Was this done at the factory?

[sdstang]

I'm wondering if this was done at the factory? Same thing on the other side. Looks like somebody took a mallet too it. I'm wondering if I want to spend the money to fix it. If heard that the stayfast tops set really high and I wonder if someone did this to lower the top in the boot more.

 

[droptop73]

Mine is not like that. Can't you push it back up from inside the wheelhouse with a mallet?

 

[sdstang]

Mine is not like that. Can't you push it back up from inside the wheelhouse with a mallet?

Droptop73,

So your ridges weren't smashed down either? I might be able to work the large dents but I'm worried that if I try to bend the ridges back. Wondering if will hurt the integrity of the seam.

The other thing is I don't know why it was done in the first place. I was going to detail the wheel wells so maybe I'll just try to work on the large dents.

Jim

 

[droptop73]

No, the seam on mine are straight. Somebody did quite a number on that. I don't think leaving either the way it is would hurt anything unless you try to stuff a bunch of tire way up in the well. Nobody will see it.

 

[OMS]

The factory hammered them down

Probably some more than others depending on

who did it and how bad of a day they were having

 

[71mach351]

I just checked my 73 and it too is all dented up in that spot. You can't see it with the top installed but you can feel it when you shove your hand in there.

 

[sdstang]

The factory hammered them down

Probably some more than others depending on

who did it and how bad of a day they were having

Somebody must have had a pretty bad day on mine.

Thanks Don

 

[midlife]

The bashed-in inner wheel wells are there from 64.5 as well. I once queried another site's membership as to who had them and to provide the factory plant, engine size, model, etc., to see if there was some sort of pattern. Nope...no pattern at all, and only a small subset of Mustangs had them. It was only the RHS wheel well that got smashed, however.

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

Both wheel wells in my 73 vert were bashed flat -- abeit in a slightly more neat manner than the picture. Also mine had a thick pad of insulation (similar to felt material) glued onto the flattened section.

 

[Paul of MO]

Both wheel wells in my 73 vert were bashed flat -- abeit in a slightly more neat manner than the picture. Also mine had a thick pad of insulation (similar to felt material) glued onto the flattened section.

I posted before that some of us in our car club in Florida got to meet a retired autoworker who was task with flattening the top of the wheel houses on convertibles. He did this all through the early 70's. They did this to make more room for the convertible top frame and folded material when the top was down.

He was on the line with a big dead blow mallet and when a convert came by he started swinging. All of the converts I have messed with have had that thick insulation on top of flattened wheel houses.

What is fun is replacing the outer wheel houses on a convert. You have to beat the original inner back out so it matches the new outer so you can weld the new one in place. When done I always beat them back down so the top wont rub.

Paul of Mo

 

[hyena429]

Both wheel wells in my 73 vert were bashed flat -- abeit in a slightly more neat manner than the picture. Also mine had a thick pad of insulation (similar to felt material) glued onto the flattened section.

I posted before that some of us in our car club in Florida got to meet a retired autoworker who was task with flattening the top of the wheel houses on convertibles. He did this all through the early 70's. They did this to make more room for the convertible top frame and folded material when the top was down.

He was on the line with a big dead blow mallet and when a convert came by he started swinging. All of the converts I have messed with have had that thick insulation on top of flattened wheel houses.

What is fun is replacing the outer wheel houses on a convert. You have to beat the original inner back out so it matches the new outer so you can weld the new one in place. When done I always beat them back down so the top wont rub.

Paul of Mo

Some good information...Did not know converts needed them beat down.

 

[sdstang]

Thanks for all the information. I guess I will have to figure out want to use a new padding. Any ideas. Maybe something used in carpets.

 

[OLE PONY]

Now I'm curious; I'll have to go out and check mine tomorrow!

 

[mustbrad]

Both wheel wells in my 73 vert were bashed flat -- abeit in a slightly more neat manner than the picture. Also mine had a thick pad of insulation (similar to felt material) glued onto the flattened section.

I posted before that some of us in our car club in Florida got to meet a retired autoworker who was task with flattening the top of the wheel houses on convertibles. He did this all through the early 70's. They did this to make more room for the convertible top frame and folded material when the top was down.

He was on the line with a big dead blow mallet and when a convert came by he started swinging. All of the converts I have messed with have had that thick insulation on top of flattened wheel houses.

What is fun is replacing the outer wheel houses on a convert. You have to beat the original inner back out so it matches the new outer so you can weld the new one in place. When done I always beat them back down so the top wont rub.

Paul of Mo

I did the same, beat them down after replacing wheel houses

 

[Kellogg]

Hi

After read this posting and seeing the pictures, I checked out my car. I noticed there is no bangs or dents on my wheel houses. I bought the car this past spring and it came with a new boot cover, but it does not fit. I'm interested in what others think of me bashing the wheel house flat to get the top to go down farther, so I can put on the boot cover?

Look forward to replies

Thanks Gavin

 

[captthundarr]

Hi

After read this posting and seeing the pictures, I checked out my car. I noticed there is no bangs or dents on my wheel houses. I bought the car this past spring and it came with a new boot cover, but it does not fit. I'm interested in what others think of me bashing the wheel house flat to get the top to go down farther, so I can put on the boot cover?

Look forward to replies

Thanks Gavin

Just checked our 71 and they're beat down as well although it is quite flat and smooth. The question is, do you want to use the boot? If so then you must beat away.

 

[OMS]

Hi

After read this posting and seeing the pictures, I checked out my car. I noticed there is no bangs or dents on my wheel houses. I bought the car this past spring and it came with a new boot cover, but it does not fit. I'm interested in what others think of me bashing the wheel house flat to get the top to go down farther, so I can put on the boot cover?

Look forward to replies

Thanks Gavin

The wheel houses were probably changed at some point

If you do flatten yours - make sure to re-seal any seams that may open up when bending them.

Don