'73 RSR Front Fenders

[abisel]

In my project ('73 RSR), I am installing entire '86 930 rear quarter panels. I want to match the rear wheel arch profile on the front fenders, so I have a pair of '86 930 front fenders. That should do the trick.

Now for the problem.

Has anyone ever tried to take a pair of later model fenders ('74-'89) and splice in the turnsignal light box from an earlier fender ('69-'73)? This is what I am thinking of doing.

OR

Would it be better to get a pair of 9" steel flares and weld them onto a pair of early fenders?

Which way would be less labor intensive?
Which way would end up with a better finish?
Either way would require fabricating some sheet metal from behind the turnsignal opening to the wheel arch.

Used to be you could get steel 9" flares for the early fenders. I don't think they have existed for some time now.

Any ideas?

[POVI]

im very interest too ...

[jpnovak]

You are facing the same problem as many others. The 73 RSR front fender flares are not available in Steel. You will have to do it another way. If you can find the early light buckets they can be installed on a 930- fender. A major problem with this is that the filler section that extends to close in the section behind the TS housing and the fender well will not be long enough to reshape with the 930 lip profile.

The other option is, as you say, weld 930 flares on an early fender. You will run into the same issues here with being able to extend the fenders. Also you will have to deal with the possibiility of rust on the early fenders and the process of welding the flares.

Two other options are to bond fiberglass flares or install fiberglass fenders. Both of these have advantages and drawbacks. The flares can crack if not installed correctly. The fenders will usually require a bit of work before they fit correctly.

Keep in mind that if you use a 930 front fender extension the profile will not match that of the RSR bumper. It is much more rounded.

[abisel]

Jamie,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Another thing I was thinking was this.

I would attach early light boxes to the '86 930 fenders, then for the fill in section, use the rear portion of a 9" steel flare from the oposite side. In other words, use the lower rear portion of the right flare to fill in the area behind the light box on the left fender. And visa versa. Do you think that would match up profiles for both the fender flares and the bumper? It might work.

[jpnovak]

I agree that you could probably cut a section from an additional flare to make the filler section. You would still have some metal work to do since the radius of the fender well is not constant. It would take some fiddling but shouldn't be too bad. The fender flares and the bumper have completely different shapes in the way the lip rounds off. Its very round on the 930 flare and quite squared on the edge of the RSR style bumper. I think you could transition them to match up but it would be difficult to do this smoothly. If you are good with a plannishing hammer and dolley... Go for it!

The way I would do it, and have started for a friends project is to trace and cut the profile of the 930 flare and the RSR bumper from a peice of wood (3/4 inch thick). screw these together with filler blocks that match the space height, I think its just around 3". You are making a wooden buck. Shape these with a belt sander until you get a smooth profile transition, then shape the fender well lip area. Hammer away. I will see if I can post some pics of the bucks I made, if I can find them.

Keep us posted

[82SC]

hmmm one of our members here on this site was making ST front flares.

These are very similar to RS flares...I believe he welded on turbo flares on early fenders and used a small piece of sheet metal to fill the gap next to the signal box...

try a search...I'll post it if I remember

[dtw]

Yeah that was me and Jamie. That project never went anywhere - but stay tuned, if I'm still the only person working on this, I might have something in the next year or so. Gotta get the other car done.