Fender flares do's and don'ts?

[professor229]

Will try to make this quick.... I tried to do some fill welding on the few rusts spots on the wheel arches... The damage was to extensive so I got out my grinder and removed the damaged area trying to leave a good lip on the bottom and yes, there was still some good metal there... I am going to fabricate my own patches out of the old removed fender that I replaced and I have a flare tool I have used before that works extremely well... If the fender patch metal is too thick I will buy a sheet of weldable metal and use that... any idea what gauge that should be? The plan is to weld this patch in place and grind welds... fun.... and then cosmetic bondo etc.... When I am done I am hoping for the best but will cover the fender arches with aftermarket fender flares.... I don't want to throw in my billfold.... cheap set will be fine... lots of them on Ebay... anybody buy any of them and were you happy or disappointed? Bolt on, rivet on, or glue? Would just like to hear the good and bad before I order some off Ebay.... Thanks for your help.

 

[bobbywalter]

Keep cutting.


Get a tig

 

[Ranger850]

... and grinding

 

[racsan]

I bought a roll of 4” wide flexible flare that I just cut to fit & then used sheet metal screws to fasten to the wheel well lip. I had them on for a couple of years but took them off to put some stainless trim on, They were ok with my 15x8 rims but looked a bit odd with the stock width rims that are more tucked inside the fenders. I think I bought it off fleabay for around $50. The stainless trim I now have also came from fleabay, dont recall what I paid for it. Both have the disadvantage of rust forming between the flare & the body.

 

[dvdswan]

Bushwackers cover a lot of metal.

 

[professor229]

Still working on this one and trying.... The patch on the passenger side came out fine... so I used some cosmetic bondo on it but it is slowly drying.... So I went to work and cut out the templates for the two areas on the drivers side, cut out the metal patches and bent them with a flare tool and installed them but did not weld them in yet.... lunch time you know. I stopped by Fleet Farm yesterday and they had "universal" fender flares on clearance so I thought I lucked out... regularly 62 and on clearance for $31... I passed on them.... not ready for them anyway... tried to buy catalyst for my half container of bondo.... can't buy it anywhere in a store and if you find it on Ebay get ready... $$$$ so I bought a gallon of Bondo at Walmart for $18 this morning.... wonder what is going on with the catalyst (creme hardener)....???? PS Found the Ranger flares on Ebay, seller said "easy install" but nothing else so I asked how they were installed... his reply was no better.... "easy install"..... Also.. found a You Tube video where a guy installs the fender flares and seals them correctly so crap doesn't get inside.... It was excellent... to be continued... I have all winter to finish this project.