean "folding" the wheel opening lip in for bigger tire clearance? If so, I'd like to know as well, is it really worth the extra half inch or so you gain for bigger tires?

 

[BrandonDindorf]

You can get like 295's under there stock. Why would you want to go any bigger?? A mini tube is more worth the effort if your going extreme. Honestly I wouldn't so that, you create an inner lip you can never clean and rusts like mad. I have seen the effects in person. Besides glassing the roll (which would look like garbage, remove some of your extra room, and still not be a sure thing) your 100% assured to get crap in there.

But as a note they make tool sets for it. I could try and find a site. And no it really isn't hard. You just have to be careful of smashing the body lines.

 

[sm3570]

Brandon, thanks for the cons! I have 17" rims and when I hit a bump while turning I sometimes get tire rub (since I have the 1 1/2" adapters to fit the 17" rims). But I definitely don't want the fender to rust out if I get a bunch of crap in there.

I guess I'm going to save up for those 18" blacked out rims...

 

[BrandonDindorf]

Well an idea is maybe putting some kind of colored chalk on both tires walls. Figure out exactly where it's rubing. You maybe be able to just bent a small peice or grind a touch (assuming you seal in properly when done to prevent rusting). You may find it's only a very small section and you won't have to bend it enough to trap/ catch junk in it. But honestly if its not easy (or you need to modify alot), I'd drive alittle wider and save for the different set! Just think you could add just alittle under to what you have now! Every body loves a little extra rubber.

 

[sm3570]

Well, there is no doubt where the rub is because the rubber bit into the lip and deformed the metal.

My body panels aren't lined up real great.

 

[Obsidian11]

You can get like 295's under there stock. Why would you want to go any bigger?? A mini tube is more worth the effort if your going extreme. Honestly I wouldn't so that, you create an inner lip you can never clean and rusts like mad. I have seen the effects in person. Besides glassing the roll (which would look like garbage, remove some of your extra room, and still not be a sure thing) your 100% assured to get crap in there.

But as a note they make tool sets for it. I could try and find a site. And no it really isn't hard. You just have to be careful of smashing the body lines.

All true. If I did mine I was going to seam seal the whole thing after. This however is a lot easier when the car is still in the build stage. If its already done I'd never attempt to roll anything because you WILL crack paint. I recently read a very good wheel/tire size thread here posted by luxstang. Check it out here: http://www.7173mustangs.com/showthread.php?tid=1136

He had some really good info!

 

[Totalled]

I make it a habit to wash the inner wheel wells on everything I own as a regular part of washing anyway. Even the non rolled rigs, since the evergreen needles and trash accumulate during the wet season...

Easiest old school way to do it is to put an old wood baseball bat between the tire and lip. Have a buddy push down on the car as you slowly move it back and forth. You will likely crack the paint.

Friend of mine trimmed his lip with a cut off wheel, smoothed and sealed the cut. Can't tell unless you are on the ground looking up. That would be the way to make room without risking the existing exterior finish.

 

[johnwanzel]

A long time ago when I owned my 70 Mach 1, I had the same problem with bigger tires. I took a baseball bat and placed it on the tire, had a friend SLOWLY drive my car forward while I held the bat to the tire. It rolled the fender lip enough to clear the tire rub and didn't damage the body. Might work for you too.