Soft flare pattern? Options

[mrdezyne]

Has anyone made a pattern or template of where to make slices in the rear fenders for soft flares? From what I have found each one looks custom and one off. I have seen a few that are nice and flowing and a few that are still a little too abrupt for my taste. I will make a template when it comes time to do mine so it will be available for others to use and take some of the guess work out. The shape I am interested in is something close to this.......

[John Kelly]

Hi mrdezyne,

The cut and splice method takes a lot of welding which makes a lot of shrinkage and a lot of grinding and filler required. Other than that it's fine (smile) If you do go with a palm nailer, be sure to use caution when hooking up air to the tool. Make sure there is nothing in the drive head. In other words take out the bolt or it may fly out and injure you. I demonstrate this in my video. One update: use a grade 8 bolt instead of a stainless carriage bolt. And make dies as seen in my flare album. This works better than the carriage bolt, and the bolt will not mushroom as fast.

MecGen,

There is no difference between a stretched fender shape and a cut and splice fender shape. You put the shape where you want it when stretching. The black flare above could be made by stretching a lot easier and better than by the other method. Do what you want though...just sharing my experience building flares of many different types and methods.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com