Hot Rods Working on your hot rod: full fendered vs highboy

You seriously need some updated pics of your car.... we need them!! JW

 

Man, I hear ya, do you have any plans of visiting the USA West Coast, specifically
The PNW or as we call it, "The Great Wet North"?
I have three long term projects that have been nothing but dust collectors, sure could stand some motivation, read that as HELP, oh yeah, bring money!

 

Dumb question maybe.
Do early full-fendered hot rods tend to get a little light in front at high speeds?

 

I would think the opposite, as thinking air craft wing effect. JW

 

Would love to when the $ gets to 1-1 not 2-1. JW

 

Some places you are not allowed to run without fenders, so maybe enjoy the liberation.

 

Yes, I believe so, which is why fenders came off in early dry lakes racing. Less frontal area = less drag. I’ve read some comments from people with full fendered A’s feeling light at speed, but can’t confirm. I’ve only been in a stock A going low speeds.

I imagine a hot rod big n’ little rake would help, to some extent, by keeping the nose down through stance.

 

From my reading it seems you don’t really notice that sort of stuff until you’re in the 100-150 mph range. You really gotta be cookin’

 

So, sitting in traffic reduced to a crawl and the occasional 0-60 rip shouldn’t matter lol

 

It's also fun watching the front suspension working on undulating ground. JW

 

I thought I had heard years ago that hot rods can get light at speed. I asked the interweb. Seems that speeds much over 100 mph will do it.

I plan to heavily bob the rear of my front fenders, partly for aesthetics and to allow outside exhaust routing, but also to eliminate the portion that gets sandwiched between the body and the frame so that I can easier remove them for major service.

 

I’m just gonna leave this here @gary terhaar RIP

 

Been there done that. With my '34 it starts around 90. For the record I don't do that any more.

 

If you are going to mount fenders, do it before you box your frame so you can put in weld nuts where needed, Doing any custom modifications on fenders or running boards eat up build time as well.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses. After reading all the replies, looking at the saved pictures on my computer, taking the lessons learned in the T bucket outings, and considering my end goals, I think the cycle/bobbed fender, full hood, top with side curtains, windshield wipers, etc will be in my future. Closest thing I could find for inspiration:

 

Couple rear view pics of my 34. One in the dry one in the wet.

 

I mean you could always set it up to look good with or without. That’s the joy of hot rods. You can change the feel tremendously even with a wheel and tire change, putting the hood on or off or just sides or top. Throw in no fenders, cycle fenders, full fenders. You’ve got a million variations available should your mood change

 

Just make sure your Grille has a Crank hole and any combo will look good!! JW