Hi, I’m working on a 48 Chevy maple leaf, with the larger front fenders and have a 9foot box with fenders. My question is, does anyone have advice on stretching-length and height- the rear fenders so that they could have a similar wheel opening and proportion to the front fenders? Looks like I’ll need to add about 6” to the length and 3-4” to the height. any pointers or pictures to get it looking right would be appreciated.
you're just thinking of opening the hole bigger, right? not making the outside of the fender bigger? I'd start by measuring and drawing the small and large front fender wheel openings, on a large piece of cardboard, and compare them. Then using that info, on another piece of cardboard, I'd draw the small rear fender opening, and then figure out how to make the large opening, in the same proportion as the front fender small/large designs.
Not easy - - maybe big fenders from a different make big truck? Flat bedsides, should de easy to mount anything
I think the front fenders on both trucks are the same (external) size, so why would you make the rear fenders larger?
We had a similar situation but reversed. The front fender opening was larger. That was verified by a simple pattern I guess we are unsure of the question. Are you trying to correct the wheel placement in the rear fender? Both your fenders look similar. The 1.5 ton trucks did get wider fenders. Had a larger opening. Probably longer as well. The 1/2 ton and 1.5 ton hoods are different lengths. these trucks were born with the rear not centered with the fender opening
If the bed is sitting on the 'override' of the frame at rear axle, it has to come down...Also, rear axle is too far forward for that bed length. Added issue is the running board length... I would listen to Ben (@firstinsteele) as the frame AND wheelbase are short (for the bed length)
I do understand the wheel base issue, and will definitely address that. I’m still playing with the idea of either shortening the sides by 6” or moving the axle back 6”. The front fenders and cab are off a two ton truck and are definitely 3” longer as well as several inches taller. The opening on the two ton fenders is 36”, while the opening on the one ton rear is 30”. So I would like to “grow” the rear fenders proportionally to match the front ones and allow for the running boards to line up similar to the half and one ton trucks. I understand that stretching a fender could look goofy, but it was done with the front fenders from factory and they look good. I guess I’m asking 1. Has anyone done this, and have some insight on doing it so it looks factory? 2. Would there be any advice on how to play with curves and have them look right? Maybe someone who has worked on customs would have some tips and things to avoid as I’m a carpenter and new to shaping metal. I’ll definitely start with some full size cardboard 2d templates- thanks squirrel. Looking forward to your feedback.
Why don’t you block the rear end up, take the rear tires off and center them in the fenders, then stand back and take a look at the profile. From the pic you show, the front tires look okay under the fenders. I know you said you might take 6 inches? Out of the front of the bed, that’s the route I’d go with as well.
I'm thinking of using front fenders(1ton) in the rear of my COE, Of course they have to be modified but the size and wheel opening will match my front ls better.
2 options. Find another fender and remove a section and use it to stretch the fender. The arc of the added section will need reworked to flow with the wheel opening or remove this section out of the fender and move it back. Then fab a small piece to fill in the stretched wheel house area.
I’ve never looked and measured large truck fenders, but I could tell the opening is longer, always ***umed it was taller as well? Edit: If 1/2 ton fenders can bolt to the cab, that might make to proportions right with much less work.
Would also need the hood. Taller? Possible. The body style before these were taller for the large trucks
I’ve not a clue, but was just thinking if a 1/2 or 3/4 ton fender is stretched out, might look a bit, well, goofy?
^^^^ So here’s another idea, I surely couldn’t pull it off with good results, what about getting a pair of 1/2 ton fenders, slicing and dicing the wheel openings onto the larger truck fenders? I’ll let you talented type think of that
We were building a 40 Chevy truck. Owner bought 2 NOS front fenders. They were for a 1.5 ton. The 1/2 ton fenders with the truck were hammered. So I was asked to map out a plan to cut up the 1.5 ton fenders. After a couple patterns and lots of measuring the larger fenders would need shortened, narrowed and a new wheel opening made. I ended up repairing the 1/2 ton fenders. for this AD truck I think I’d measure overall length, make a wheel opening pattern and measure the width of the front and compare that to the rear. Then figure out if only the opening needed enlarged and possibly raised. It’s possible the rear may needed widened. the running board could then be modified to fit the rear fender.
Shorten the bed (in the front), set the rear fenders centered on the wheel, enlarge the opening as required. If you want to keep the loooong bed, center the fender on the wheel and stretch the running boards to fit. Good luck!
So I’ve played a bit and here’s what I’ve done. I took 4” out of box length, I removed one inch out of the front of the rear fender wheel opening, I added about an inch and a half to the rear of the front fender opening and about an inch to the front of the front fender opening. I still need to play with the front yet, but it’s getting closer to what I’d like. I also am building an oak bed with flat hold down strips that have studs welded to the bottom so I don’t have to contend with any bumps of bolt heads on the floor of the bed.
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