Which Rockers and Valances for flares, "How do you know?" Options

[Kansas 914]

I want to replace the existing rockers and front and rear valances with ones that will better fit the flares.

How do I know which ones to get. The PO put these fiberglass flares on in 1998 but I don't know where he got them (but he did buy a lot of stuff from AA - I have the receipts).

Can I simply measure the distance from the exsiting rocker (for example) to the edge of the flare I find out who makes one the "flares" out about the same amount to meet the fenders?

This has bugged me since I got the car - it just looks wrong.

I can send more photos, closeups, if needed but this one shows the problem pretty well I think.



Thanks in advance.

[r_towle]

Well, its not a happy answer.
To line up these parts correctly in an ideal world here is what you would do.

You would attach the flared rockers first.
Then line up the fender flares to match the rockers...
If you are lucky enough to have the rockers the correct spacing...good for you, but I doubt it.
Get the parts and assume you will need to modify them...its not the vendors fault, the flares car be mounted anywhere in a 1inch or more variation...so its just how it is...no blame game.

If it was me, and I am cheap I would customize the parts you already have.
You will end up customizing the rockers anyways...the new ones you buy..and probably the valances to make them perfect.
So, just do the ones you have there.

Go to the local craft store and buy the green foam used for making plant decorations...its the stuff that you can carve and sand easily.
It also stands up to the epoxy resins of fiberglass alot better than the pink or blue foam from HD.

Use gorrilla glue to glue blocks to the front and back of each rocker (sand the rocker clean of paint in that area)
Then carve the foam to the shape you need.
Once shaped, wrap the block in saranwrap for easy removal later on.
Fiberglass over the block, git it all the right shape and overlap onto the rocker a few inches so you can feather it all in with bondo later on.
Once the glass is dry and all major sanding is done, you can dig out the green foam block in as many pieces as it takes to get rid of it...or you can leave it there forever...up to you.


Rich

[Kansas 914]

Well, its not a happy answer.
To line up these parts correctly in an ideal world here is what you would do.

You would attach the flared rockers first.
Then line up the fender flares to match the rockers...
If you are lucky enough to have the rockers the correct spacing...good for you, but I doubt it.
Get the parts and assume you will need to modify them...its not the vendors fault, the flares car be mounted anywhere in a 1inch or more variation...so its just how it is...no blame game.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks - Now I get it... Because the rockers are less "flexible" as to location one should start there and let them dictate the first match-up point of the flares.

I doubt the the flares are in the "right" spot - I mean what are the odds when mounting them free form?

Could I measure the distance from back edge of the front fender to the front edge of the back fender to see if I an even close enough to modify?

Now I have to go measure to see if the right side and the left side are even the same. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

All of a sudden the car ins't looking so bad... I do want to paint the black either way - maybe black won't look so much like a mistake as the same body color does.

Cheers!