Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Ok so i have been thinking about puting fender flares on my car for a while now. I love the way they look but i dont want to trash my fenders. Is there any way you can put the flares on without having to cut them? Just in case, for whatever reason i dont like them anymore or i just want to do something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mull Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 What kind of flares? There are more than one style... Duct tape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 What kind of flares? There are more than one style... Duct tape? Hah the carbon fiber ones with the little holes around them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Look into how they are mounted. You dont have to cut your fenders but the purpose of fender flares is to "flare" the fender to allow wider wheels. And the carbon fiber flares with little holes are called ZG flares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=113064 This thread shows that you have to cut the fenders and drill holes and stuff. and I guess if I have to I will cut them but I really don't want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Just because he did doesnt mean you have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 True but I'm sure he knows what he is doing where as I don't. And I haven't seen any other way to mount them so I am just going off of what I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Purpose of cutting the fenders is to gain clearance. Not cutting them you can just bolt the flares on. You gain the looks but not the functionality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Yeah ok, I guess your right. Thanks for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I agree with adding them for the "cosmetic" appeal and not cutting the fenders. Just place them a little lower on the fender than in the thread referenced above - enough to cover the lip of the existing wheel well opening . You will, however still have to drill 24 holes in your fenders for the fasteners needed to attach the flares. Nutserts work great on the rear fenders. Use nutserts or nuts & bolts on the front fenders. That's easier to patch than a radiused wheel well opening. Just take your time so you get the 24 holes right the first time. It's your Z, have fun with it. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 What's the point of putting the flares on if you don't run wider tires? Then it just looks dumb. You end with this wide car with skinny rubber under it. Might as well add fake hood vents and a plastic intercooler... Nigel '73 240ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 But then to make them look good you have to get a bit wider tire and then you face the issue of rubbing because your tires will be sticking an inch or two out from the fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 But then to make them look good you have to get a bit wider tire and then you face the issue of rubbing because your tires will be sticking an inch or two out from the fender. Exactly... So you either forget about the flares, or accept the fact that if want to do it right, you're going to have to cut the body. Nigel '73 240ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Hey, where can I get fake hood vents and a plastic intercooler? C'mon, let the guy live the dream. Just because someone wears a Harvard t-shirt it doesn't mean they went to school there. If adding non-functional flares to a Z gives someone a warm fuzzy feeling, they should do it. Life is short. Dennis (The opinion expressed above is that of the writer and in no way is meant to belittle or degrade the opinions of those who read it. Conversely, strong counter opinions mean nothing to this writer.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun24072 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thank you psdenno And just to let you all know I did not know there was a benifit to the flares I just thought they where cosmetic so ease up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 These are my favorites! http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/reddicaco.html BTW... So, there you go... flares with skinny tires. If it knocks your socks off, then go for it! Nigel '73 240ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 So, there you go... flares with skinny tires. If it knocks your socks off, then go for it! That's mo lie--they came that way in Japan, so it's "ok" as far as the JDM people are concerned. I did see a VERY nice dark green 240Z with gunmetal color ZG flares at MSA a number of years back. The fenders were never cut. He had a pretty good stance and fairly wide tires that just barely tucked under the fenders, but he DID NOT cut the fenders whatsoever. I asked him if he had any rubbing problems and he said, "No." It can be done and made to look fine, but truly functional is another thing. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a6t8vw Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 im running a 265/35-18 rears with uncut fenders and 4" dia. (stock) springs. edit: i had a very light rub under hard cornering on the fender lip, i rolled the lip up with a baseball batt. fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grenade300 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Thank you psdennoAnd just to let you all know I did not know there was a benifit to the flares I just thought they where cosmetic so ease up. It appears you are new to the body work side of Datsuns (no offence). Here is a suggesiton. You may be able to roll your fenders (carefully pulling the metal outward on the wheel well) and then put the ZG flares over the rolled fender. That way you would gain SOME of the function of fender flares and then get the look as well. I would suggest just cutting your fenders, or having a GOOD body shop do it. Then you could get some wide rims (there is a group buy going on right now for some 17x9.5 rears and 19x9 fronts) that I believe would go great with the ZG flares. However, it is your car and your decision. V/R Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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