Just got my hands on a 61 merc comet with a 289 3 speed floor shift and I'm thinking about cuttin the rear fenders to make room for some bigger rubber. Haven't done much body work so I'm not sure if this is something I want to take on or just get the body shop involved. Any advice? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Narrow the rear end and tuck the tires in, unless the rear quarters need replacing, due to rust or accidents.
If you've got a welder that welds sheet metal, then there's no reason you can't do it. It will require that you weld in a filler between the inner fender and outer body opening after you cut the radius, but it's not hard work. I also seam seal inside afterwards to make sure no moisture gets in through any pinholes. I had to add a 1" filler to tie the inner and outer together after my cut. I just did the radius on my Falcon last year, and finished mine off with junkyard fender lips from the front of a wrecked '78 Mercedes. Gave a more finished factory look to the wheelwell than just a straight cut. I also had to fill the trailing edge of the opening, as it looked odd with the new shape radius.
With the tires you get today, you can easily control a 289 powered Comet without going that big on tires. If you had a muscle car in the sixties and seventies, the trick was to roll the lip on the inside of the fender for an extra half inch of clearance for big street tires. Your car should not even require that much work. If you want to hack your fenders for the hell of it, a body shop will be necessary unless you want it to look like ass. Get set to spend $$$$$$ at least a few hundred for bodywork and paint match.
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