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extending factory wheel wells, '84 ranger


Ty84

Well-Known Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
192
City
Shaver Lake, CA
Vehicle Year
1984
Transmission
Automatic
so here is my solution to a common problem, my 33" tires wouldnt fit under the factory wheel wells so i decided to make em 3 inches taller and 3 inches longer while still maintaining the stock look.:icon_welder:

so first i cut the fenders out in big squares with plenty of extra to trim if i wanted a bigger opening, then i cut the piece in half and mounted it where i wanted it on the fender using butt weld clamps. i dont know if you have ever used butt weld clamps before but they are a life saver when it comes to this type of welding!
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then i started stitch welding it back together, i used a MIG welder on this side but once i start on the drivers side im gonna try to TIG it:D
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here are a few pictures of the fender after all the welds, you can see the patches i had to make
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and yesterday i finished all the grinding on the welds
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so today im doing a little bondo and primer then on to the other side, so hopefully ill have pics tonight! if anyone has any questions or suggestions feel free to post em!
 
I wonder how fullsize wheel wells would compare?

Otherwise it does look very good :icon_thumby:
 
That looks great! I like the idea of the clamps. I was going to use magnets myself but I like the idea of those more.
 
hmmm... those are both good ideas with the magnets and also the full sized fenders!

anyways i didnt get enough time to spray on the primer before i had to leave my grandpas shop but the bondo is done!

here it is with bare metal
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and this is how it is now with all the bondo done
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since i have all day tomorrow to do primer i decided to just do the whole truck, itl be nice to see it a solid color for once haha
 
so here it is with primer, looks like it was supposed to look like that haha
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Agreed. Awesome.
 
thanks! i need to fix a few little electrical things on the ranger but i think ill be done with that and busting out the TIG welder to start on the drivers side fender by tuesday:icon_welder: im not doing the rear cause im planning on making a custom bed by the end of summer
 
That looks pretty good. I've stretched wheel wells on a few cars we back-halved at the chassis shop (a 33x15x15 slick doesnt just fit in a cars wheel well very easy, LOL), it can be a very time consuming process.
 
yeah it took a while, the grinding is the worst part by far tho haha
 
i LOVE it.. I'm thinking of doing this to a set of junkyard fenders for mine, have them ready for whenever I wanna repaint it again. matching my paint wouldn't be easy lol
 
thanks! your b2 would look sick with stretched fenders like this!:icon_thumby: and yeah im hoping that the TIG cuts out a lot of grinding and itl be a softer weld so i can do a little hammer work while welding:icon_welder:
 
i started on my drivers side fender yesterday, and TIG is working pretty dang good on it
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so i got it all tacked in, hopefully the gaps will be filled by tonight or tomorrow
 
That's some damn good work you're doing there! Keep it up, I want to see how it looks with the whole truck in frame.

Ben
 

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