zeeboost Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 (edited) On my widebody project, the front flares are a bit different than the rear. I can get them to flow together, but it will require the front flares to be smoothed out, so to speak. I believe both flares are smaller IMSA flares. I picked the rears up off eBay with very little description on them, and the fronts are IMSAs that speeder ran on porkchop. This is his previous front bonnet. Pics: If you notice, the rear flares look like they're blended in with the car, versus the front flares which look like they're just slapped on there. Not putting either one of the styles down, but they're clearly different. I'd like to keep the front flare on there, but just have it look more blended like the rear. I'd like my front flares to blend more like this: I talked to the body guy about this, and he said my best bet would be to buy another flare. A) If I have to I will, but I'd rather not cut into the bonnet. B ) I don't know if he's just telling me this b/c it would be the easiest way for him to knock it out. To me, it seems like it would be simple to just lay some fiberglass mat and resin where the flare meets the fender, and then bondo that to smooth it. I told him about it, but he's worried about it being too much bondo and cracking. Anyways, just trying to see if my idea would work, if I should just buy different flares, or if you guys have any other suggestions. Thanks Edited February 19, 2011 by zeeboost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 No experience at all, but just thinking logically it seems you could either get a new flare and cut the old one off and graft the new one on or you could modify the existing one. If you liked the wheel arch size and distance, you could just do the floral foam thing and then glass in your new shape, and then cut the old shape out from underneath. Seems like finding a flare you like would be the easier route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCLOBERNOCKER47 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I guess you COULD fill it in and smooth is out... that may be an option, but far from the best. Filling would probably crack a few years down the road, as that would be alot of filler on a rather flexible part of your body. Best bet is to get new flares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenomousType Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 you would have to totally redesign the front flares homie.. you would have to chop them up. there is no way just to "smooth it out" without some major work there.. sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZR8ED Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I have done this kind of work, and if I were to do it again, I would try harder to find the flare you want first. They are much more available than they were 10 years ago. It is possible to blend them in, but it would be pure custom shaped by hand/eye. Takes some time/skill if you catch my meaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks for the feedback guys. So the consensus is to find new flares, but after checking zcarparts, betamotorsports, zccjdm, and zforceproductions, the only flares I see are the ZGs and the competition IMSAs (which from the pictures I've seen, look larger than mine). I'm running the exact same wheel (size and model) that speeder ran with this flare, so it fits like a glove. The floral foam thing sounds interesting, though I have no experience with it and I doubt the body guy has either. How would I go about cutting up / butchering the front flare to make it look more blended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chartoo Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Here is some flares from ebay australia that would be quite similar. Just an idea http://cgi.ebay.com.au/240Z-260Z-Datsun-Flares-Body-Kit-BRAND-NEW-SET-4-/280631808551?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4156f59227 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Cool, thanks for the link. I'll message them and check on international shipping costs. I noticed the flares seem really wavy, though. I don't have much experience with fiberglass, but from what few pairs I've seen, they didn't look this...cheap. I don't know, these give me the impression that they're flimsy and may be more trouble than they're worth. BUT they do look like they'd match my rear flares really well. Hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Cool, thanks for the link. I'll message them and check on international shipping costs. I noticed the flares seem really wavy, though. I don't have much experience with fiberglass, but from what few pairs I've seen, they didn't look this...cheap. I don't know, these give me the impression that they're flimsy and may be more trouble than they're worth. BUT they do look like they'd match my rear flares really well. Hmmm Details are pretty hazy now (maybe I don't want to remember those sweaty/itchy days ) but I did some molding to make the front of the flares transition into the airdam.(looks like you have cut off the original airdam part of the one-piece that had the molded on parts of the flares) I took thin cardboard, formed it close to the desired shape, taped it onto the desired place, covered it with wax paper (to prevent the resin from sticking ) and then built the piece with cloth and resin over the form just described. Careful grinding/sanding finished the piece. If I was doing your car, I might think about widening the airdam shown and then making the desired transitions into the front. You could reform the front airdam and side panel transitions the same way if the tops of the flares are the right size/shape. Hell, you could even reshape the whole thing that way. You wouldn't believe how many times I did a piece of fiberglass, looked at it, didn't like it, chopped it off with a saber saw, and redid it. This is how it looked on my car: I consider myself pretty spastic with fiberglass and bodywork, but I'm very stubborn - I kept at it until I had what I wanted. This may be one of those things that would cost too much if you were paying someone to do - I think I warned you about that when you picked up the body kit. Good luck with this - let me know if I can offer any more suggestions or moral support... PS, Do you still have that rear spoiler? If so , I'd be interested in buying it back from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZR8ED Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Here is some work I did to blend my extended/modded airdam into my fenders. I used expanding foam to create the basic shape, and fibreglass to smooth it all out. Has plenty of pics too. http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/78287-zr8ed-two-piece-belly-pan-project/page__p__744059__hl__zr8ed__fromsearch__1#entry744059 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 zr8ed - Thanks for that link, I think that'll be the route I'm going to take. speeder - I just threw the front air dam on there for the picture to get an idea of how everything's going to flow. The final fit will have the dam much closer to the ground, and it will be a bit wider to flow in with the front flares. I didn't want the front bumper on there, but since it was blended in right under the buckets, we had to cut off quite a bit. We were planning on using a similar method as you to fiberglass the front flares in with the air dam. Thanks for your help on this If I had known you would've been interested in the future, that spoiler would be in my garage waiting for you...it's long gone, sorry bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticky280zx Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 man between bodywork and paint, youre never gonna have one of those to drive, and spend a lifetime trying to get them done/pay for them. but they will definately be worth the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 I know, story of my life. BUT, I forgot to tell you I sold the blue Z a few weeks ago. I'll let you know when I have the next one ready to sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlalomz Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 (edited) I sold my flares pictured here that are close if not the same ones on the red car you posted. The fronts are actual left over IMSA flares bought from IMSA racer, Bob Lapp. I agree that they are not as wide as the other IMSA flares I have. Not much help I'm afraid because I have never come across similar fenders again. Edited February 27, 2011 by zlalomz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlalomz Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 (edited) Here is a clever way to blend in a bubble flare by filling in the top area. Edited February 27, 2011 by zlalomz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Ooooh, those front flares would've been perfect. And I must be missing something, but where's the "clever" part on your next post? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlalomz Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Just the top of the bubble is filled in with say floral foam and glassed to blend into the body. It takes away some of the sharp angle where the bubble meets the body. It takes less skill than blending the bubble flare around the whole curve as was was done on my brothers car. The body shop started with a bubble flare and filled in around the crescent. Looking at your front flares I'm not sure it would work as well. There is not much room to the top of the fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 I see, thanks for explaining. Man I love those front flares you posted, though. Do you have any other pictures of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlalomz Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Click on the top link in my signature and half way down are 3 more pictures. I sold them to a racer who runs a Factory Five Cobra and is now building a Ford powered track Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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