Fiberglass body wheel lip body prep

[cobrajeff]

I wouldn't try to reduce the fender thickness too much. Just simulate the rolled edge on the outer edge, then blend it back. You'll want to smooth it back far enough that probing fingers won't feel any glass matt texture.



Most people will be using their eyes and fingers to check out your fender lips - few of them will have calipers, so they probably won't realize how thick the material is.

I glued 3/8" thick closed cell foam to the underside of the fenders to protect from rocks being thrown up by the tires.

regards,

Jeff

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by cobrajeff

I wouldn't try to reduce the fender thickness too much. Just simulate the rolled edge on the outer edge, then blend it back. You'll want to smooth it back far enough that probing fingers won't feel any glass matt texture.



Most people will be using their eyes and fingers to check out your fender lips - few of them will have calipers, so they probably won't realize how thick the material is.

I glued 3/8" thick closed cell foam to the underside of the fenders to protect from rocks being thrown up by the tires.

regards,

Jeff

CobraJeff - Do you have a picture of the forward fender edge also? What would you say the radius or diameter/thickness of the very outside rolled edge to be on your car? It looks pretty small in your picture but as Bob said, it's hard to get the perspective in a picture.

Thanks

Dan

[cobrajeff]

Dan -

Sorry, but I am 1,000 miles away from my ERA, soaking up the Florida sunshine - and I don't have a picture of the forward edge on my laptop.

The edge of my fenders is about 1/4" thick, and has been massaged to look and feel like aluminium rolled over a 1/8" thick rod.

regards,

Jeff

[Snakebit]

I took a short block of wood and drilled a 1/2' hole through the center. Cut the block in half through the center of the hole. Use the 3M paper with the sticky backing and press the sand paper in the half moon shaped hole to round the edge. You can use a amall piece of PVC pipe cut in half also. I used this method using different pipe diameters to round the fender lips, front grill opening, dashboard edge, and rear cowl edge. Worked great using the sticky back sand paper. Buy it by the 3" wide roll and save money. Hope this helps.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Snakebit

I took a short block of wood and drilled a 1/2' hole through the center. Cut the block in half through the center of the hole. Use the 3M paper with the sticky backing and press the sand paper in the half moon shaped hole to round the edge. You can use a amall piece of PVC pipe cut in half also. I used this method using different pipe diameters to round the fender lips, front grill opening, dashboard edge, and rear cowl edge. Worked great using the sticky back sand paper. Buy it by the 3" wide roll and save money. Hope this helps.

Thanks Snakebit and CobraJeff for the tips. I lucked out and made a visit to Keith Crafts shop yesterday and he had a nearly finished Super Performance in the garage that I got to closely look at and lay my hands on the fender lip. A close look is worth many pictures. That helped a lot and I will probably try your wood block tool. Boy, there is a lot of fiberglass left on these ERA fender openings to remove. But I understand why they do that. I think I'm going to have to go to something more aggressive to do the bulk work and save the sanding drums for the close in work before going to the sanding block.

Thanks again.

[289FIA]

Originally Posted by DanEC

... I think I'm going to have to go to something more aggressive to do the bulk work and save the sanding drums for the close in work before going to the sanding block.

Thanks again.

Dan, been reading this topic with interest. What did you finally do/use for more aggressive trimming?