7 inch wheels, no flares, will it work? Options

[VaccaRabite]

I picked up some 7 inch wide cookies at Hershey.
I think I'll be able to stuff them under my non-flared car.

Am I on crack?

Zach

[roachghia70]

I have 225s on my narrow car, but it took some rolling and cutting the fender support brackets.

Cut and paste from my 'RSR Cookie Cutter' thread:

The finished product:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961163.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961163.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961163.3.jpg)


I wrapped them in 225/50/15 tires, Falken Ziex 912 touring tires. But I could only afford 2 tires so far, so it'll be another week before I have 4 matching wheels. haha


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961164.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961164.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961164.6.jpg)


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961164.7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1397961164.8.jpg)


It is a TIIIIGHT fit in the back, especially on the driver's side. But the 225s do fit, and my car is pretty low. I believe that the PO had rolled the fenders a bit, and the fender support bracket in front of the tires down by the rocker has been cut, so that the fenders could be pulled outwards.

The 16" Fuchs on the front of my car don't belong to me. They were just loaner wheels while I got my engine swap finished up. I'm going to return them to DBCooper as soon as I get my two front tires.

I've painted my bumpers the same color as the Cookie Cutters, with Rustoleum Satin Nickel spray paint. The black part of the wheels is Duplicolor Trim Black spray paint. It has maybe just a little bit more shine than I wanted, but I think that will fade down a bit with time. Overall, I am very happy with the wheels.

I can get pictures of the fender support that was modified, if it would help you out. Just let me know.

[2mAn]

I can get pictures of the fender support that was modified, if it would help you out. Just let me know.

yes, please!

[VaccaRabite]

I can get pictures of the fender support that was modified, if it would help you out. Just let me know.

yes, please!

I'd like to see them too please!
Zach

[roachghia70]

yes, please!

I'd like to see them too please!
Zach

The fender support is located in front of the rear wheel, right by the suspension pivot point. View from the back of the car on the driver's side:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188804.1.jpg)

And zoomed in:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188804.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188804.3.jpg)

You can see that the PO cut this little 1" wide brace, so that the fender could move outwards. There's approximately a .25" gap in the brace, so the fender wasn't moved very much. I intend to re-weld a brace there, once my wheel fitment work is all complete.

By cutting this brace, you are allowing a wider area of the fender to move, resulting in less stretch and less potential damage to the paint. It might also result in less of a problem with door gaps, because the fender isn't bound in this area, so when it is pulled, it doesn't pivot against that brace.

Here is a view of that driver's side wheel looking upwards from the ground, down by the back bumper:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188804.4.jpg)
You can see that the fender lip has been heavily rolled on this side. I can't fit my finger between the fender and the tire. I'd say there's 1/8" of gap at the most.



The passenger side fender support was not modified. It seems that most 914s have a bigger clearance problem on the driver's side than they do on the passenger side. Seems like there's plenty of room on the passenger side, because the fender lip on my was not even rolled.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188805.5.jpg)

Passenger side fender support intact:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188805.6.jpg)

Looking up at the fender lip, you can see it hasn't been rolled like the driver's side.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2153-1398188805.7.jpg)


It might not be for everyone, but I do love the look of wide tires stuffed under the fenders. Unfortunately, it does take a little stretching to get them under there. I think that the most careful way to do it is by using the heat gun on the lip and rolling it over or cutting it like described earlier in this thread. To stretch the fender, I would cut this little support brace, and use a scissor jack inside the fender to push the fender outwards. Obviously, you need to put something soft on the head of the jack, so that it doesn't dent the fender. I like to use a thin sheet plywood with a thick newspaper against the fender, to keep it soft and slightly flexible, so that you don't create any dents. and you do a tiny bit at a time, and keep moving the jack around. You also must test fit the wheel several times, to see where exactly it needs to move outwards. Just take your time and be careful, and you will end up with a clean and almost unidentifiable modification.

Some people will even take a very thick Sunday paper layed flat, jack up the car with the wheel still installed, put the newspaper between the wheel and the fender, then lower the jack fairly quickly. This results in the fender lip being pushed outwards softly, as the paper tears at the high pressure points. If you're interested in seeing how this is done, search for it on YouTube. It sounds hokey, but it's amazing how well it works.