Custom stuff: Restyle of my front fenders

OK, so far I've been pretty happy with the way my custom has been turning out. It's all pretty close to what I had pictured in my mind when I started it, BUT the one thing that has always bothered me when I looked at it was the front fenders. They seemed out-of-proportion (too small / too short) compared to the rest of the car. They were too flat accross the top and didn't have the same teardrop shape that I have repeated throughout the rest of the car.

In addition to that, the fenders I had to work with were in really bad shape and were crumpled and twisted out of proportion, so they always looked crooked from side to side, but in order to get the car on the road, I just got them as close as I could and kept an eye out for a better option.

Here's the old, smallish looking and flat across the top stock fenders, I hated the way the lights looked like they were perched up on top of the fender instead of setting down in between them:

 

So... down the street from me sat an old Dodge panel truck which seemed to have similar fender design to my 40 Chevy, BUT it had these nice peaked tops to them.

Hmmm, "I think that might work"

So I placed an add in the HAMB classifieds and immediately get a response from a HAMBer parting out a 37 Dodge truck.

Here's a comparrison shot of my old flat top fenders on the left, and the Dodge truck fenders - with a nice peak and the right.

You can see where I'm going with this...

 

However, using the entire Dodge fender would not work because it was too massive at the back and if mounted horrizontally (as on the original), would look too squarish. Still not right.

Here you can see the incredible mass at the back of the Dodge Fender.

 

So I decided to use the front/top 2/3 of the Dodge fender and graft it into the back 1/3 of my Chevy fenders - making a nice flowing taper. Easier said than done, but I'm glutton for punishment.

Break out the sawzall.

 

Still, as you can see, it would take quite a bit of fiddling to make the thing looks like it belongs on the car.

 

I like where your going with it tho,,,thats killer looking and one hell of a creatitve idea!..You have a good eye..

Dirty

 

So, I kept on triming and fiddling until I got something I could clamp onto the fender.

Now, it's starting to look like the shape I'm after.

 

Sneaky shit. Awesome idea. A throwback to the coachbuilders.

 

A view from the front shows a nice little valley for the lights to tuck down in between the peak of the fender and the hood, instead of being perched on top like they used to be.

 

Ok, wait for it... Wait for it....

Here it comes now...

"Cleatus' car is one of the coolest cars on the HAMB, and definately the most interesting custom project to take place right in front of our little gobbers."

And from the pics, it just keeps getting better. I thought that fucker was done!

Nice job.

 

So, while the new part of the fender was clamped in place, I marked where to make the cuts.

While it would be tempting to take the easy way out and just tac the thing on top and cover it with mud... No! a true glutton for punishment never takes the sort cut.

Oh well... It's only the first cut that hurts, but yes it did hurt hacking off something I had already put a lot of work into.

 

A true custom is never done

Anyways, here the two are mated for the first time with panel clamps and ready to begin butt welding.

 

I always thought the car was perfect. Now, I couldnt imagine the car without this modification. Looking at the before pics,the car was begging for it.

 

man i love that car... i think your car could deff pull of this look! whatta you think?

 

FUCKING AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..... i love it even more than i loved it last year ....you rule !!!!!!!!!

 

Now, the important step: Take it outdoors where you can stand back a-ways and have a good look. I have not yet re-done the wheel well opening, so it looks a bit strange, but I do like the shape. It seems to flow better with the repition of tear drop shapes in the rest of the car AND the peak down the top matches the peak I added to the rear fenders when I stretched them.

 

Looking forward to the rest of this post/ progress. Nice looking work, I know how it feels when you deep into it and your thinking, what did I do! Looks like its well thought out though.

 

What are you doing for your wheel well shape?? As close to the old one as possible?

 

Thanks for the kind words - you guys are the first, other than wife and friends, to see this new change so it's really nice to hear.

After a bit more metal work, here's another trip to the park where I can stand back and make sure I'm not making it all crooked.

During these outings, I also take digital photos that I place in Photoshop and superimpose on top of one-another to compare from side-to-side to make sure it matches.

 

oh my f---ing head that looks awesome!!!!!!! what a difference. nice work to boot... i juat ran out to my shop to see if my hubcaps were still there, thought ya stole em you sumbitch

 

And then it's time to tac the lights back on and see it all for the first time.

Another trip to the park, more adjustments, etc., but getting closer.

Overall, I'm like this much better than the old, flat ones. They match the car better - the front seems more balanced with the back and I gained axtra tire clearance for driving it way low.

 

awesome work. well done matching up the fading peak with the original base. In that last pic looks like the flow matches the rears nicely. can't wait to see what you do with the headlights

 

And for fun, here's a comparison to show what the car would have oringinally looked like when it rolled off the assembly line 65 years ago.

 

Cleatus wins my hero for the day status......that's fastly becoming my favorite custom.

 

Yeah but to counteract all the 'luv' you're getting...

You're gay...

But a gay guy that does good work!

 

cleatus,that's some very impressive work and it makes the car more than perfect.Thanks for sharing those pics.Those pointed fenders look sharp as they give the whole fender and car more definition.It's just more...Cole did the same thing on Hammet's '36.I especially like how the fenders echo the shape of the roofline.



The overall height of the fenders seems to be perfect and I really would like to see a profile and front shot.Man,that's so cool to see such work and the thoughts that went into it.Just GREAT !!!

 

ah looks like I jumped the gun! cool. what about sinking the lights more? even frenching the lower portion a little?

 

That's funny... all the times I've oggled your Merc, I never noticed the Packard hubcaps.

 

Nice job man... looks great.

 

Actually I did try that - it was originally my plan. Then after having them mostly welded in place I took it out for a good look and changed my mind. Another day wasted cutting them back off and making changes to place them a little higher.. and further back... and further inward and ... my wife thinks I'm crazy.