71 L88 fender flare install (front)

[69MyWay]

I know we planned on a regional tech session, but my back is against the wall time wise. I had to push forward this weekend.

Below are pics of the front fender flare install. The trick to this is the flares are made for 68-69 cars. I had to work the lower portion of the flare to match the factory mud splash flare and make it look factory.

The process is as follows.

1. Hand mount flare on car, position to desired location.
2. Tape in place, then zip screw in place.
3. trace around flare with a nice sharpie
4. pull flare off, measure 3/4" below the trace line for the cut line
5. Cut the fender off at the cut line (ouch this hurts, because there is no turning back now).
6. Grind the back side of flare and fender
7. Mix a mild fiberglass reinforced filler (long strand).
8. Smear filler on the 3/4" lip
9. Push flare on car, and rivet through the mounting points
10. Push and smear the filler in tight from top and bottome.
11. Grind excess, and mix more filler for rivet dimples.
12. Grind again, and put one layer of fiberglass matt over the joint.
13. Grind high spots
14. Now start will regular light weight body filler
15. Long block at all different angles
16. Skim filler
17. Primer
18. block primer
19. More primer
20. Guide coat and spot fill
21. YOu are ready to move on to the next project.

This pic is how large of a piece you cut out of the stock fender to prepare for the flare.

 

[69MyWay]

Here is another angle of the right fender removed.

 

[69MyWay]

I do left and right side at the same time.

It conserves on filler, as you can move some over if you have extra, etc.

 

[69MyWay]

Here it is with the fiberglass in place.

 

[69MyWay]

This was it for the day.

I need a shower, and the fiberglass dust is making me itch. Plus, the resin on the glass can use the entire night to harden. I am keeping the heat on in the workshop tonight so I can get a bright and early run at it on Saturday.

I will post more pics as the final filler goes in.

 

[rgtrough]

cutting glass

Hey Chris, what tool do you use to cut the fiberglass? :cool Bud

 

[69MyWay]

Re: cutting glass

Hey Chris, what tool do you use to cut the fiberglass? :cool Bud

A makita saws all. I once used a cool palm sized air powered air saw, but it died, and I could not find another for a reasonable price.

 

[topless82vette]

Chris

do you do all your painting out of a booth, such as primer and top coats, or did you send the black vette to be professionally painted black, I'm just curious what coats can be done in my garage with good results.

 

[69MyWay]

Chris

do you do all your painting out of a booth, such as primer and top coats, or did you send the black vette to be professionally painted black, I'm just curious what coats can be done in my garage with good results.

I do both. Most of my paint jobs come right out of the old garage. Nothing a little 2,000 wet/dry can't handle and a buffing wheel.

I had just had shoulder surgery prior to painting Killer, so I swung a deal to have a pro squirt the shinny stuff. I regret not being able to say I did the whole car, but I am pleased with his work and it saved my shoulder from excess stress (three torn tendons).

 

[69MyWay]

Here is a long passenger view of both flares on the car.

What is happening now is I am filling and creating a smooth contour so that you can't really tell where the flare begins and the OEM body ends.

 

[69MyWay]

Here is a shot looking back along the front flare.

Again, my passion here is to make this flow so that it tricks your mind. I dislike Corvette body work that looks added on, or does not simply work with the current lines. This method here allows me to hand shape, roll, and form the transistion between the two.

 

[69MyWay]

Here is the driver side.

I like to both sides at one time as it makes the project move faster, conserve materials, and I can compare notes as I go.

You can also see I have torn back into the rear flares. When I first put those on, I only roughed them out and appied the primer so Dave could get the rear clip back and get it installed on the frame. Now I have to go back and long block it until it rolls smooth with no bumps or ripples.

This simply takes time, makes a ton of dust, and is a repetative task until it is satisfactory.

Dave does not want inner fender lips bonded on, so this will save me a ton of time. In the end, it will make the car look more like a race car or kit car with the lack of lips. It will also give him a tad more room to go one inch wider than me on the rims.

 

[billybob]

Chris its getting very shapely. I am rather disappointed with a few of the shots though.

In particular the one of the garage door open and the complete lack of snow <uttered profanities>

Bill

 

[TZ Racer]

Wow! The car is really shaping up and the flares look great! I know the details will slow us down, but the progress Chris made over the week-end was fantastic.


Here is a front quarter view of the flares where the symmetry really shows up. The front air dam really blends well with the flares also.

 

[Black Thunder]

Dave glad to hear your going with Black
Like I told Chris can you see Killer, Bruiser(Yours) and Thunder sitting together at a show
Nice to see all the work that was done this weekend
John

 

[TZ Racer]

The 3 together would be pretty wild. We'll need a Phillips 66 tanker truck to follow us.

We have engine parts, heads, etc., on order. Trying to make more hp than the Olds. (see...no name!).

I'm starting to believe Chris when he says that my car will look as good as his. That would be great!


billybob: It did frost here two nights ago!

 

[Black Thunder]

Now Dave the tanker truck shot was low,
even if its true



Do you need huge HP in the new bruiser?
I would think more of a torquemonster for street use. With your expertise it should give Killer some heartburn :eek

Things are lookin good so far Dave

 

[TZ Racer]

Do you need huge HP in the new bruiser?

With the Olds making 600 hp, the Vette only needs to make a little over 1 hp/cubic inch to match. Torque will probably not be a problem. Driveshafts and rear gears may be a problem.

 

[69MyWay]

Here is a better shot to show you have I had to convince these 68-69 style flares to blend into the 71 body. Remember, the 70 and up Sharks have flares at the lower portion of the fender, not found on the 68-69. The "L88" flares were 68-69 specific and thus are not made with the flare out at the bottom.

So, this is my idea of how they should and do now look on the newer body style.

 

[69MyWay]

And the rear.