This is a mock up...not a real flare...just made for my video to show it can be done. First the earlier picture of the flare with no shape, just rolled over my leg...then with shape added.....I used a mallet and shot bag and then smoothed with an english wheel, but the idea is that you can make this type flare and many others by welding panels that you have rolled over your leg in place and then shaping with a ballpeen hammer, and shot dolly...a great way for do-it-yourselfers to make their own flares, large or small.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

and...

and...

and...

wow! thats looking really good!

simply awesome!

Is there some way for you to sell these, so I don't screw up my car trying this? Those look perfect! Fit a 245 tire?

John, your metalshaping skills are awesome!

-tony

You could probably put a 315 under there.

Thanks guys! I have no intention of making these.....not enough time...just want to get the ideas out there. These take more patience than skill, but you can learn a lot doing them. Here is the album with a little more information:

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/comm...d=9980138836765

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

Looks great John.

What metal would be removed underneath?

Got a shot of the removed metal before the new flare is added?

You are a true master craftsman, keep up the work and ideas....

Wow, Very nice

OMG

how much/how long would this take me?

Just make one more (opposite hand) and I'll come get em'.
The condition of the one shown is fine with me....I'll take care of the rest. Yes, I'm $eriou$ No sense letting that "mule" go to waste

Rob,

If this were a real flare, I would remove all the metal underneath it, and butt weld these pieces in place. This is clamped over my more subtle 1" flare....just a mockup for demonstration purposes.

Aaron,

I don't know how long it might take to make flares this way...I'm guessing just this side of forever...well over a hundred hours for four flares for sure, maybe as much as 2-300 hours depending on how nice a job of metal finishing, what tools you use etc.....cost would be minimal.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

JP,

This is not good enough for anything but a demonstration. I was not careful about the wheel opening, or the overall shape...Judging by your flares, you could do this yourself using the upcoming video. Think of the satisfaction of making your own! I'm too busy/lazy to do a lot of this stuff for others.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

I think it might look totally ridiculous, and probably just plain wrong, but I always wondered what a 914 would look like with some 944 flares... I'm gonna try to photoshop some tonight...

John,

Once again; they look great! I'm looking to cover 245's as well. Are all these panels formed over your knee (like you mentioned once before)? Now, some not so subtle arm twisting.........How about you trace the patterns on some paper, and make them available? I can't speak for the others on this list, but I'd gladly pay.

Andy

Oh yeah.....satisfaction....fergot about that.

My hands hurt just thinkin' about that

Andy,

It is simple to make paper patterns of your own. There will be little bit about this in the video. Since this is a quicky mockup, patterns from this would do you no good. Once you've made a wheel opening form and welded it in place with braces, the paper is laid over the form and held in place with magnets or masking tape...trim to fit, weld the pieces together and to the car, and start stretching. The metal is held in place for you so there is a lot less skill involved with getting a good shape. The hardest parts are matching side to side (helps to do a pair of flares at the same time), and designing the flare.

JP,

This way is not hard on your hands like the way you did yours. I don't blame you for not wanting to torture yourself, but the roll forming is prety easy, and a palm nailer is very fast. The hammer and dolly work can be done with soft blows to start and slightly harder blows once the metal starts to get smooth. You can stop anytime and start using some mud, or march on to metal-finishing which is a lot more work.....still better than fiberglass, and you choose the shape.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

yeah i was wondering about some 944 fenders on there myself...being a 944 guy.

What gauge sheets are you using?16?20?

I have a set of 944 fenders in the backyard (rear).... If I could get my dad to let me cut them up, I might put them on the car....

I might need another car though.. lol

BTW John...
OHHH hedoublehockysticks YA!!!

Forget hammering and dollying.. THATS WHAT IM DOING!!!!!!

Thats how much flare I want/need.

245's arnt going to be enough for very long.

Andrew

If you want to rob some flares off another car (avoiding big P car prices), I've been looking at the flares on the '87 Mitsubishi Starion turbo....They're kind of like the 944, and sure to be found for a lot less money. Just a thought.

Andy

Here's a pic of the Mitsu: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/275811

Andy

Saw this.....thought there might be some interest.....Dad....

Sorry.......Eastwood.com....on sale now $225, I think. Part number....31158 Dad

I wonder how it does on the paint.
Whitey needs his fenders rolled to take the 205/55/16s.

Sean......go to their page and read the info.....sez it can be done without paint damage....Dad

will do,
thanks

I use 20 gage...nice and easy to form and shape, and very close to what is on these cars. 16 gage would be tough as hell to form or shape.

Dad Roberts,

That eastwood thing might come in handy, but it is a bit of a gimmick like a lot of their stuff. It does what a baseball bat will do for less, rearranges the metal, instead of stretching it. For minimal clearance it would work, but to get a lot you would be stealing from somewhere else...the wheel opening would get shorter.... door gaps might change etc.

944 flares would be a bit tough to make fit, and the sharp corners don't look right on a 914 in my opinion....they could be softened up with a hammer and dolly though. When you try to make them fit, clamping down in one area will make another pop up...would take a lot to make them look right.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

I think their basically tryin to flatten the lip.......minimal metal movement. Like you said....good ole baseball bat, or, hammer and dolly... ....Dad.....