Rolling fender lip

Hi, My 79 SC has 17" C2 wheels on it. I had it lowered slightly about 6 months ago. I have never had any trouble with rubbing until I had the front end aligned. Now if the car hits a hard bump (especially while turning) the tire will catch the top of the fender lip. Damage to the tire is, as of yet, minimal. I would like to know how to "roll" the fender lip. Is it possible to do it myself? Any advice would be appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Leland Pate (edited 03-01-2000).]

I did it myself on my 87, and it was quite simple.
1) Set the front wheels straight
2) get a baseball bat (one that you don't mind scarred)
3) insert large end of bat into fender and "roll" bat back and forth from front to back of tire
4) here is the trick. the more vertical you hold the bat, the more the fender lip will roll. don't worry about seeing the fender flex, it will.
5) you will be able to look under the fender edge and see/feel when the lip is rolled enough

I did it myself on my 87, and it was quite simple.
1) Set the front wheels straight
2) get a baseball bat (one that you don't mind scarred)
3) insert large end of bat into fender and "roll" bat back and forth from front to back of tire
4) here is the trick. the more vertical you hold the bat, the more the fender lip will roll. don't worry about seeing the fender flex, it will.
5) you will be able to look under the fender edge and see/feel when the lip is rolled enough

sorry about the double post folks.. just reading my own advice and realized I was a bit vague. You don't actually hold the bat more vertical everywhere. more accurate would be, the more force you put on the handle of the bat (in a direction inwards toward the car), the more lever action you have and the more the fender rolls.

Note, dont try it with a 2x4, way way to sloppy.

Scott, Do you have a stating and end point? I understand your trying to pinch the metal at the edge so that instead of a U shape it is more of a V, (how's that for using letters as a graphical diagram?) From other posts, I see that even if you tires fit, an alignment can make them rub if you pushing the sizes up. Thanks, Michael

good question. Actually, the stock lip is more of an "L" with the fender. Alingment can cause rubbing due to caster/camber correction. I have my camber set at -1deg on the front, caster stock and I don't rur with 215/45/17 bfg's on 17x7.5 rims (87 carrera). I rolled the lips until they were pressed back against the inside of the fender well. My thoughts are such. if you roll them 1/2 way, and the tire still rubs, you are giving it a very sharp edge to rub against, cutting the tire is easy then. Thus I rolled mine as far as I could w/o actually stretching the fender.
Which brings me to the next point... If you still need more room, you can actually stretch the profile of the fender using the same process. This is done quite often on SCCA race cars that must use the stock fenders (IT). But be extra careful if you do this as it stresses the mounting pints at the bumper and rocker panel.

one other point.. my ride height is 24.5 inches from ground to fender lip. this is with a full tank of gas. measure your ride height as you can cetainly raise the car with the torsion adjusters if need be. I think US stock was 25.5" and according to Bruce Anderson, Euro was 25.0.
I measured with my 17's but the overall dia change from the 16's was about 1/4"

Thanks guys, I don't think I can squeeze a baseball bat between the lip and tires, but I am glad to know that it is possible to do myself. I am fairly certain that I can find something similar to a bat that will work fine.

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Leland:

Another option is to do this like the proverbial "Italian metal beaters" and do this "folding" with a hammer and dolly. But that must be done with the wheel off.

If you think that you might want to got with an alternate method, drop me a line. I have described this in greater detail on a previous posting. One other membeer had tried my technique and found that it works like a charm............Andras

You may want to contact Tire-Rack. I have heard that they have a machine you can "borrow" (for the cost of freight) and return when finished. If anyone does try this please let me know.

Jim

If the bat won't fit jack up your car. This is a really good method - just take your time.

Thanks for all of the great tips. I guess that jacking the car up would do the trick.

Andras, you idea sounds really good. . .but how do you use a hammer and dolly without damaging the paint?


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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Hi,you could try rolling the edge.This means using a wire about 3-4mm diameter,pressed against the inner edge of the wing lip.You use a hammer and dolly to fold the flange over the wire creating a strong rolled edge,as old UK classics used.The secret is to take your time moving slowly round ,a little at a time, making many passes back and forth not trying to "bend" to much at once.To protect the paint work cover the dolly with some thin rubber or similar,you will be able to do it ,just practice on some scrap metal first!Good look Guy.

Leland:

Guy is spot on!!

We did a number of such "foldings" (since that is really what one is doing rather than "rolling", unless you use a bat; but the end result is still the same) at the track, when the L-shaped lip was interfering.

As guy said, you have to be patient, and do it slowly - meaning to have to hit the L-shaped flange a little at a time, much as you imagine they beat the aluminum panels onto the wooden bucks of Ferraris. You could try to do the beating without the dolly (we did), and you will not hurt the paint, since you are hitting the inside of the L-shaped flange. You basically want to bend the L-shape up until it become a V-shape, and thus you have more clearance for the tire.

If you wish, I can fax you a sketch (architects can't talk without a pencil in their hand)......Andras

Thanks for all the imput, I'll give it a shot. I leave tomorrow for Remotec Inc. (company that builds Bomb Robots) and I will be back on the 26th. . .so I will let you all know how it goes with my fenders!

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa