weld-on flares

Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: to add on, how do you get fiberglass to stick to metal? the answer will severely sway my decision on a very near future purchase...

Find a good paint and body supply shop and ask them for corvette panel adhesive. It is specifically designed to bond fiberglass and metal.

I used in on the flares on SVReXs Yugo and you could lift the car by the flares, it holds strong and works like bondo so its easy to work with.

Front fenders from an e46 BMW are cheap and have a good flair on them.

Problem is, like so many other cars, there's a seam in the flare where it crosses from the fender to the bumper. If you only have the bumper, your flare is incomplete. That's where the Rabbit and Omni win, they're complete flares all the way around. Looks like an Opel GT would also be a good donor.

would be a shame to cut up an innocent Opel GT for it's fender flares..

the Fiat spider also has some decent flares.. but unfortunately are one of the first things to rot out in the rears

There's an innocent Opel GT at our shop that has no roof (tree kinda fell on it so the PO decided to make him one of them convertibles with a Sawzall) and uses the doors as a structural element thanks to extensive rust. Taking the flares off would be a kindness, as the rest of the car is not destined to survive.

John Kelly, great videos, thanks for posting them!

Bob

kreb wrote:

Both the Mustang and the purple Camaro run in my local autocrosses in Ft Wayne, when I last watched the Mustang it wasn't so fast, but the engineering is absolutely awesome

There are probably cheaper options, but I have seen a lot of rally parts specialists in the UK listing flares in a variety of widths and in both metal and fiberglass for common British 70's/80's rally cars like Ford Escorts and Fiestas, Sunbeam Talbots, and the like. I've often wondered how much extra work these would be to adapt to another smallish car.

Google "rally shell prep arches" or "escort forest arches" or "escort tarmac arches" for some ideas.

I would think developing or finding/befriending someone with metalworking skills might be a higher effort but lower cost option as you could start with local replacement or junkyard parts and cut and weld until you've got the look and size you are going for.

My googling found these:

http://www.shopblue.co.uk/car-parts-5/ford-39/ford-fiesta-mk1-mk2-rally-wide-wheel-arches-x-4-603648.html

4 arches for $190 shipped.

Gearheadotaku wrote:

Awesome. That red Vette just makes me waaaay too happy inside..

If you get to the San Francisco Bay area, the owner autocrosses it regularly at local SCCA events. As cool as it looks in the picture, it even better to see in motion.

problemaddict wrote:

This made me pee a little bit.

Damn that Fiesta's Sexy!! I've had four, and none looked that good!

problemaddict wrote: My googling found these: http://www.shopblue.co.uk/car-parts-5/ford-39/ford-fiesta-mk1-mk2-rally-wide-wheel-arches-x-4-603648.html 4 arches for $190 shipped.

Not ashamed to say that made me touch myself a little.

In reply to poopshovel:

dude, that car makes me want to touch you a little. but just a little.

 Rabbit 2-dr  rear flares or new(best) Rabbit rear patch panel with flare to be used on both the front and the rear of the NA/NB Miata. Trim to fit and spot weld then seam weld and blend fill interface. 

TreDeuce, is this a plan or simply a thought? I'd be interested in seeing pictures if you've done anything. I even have spare Miata fenders and some Rabbit flares. They'd probably look better on an NA than an NB.