Model A fender radius change?

In an attempt to use 1930/31 Model A coupe fenders on my 1930 Packard I have a small problem. The Ford fenders are almost perfect in cross section however the wheel well opening radius as viewed from the side of the car is too tight. The fenders will need to opened up in order for them to work in this aplication.

My plan is to first uncurl the lip on the wheel opening and flatten it out, then use a stretcher along this inside lip to force the radius to open up.

Do any of you see a problem with this plan or have any suggestions? Tell me now before I ruin a set of expensive aftermarket fenders!

Thanks
Tfee

 

Too big a job for me but it may work.
I guess you have explored all your options first.

 

You'll probably need to stretch above the bead as well. More on the edge, but will still need stretching at and inch and two from the edge also.

 

Don't do it

Even if you removed the wire and beat the flange into submission there is too much shape in the radius leading into the wired edge. For a stretcher to deal with. If you have an English wheel then it would help things along.

You would do better with a larger set of fenders to start with.

The Packard has a 31" diameter tire ? Rear fenders from a 1930 AA Truck might be better

 

Howdy Captain. I have found another option on the Jockey Journal where the fenders lip is cut up every inch or so and then the fender is stretched out and all the little cuts are welded back up. This might work too. I think you are right about finding larger fenders but large fenders are hard to find and usually very expensive. Model A fenders are cheap and plentiful.

Pimpin, these fenders do have a wire in them. If I did unroll the edge and remove the wire I doubt I could get it back in but there are other ways to finish the edge; I could simply weld in a doubler behind the lip and finish it off this way, no?

 

Wotcha

That plan sounds better. Did go through my mind to pie cut the egdes and open them up. Lots a work that though, but will get you around the issue.

Best thing to do is get a piece of 1/2" ply and cut a couple of templates, one outer one inner and set them the width you need. Then cut the fenders to the shape you want and screw them to the ply for welding.

 

If I read it right, the fender needs to be a bigger "diameter" when viewed from the side?

That's a tough job unless it's a very small change in diameter. the pie cut will work but be so uneven all over the cross section, that you would wish you never tried.

The sad thing is there are tons of NOS and excellent used fenders of that era but are unidentified....so they rarely get listed anywhere.

A long shot? try AACA.org , go to the forums and look for Pictures THREAD in the main list of forums. Then a sub forum is called What Is It?. There have been countless fenders listed with still no ID's so maybe you can get something closer to fit? Most of those What is it's are really for sale if you ask.

 

I search a number of websites for Packard fenders, AACA included. Like you said though, many of them are unidentified. I search those too. It seams that most people don't know what they have. A quick search on Ebay for 1930 Packard will generaly return about 6 pages of items of which 4 pages will be car covers, 1 page will be misidentified parts for other cars or other years and the rest is mostly stuff that I can't afford or don't need. There is a carburetor on Ebay right now for $15,000. I also search for Packerd because you'd be supprised how many people can't spell Packard.

 

What are the radius differences?

I wouldn't do this. Leave the wire edge alone. You might consider cutting the wire edge and bead out, around the radius, maybe a 1/2"-3/4 away from the bead. This will give you room to weld and work the area.. Then use a stretcher to get your radius, then use a shrinker to fit the wire edge and bead to the rest of the fender. I'll look at a 30 fender tomorrow. Without looking though, this is the way I would do it.

 

Fordcragar, that sounds like a good idea. I'll get a practice fender and try it out.
Thanks

 

After looking at a Model A fender, I would cut it about 3/4" away from the bead. That would give you enough metal to shrink/stretch and weld it back together. If you want to talk about it, PM me your phone number.

 

That's the way to do it with slices so it will expand. Lots of welding and grinding..be careful with the heat.