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Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:59 am

Hello Sambinistas!

Working on the rear end of my '58 and ran into this with some rear fender lowers from CIP:

Rear quarter as it sits now (the entire quarter will be replaced):

Rear quarter with the CIP lower rear fender panel:

(Which to me looks fine from this perspective but drops lower than what's there now).

Here's where it gets weird:

The panel drops down pretty far from where the banged up quarter ends now. My question is this:

Do low lights have a different shape with the rear end of the fender/wing?

I've never really looked at low light versus later model rear ends in much detail. Maybe there are some photos that show differences, if any? And yes, I realize that the exhaust is not standard in the photo. I'm looking for answers related to stock body lines.

Thanks!

Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:23 pm

noslzzp wrote: Hello Sambinistas!

Working on the rear end of my '58 and ran into this with some rear fender lowers from CIP:

Rear quarter as it sits now (the entire quarter will be replaced):

Rear quarter with the CIP lower rear fender panel:

(Which to me looks fine from this perspective but drops lower than what's there now).

Here's where it gets weird:

The panel drops down pretty far from where the banged up quarter ends now. My question is this:

Do low lights have a different shape with the rear end of the fender/wing?

I've never really looked at low light versus later model rear ends in much detail. Maybe there are some photos that show differences, if any? And yes, I realize that the exhaust is not standard in the photo. I'm looking for answers related to stock body lines.

Thanks!
The rear wheel opening changed in '67 becoming longer and more "swept back" to give the illusion of motion even when the vehicle is at rest. This is the reason that the bumper corner blades got shorter in '67.
That being said, it appears that you have the newer sheet metal which is too short (front to back) and therefore rides too low. I believe that style might be the only part available these days, so you probably have to modify. When I did my '61 about 15 years ago Rocky Mountain Motorworks still offered both the early and later parts.
EDIT:
The radius of your wheel arch also looks rather odd. :?

Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:17 pm

iowegian wrote:
The rear wheel opening changed in '67 becoming longer and more "swept back" to give the illusion of motion even when the vehicle is at rest. This is the reason that the bumper corner blades got shorter in '67.
That being said, it appears that you have the newer sheet metal which is too short (front to back) and therefore rides too low. I believe that style might be the only part available these days, so you probably have to modify. When I did my '61 about 15 years ago Rocky Mountain Motorworks still offered both the early and later parts.
EDIT:
The radius of your wheel arch also looks rather odd. :?

I'll see if I can dig up pics for that transition period. I'm glad I haven't ordered bumpers yet.

I think you are correct about that style being the only one available. Every place I find shows only 1956-1971 for that panel. We ran into a similar problem with the rear of the front fender because CIP advertised them as for ALL Ghias. Definitely not the case and I'm trying to order the correct ones from Wagner-Blechteile who interestingly enough didn't have the rear panels as you've described.

So I think we'll probably need to make these work unfortunately. Will hold off on this to see if anyone has a source?

oh and yeah, that wheel arch is odd indeed. ignore it. i t's all going to go away as we just cut up the parts car for a swap.

Thanks so much!

Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:57 pm

Noslzzp,

What is the name of the rim you've gone with? And what size rims tires are you using? Nice looking ride, I like the exhaust cutouts. Are you looking to patch that fender?

Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:19 pm

xzener wrote: Noslzzp,

What is the name of the rim you've gone with? And what size rims tires are you using? Nice looking ride, I like the exhaust cutouts. Are you looking to patch that fender?

Don't laugh but those are "bullit" wheels from an older Mustang GT. Size is 17x8. I changed out the hubs to have better wheel options. $400 off ebay and brand new. I had intended to change them out later but people seem to like them and they've grown on me.

On the fender, we're doing a replacement. I bought a parts car and the top of the fender on it is in decent shape minus standard lower rust areas. Way better than what you see there now at least!

Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:23 pm

Agreed. They look fantastic. I would definitely stick with those. I am converting my 68 to short axle so I can fit 17X7's. Good luck with your build.

Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:57 pm

noslzzp wrote: xzener wrote: Noslzzp,

What is the name of the rim you've gone with? And what size rims tires are you using? Nice looking ride, I like the exhaust cutouts. Are you looking to patch that fender?

Don't laugh but those are "bullit" wheels from an older Mustang GT. Size is 17x8. I changed out the hubs to have better wheel options. $400 off ebay and brand new. I had intended to change them out later but people seem to like them and they've grown on me.

On the fender, we're doing a replacement. I bought a parts car and the top of the fender on it is in decent shape minus standard lower rust areas. Way better than what you see there now at least!
Just a thought.
Seeing as you are not doing a "bone stock" restoration, you might consider
modifying the rear wheel openings to the longer '67-'71 style (of course using the appropriate bumper blades). Not only would that solve your lower sheet metal situation, but it might actually look better with the larger wheels.

Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:25 pm

iowegian wrote: noslzzp wrote: xzener wrote: Noslzzp,

What is the name of the rim you've gone with? And what size rims tires are you using? Nice looking ride, I like the exhaust cutouts. Are you looking to patch that fender?

Don't laugh but those are "bullit" wheels from an older Mustang GT. Size is 17x8. I changed out the hubs to have better wheel options. $400 off ebay and brand new. I had intended to change them out later but people seem to like them and they've grown on me.

On the fender, we're doing a replacement. I bought a parts car and the top of the fender on it is in decent shape minus standard lower rust areas. Way better than what you see there now at least!
Just a thought.
Seeing as you are not doing a "bone stock" restoration, you might consider
modifying the rear wheel openings to the longer '67-'71 style (of course using the appropriate bumper blades). Not only would that solve your lower sheet metal situation, but it might actually look better with the larger wheels.

Duly noted and will be discussed/considered here shortly. Thank you!

Thu Feb 23, 2017 8:26 pm

Or you could find an old school panel beater to make some replacement early pieces for you. It is not that hard to do for someone with the correct tools (such as an English wheel) - I am currently making my own replacements for these panels.

I bought the later style repair pieces from KGPR and at the time the web site said the later style pieces can be easily modified to suit early fenders, but it is not easy to make a panel longer which is too short (lengthways).

Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:01 pm

Well, we're deep in the rabbit hole now! ;)

Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:02 pm

And with those rims... It still looks bad ass.