yarddogg77 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 (edited) Hey all. I would really like to do a wide body kit on my 280ZX. Thing is, I prefer steel. I can't find any steel fender flares. I don't think I have the skill and definitely not the tools to shape them myself and make them even. So I've been beating around an idea in my head that I'm sure you all have thought of. I was thinking of finding a car with a similar body shape and cutting it up and putting it on my car. I would like to try to find something that is easily available in junk yards, not something sought after and will closely match the ZX contours within reason. I had a few cars in mind but now I don't think they will work. If anyone knows of a car that fits the bill please tell me what it is or load up a pic. Thank you. Edited January 9, 2012 by yarddogg77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Yes. I know a guy who has rolled metal flares made. They run 135 each. Way better than fiberglass. As for a widebody, usually its an entire rear quarter overlay and you cut out the rear quarter underneath. Front wide fenders replace the stock fenders. Without looking at vintage racecars it was difficult to find a wide body 280zx. Years ago when I searched, finally found a guy that used a wide body kit for the early 300zx and modified it to fit the 280zx. My opinion, it wasnt that great. In my eyes the car should be sleak. It didnt look as good as a widebody s30. Flares may be a different story. They may look good if filled up with wider tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 I think the flare would be enough for me. It would give it that Pantera look. Maybe I'll just try some out of cardboard and see where I get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Making them out of fiberglass wouldnt be too hard. I dont care for fiberglass much. I have to repair it at my job a lot. 135 a piece for metal flares that fit my car would be nice. Having done some fabrication today already... that price doesnt seem too bad. I would imagine it would be difficult and time consuming to make metal ones from scratch. The donor material is a good idea. I just dont know what to cut it off of. Tom Wyatt here used to use metal fender flares on his turbo 510s. He is no longer with but maybe someone around here can remember. I will ask a couple older fellas and see what they say. I have a gut feeling there are some universal type metal flares that you can work. - Maybe someone will happen by and help locate some.- Pantera style. Z force productions makes a fiberglass pantera style hatch. 12-13 lbs. Cuts down the temp at summer too. Have you looked at places like summit or nopi for metal flares? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Not yet. I've googled but keep coming up empty handed. I think I have a plan though. I'm going to lay down a piece of thick paper on my existing fender flares and trace it out to find out the dimensions. Then I may just make a larger sliver moon shape and weld them in so I can use the existing fender lips. This would bring out the top edge and the bottom would still be the same. I know the front fenders would be easy enough, but the rears may be trouble depending on how the inner fender wells are attached to the existing flares. I'll still be searching around for a car with the right style until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTHALOSISM Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 What about cutting the rear quarter panels off of another 280zx to use as an "overlay". Just add some 2-3" spacers welded in between. That way you get the wide look but keep the sleek design and metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 I was thinking of that too. Except I would want to do the entire car wider. It would look really cool with the contour of a Ford GT. The upper fender would come out real wide, then it could swoop back gradually to the bottom. Beside, if I go as wide as I'd like on just the fender wells, then the door section would look funky. I'm gonn buy some thin cardboard and play around with it. If I can get it close using mostly flat pieces, then I can pu body creases and stuff in it to add some substance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suparman Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I know it was here somewhere here but there was an s30 that some one took spare quarters and added material to widen I think like 2 inches it was really nice looked real good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTHALOSISM Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I know that thread your talking about i'll find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 One idea I had from flaring the existing fenders is to cut the factory flare off right at the crease where it meets the body, then space it out an inch or so with with strips of metal. Hopefully that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 That sounds like a very good idea to me. Im almost ready to cut a fender thinking about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Piece of cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTHALOSISM Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/53985-my-free-widebody-project/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 That was a cool thread. I don't think his method would be as easy with the ZX body lines though. I'm gonna beat it around in my head for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) I think this is what you had in mind to begin with. http://www.totalcontrolproducts.com/vehicles/tcpracecar/modifications.html Edited January 11, 2012 by Heroez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 I could do that! That would work out great with the body lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) It definately seperates the men from the boys. We are cutting, welding and grinding, so- If you are going to go, go big! If you want to try it yarddog, I will supply the bondo, glaze, and masking tape, for the bodywork. Edited January 11, 2012 by Heroez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogg77 Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Yeah, I've been thinking about what they did to that mustang and I think it will work. I could widen just the top and curve it towards the front and back corners like a wedge. Then flatten the tops of the existing fender flares just a bit and crease the body line a little more. It would throw the angle off at the headlight buckets, but with the right air dam it could look like it was meant to be. The hardest part will be the doors. If I do those wrong then the body lines won't match up. I want to get some things in order and make a few body tools, then I'm gonna start. This is the Evil Plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheExpert Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I like Heroez's advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroez Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 The doors too? Its traditional to leave the doors alone. It gives her that racecar hourglass figure. Its your vision though. Your project should be done your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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