Questions about fender flares on my '89...?

[Daven]

Ok, so first i know this would have likely been asked before, but i couldnt find anything specific to what i am wanting to know. I have a '89 ranger STX (reg cab/shortbox if that makes any difference lol).

So on the rear wheelwells i have the normal rust from the years of winter and etc. Obviously... i would like to get rid of that lol. But i do not have the money to go and get a repair shop to do it since they told me that it would cost "More than the truck is worth" lol. The rust is thru the panels (not just showing thru the paint) and the holes go from one side of the top to the others basically. The holw are also a bit high up than an inch, so i definately cannot just trim it off

So instead of trying to find someone that can do a crappy home-done job for me to cut out and weld in new metal... i figured fender flares! But i dont really know how they attatch on and if it will even cover the desired amount. I asumed that they attached with some kind of bolts (like it looks like on some newer ranger), but i obviously dont have something to drill into. So what are these "cutout fender flares" i keep hearing about? Any chance that these are exactly what i need like the name suggests? lol Do i just cut out my fender where the rust is (and more obviously), and then weld this on like i would be anyways to repair it?

 

[Diesel_brad]

Sounds like you need regular fender flairs. They screw on to the lip of the fenderwell, where well well trim would go.

Cut out flairs are just that. You cut out metal and the flairs make a larger wheel well opening, not what yo need unless you want to run 35" tires w no lift

Wish i could find a pic of my old 89 w regualr flairs

 

[Daven]

Sounds like you need regular fender flairs. They screw on to the lip of the fenderwell, where well well trim would go.

Cut out flairs are just that. You cut out metal and the flairs make a larger wheel well opening, not what yo need unless you want to run 35" tires w no lift

Wish i could find a pic of my old 89 w regualr flairs

Im going to try and get pictures of the wheel wells and show you. Ther is nothing to screw anything into lol lemme find a camera

 

[Daven]

here ya go. lol see my problem? :/

 

[Diesel_brad]

Flairs will not work unless you put some metal back in to screw it to

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I think he is talking abotu getting some of the cut out fenders that are rounded and cut out certain sections. I have been looking too for my truck, they aren't rusted through but are rusting and I was thinking about getting some of those round ones that you put on your fender and cut out the non needed part.

 

[Daven]

I think he is talking abotu getting some of the cut out fenders that are rounded and cut out certain sections. I have been looking too for my truck, they aren't rusted through but are rusting and I was thinking about getting some of those round ones that you put on your fender and cut out the non needed part.

Yes. Basically im wondering if this can be done because as u can see the rust is pretty big. Just seeing if there is an easier alternative to repairing it and then putting on flares later on anyways lol

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I know they have fender flares like what we are talking about but I have not had any success tracking down a set that would work.

 

[Daven]

Well how can i figure out how far up i will need to cut the get all the rust? Would suck if after a year or so the rust showed thru where to flare connected :/

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I would say sand it down and see if you can see where the rust stops, and when you cut the fender make sure to clean it and then prime and paint it to prevent it from coming back

 

[Daven]

I would say sand it down and see if you can see where the rust stops, and when you cut the fender make sure to clean it and then prime and paint it to prevent it from coming back

You think that the fender flares would be big enough for me to cut out the rust? Anyone know where there are some flares for my situation?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well if the rust is too much there is always getting another bed for your truck?

 

[Boggin]

I'm pretty sure they discontinued the cut outs for this style, or maybe it was the first generation not sure. What you want is a set of bushwhacker extend-a-fenders, they don't stick off a lot like cut outs so they won't look goofy. I'll post a pic for you later.
Another option is fill it with expanding foam from the spray can, fill up the holes with that, shape it out to match the rest of the metal, an just polybond that over. I've seen it done I'm ways that you wouldn't even know it was there, others do a shitty job with sanding it. You could also fiberglass it over, that would be stronger probably but not as easy as a bondo job.

 

[84stealthranger]

You think that the fender flares would be big enough for me to cut out the rust? Anyone know where there are some flares for my situation?

are u wanting to run bigger tires at some point or do u wanna keep the stock body lines and not hack it up?

 

[Boggin]

I'm pretty sure they discontinued the cut outs for this style, or maybe it was the first generation not sure. What you want is a set of bushwhacker extend-a-fenders, they don't stick off a lot like cut outs so they won't look goofy. I'll post a pic for you later.
Another option is fill it with expanding foam from the spray can, fill up the holes with that, shape it out to match the rest of the metal, an just polybond that over. I've seen it done I'm ways that you wouldn't even know it was there, others do a shitty job with sanding it. You could also fiberglass it over, that would be stronger probably but not as easy as a bondo job.

ok this is the pic i was talking about. its a buddy truck and it has full width axles and 31x10.50s, the flares stick off just enough to look good i love them