Hey all, I am getting ready to start a custom build on a 1951 Pontiac, and one of the mods I was thinking of doing was a front wheel well opening change. I like the lines of the 53/54 Chevy Belair front wheel well opening, and I am thinking of cutting out the Pontiac opening and putting the 53/54 opening in its place. I have searched the forum, but couldn't find any pictures or info on this. The mod probably has a technical name, but I don't know what it is. If anybody has experience, or pictures of a similar change to this, I would appreciate a link or suggestions. Thanks.
well sir, it's basically as u said...cut the old one out and weld new one in...do lots of mock-ups and measuring before you cut! you obviously want to find and mark center on both(making sure that you can line up new opening with old fender.) do this work while the fender is ON THE CAR, and with the wheels on. you can remove the wheel to do your finish welding, etc, but you want it to be started with everything together and also be able to roll the car outside throughout the whole process so that you can stand back from it and look to make sure it's pleasing to the eye.
Great Idea Von Rigg Fink. I don't have photoshop, but if anybody does, and is willing to do the mod on paper for me, it would be much appreciated. The car is a 51 pontiac 2-door sedan, and it will be on the ground with a 4" post chop when its done. I would like the front fender to have the 53/54 wheel well opening photoshopped in the place of the stock pontiac opening. Thanks in advance for your time.
Hey, I can't say for sure, but I boleave that a '53-4 Chevrolet has a some what smaller wheelhouse than your " tin indian". Not that that would be a deal breaker, but something to keep in mind. Is it that the '53-4 Chevy has the exact shape you're after, or that you jus' like the shape? " If " you're anykind of a metalman at all, making a round wheelhouse opening into a square shape isn't brain surgery or a black art, it will involve gettin' dirty and breakin' a sweat, however! A little sheet, cut to shape and a flange rolled or broke on the edge, prior to being welded into place ,will change the look of the Pontiac fender in a big way. S****ey Devils C.C. " Spending A Nation Into Generational Debt Is Not An Act Of Comp***ion!"
Just be sure to cut off more than you need from the '54 donor, and it should be a matter of cutting, clamping, and welding... you could probably tack them or rivet them on and move them a little if you need to get the look right. Tex Smith's How To Build Custom Cars has a step by step of putting '78-ish Olds wheel arches onto, if I remember right, a '49-'51 Merc (which looks a lot better than it sounds). Also, when you cut your old ones out of the Pontiac fenders, send them to me, I'll put them on the back of my '50 Chevy - should look way better than the home-made stockish patches that don't match side to side and won't take a factory skirt on either side -
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