Seeking Ghia Fender Flares....

[Mikey 1972GL]

I am currently seeking information about how to make or where to get Flares for Ghia Fenders. I wanna be able to have a little bigger tires under the stock fenders and give it a more "stuffed" look.

I've seen a few Ghias with them, so I KNOW it's possible. But I'm hoping that I can avoid costly mistakes. Because the people that made them first are real nice.

[Chris V]

www.ghiaspecialties.com

[Mikey 1972GL]

www.ghiaspecialties.com

Thanks for the reply, but I was looking for fender flares, not wider fenders. I like them, and I'd love to use those, but $375 each rear fender and $250 each front. Hand made, but A LOT of money!

[Chris V]

He has pictures of the tools necessary to build your own, and last I heard he's on the final stages of a tutorial movie...

[Mikey 1972GL]

He has pictures of the tools necessary to build your own, and last I heard he's on the final stages of a tutorial movie...

Okay, that guy makes wider fenders/flares. I'm looking for a lip on the edge of the fender. (flare) Sorry no picture I have one on my computer, but I don't know how to post it.

[Chris V]

He has pictures of the tools necessary to build your own, and last I heard he's on the final stages of a tutorial movie...

Okay, that guy makes wider fenders/flares. I'm looking for a lip on the edge of the fender. (flare) Sorry no picture I have one on my computer, but I don't know how to post it.

You made it sound like you favored his, but couldn't afford them.

I'm sure if you asked John about doing a more eye-catching, or exaggerated flare than his own, he could tell you how. I'm also fairly sure that a lot of the same principles and techniques he shows on his website (and will be covered in his video no doubt) could be applied to create what you're after.

[John Kelly]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the plug!

Mike,

If you have a look at these albums:

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/c ... 0138836765

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/c ... 0160442904

All of the techniques shown will do what you are looking for. The difference being, you will need to stretch the edge of the wheel opening to flare the lip only. Then you will have to reform the wheel opening flange with a hammer and dolly. Much more difficult to get a nice integrated looking flare this way (design wise). I've seen a few done that way, and only one of them looked just right to my eyes. It would be a good idea to practice on some scrap fenders before trying it on your car. Let me know if I can help. You can send pictures or mockups of what you want to achieve, and I'll try to be of assistance. My email is: [email protected]

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

[hoipolloi]

From what it sounds like, Mikey is talking about something like this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/ ... mankg2.jpg

from what i remember i believe they are off a golf. I've also thought about something like this (minus the black fender trim).
Personally, I think John's flares look better and having something made to fit is defiantly worth it, especially for the rear. If my current plan of cutting the opening larger doesn't pan out i think i'll be saving up for a set from him. Maybe there'll be a gullwing video out by then too

DO you know that 17x7s have been made to fit stock openings on all four corners at the normal ride height. If you arn't trying to lower it as well, finding the right offset might solve your problem.

good luck
seth

anyone know what he did on for this picture http://photobucket.com/albums/v409/hot3 ... rmankg.jpg i know those rims will fit but i just didn't think they would at that height. maybe i've been mistaken

[Mikey 1972GL]

From what it sounds like, Mikey is talking about something like this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/ ... mankg2.jpg

from what i remember i believe they are off a golf. I've also thought about something like this (minus the black fender trim).
Personally, I think John's flares look better and having something made to fit is defiantly worth it, especially for the rear. If my current plan of cutting the opening larger doesn't pan out i think i'll be saving up for a set from him. Maybe there'll be a gullwing video out by then too

DO you know that 17x7s have been made to fit stock openings on all four corners at the normal ride height. If you arn't trying to lower it as well, finding the right offset might solve your problem.

good luck
seth

Yes! that's what I'm talking about. I like John's fenders, but I'm looking for something a little more simple, no offence to John.

I'd like to be able to fit 7.5 or 9" wide rear wheels with 7" fronts. I doubt 9" wide will fit unless I widen the rear fenders. I could widen the rear a little and go for the 911 wide rear look. I'll measure the outer lip of the rear fender to the inner fender tomarrow to find out how space I have under the stock fender.

[hoipolloi]

I believe if you cut off the flare from a newer car, and lengthen it using a donor flare, you can get it to fit the wheel opening. I had just mentioned using the 911 turbo rear fenders but locating a set will be pretty costly.

You'd still probably need to stretch your stock fender yourself like on John's site (the DIY flare section) if you want to fit 9". That's pretty large when the stock 5.5s barely do.

There are a lot of people on here who are trying different methods of sticking larger wheels under the back. Do a search in the KG forum as there have been many many conversations about this.

take it easy
seth

[Murdock]

Just to throw in some more methods of fitting wider rear tires on a ghia-

Method 1) Narrow the trailing arms ~1.5" each side, for this you would need shorter axles as well- cost equals labor of narrowing your arms plus new axles, gets you 1.5" each side. This method keeps stock fenders.

Method 2) Narrow the torsion housing up to 5" each side, 3" each side is also a common width to narrow because VW parts can be used (from different year swing/irs cars). For this you need the corresponding parts, shorter torsions, and shorter axles. This is most common on drag cars, and narrowing alot will naturally require cutting of the inner fender well, or tubbing the wheel well(but you get to keep stock fenders). This method also gets into the topic of alternative rear suspension systems such as ladder bars and back-halfing for one-off suspension structures.

[RotoGhia]

These were cut out then had a rod welded to the desiered width and shape and from what I can tell welded with metal and some BONDO Not my choice but it looks great.

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/264381

[Karmann72]

I am hoping put 17X7" wheels in the front and 17X8.5" wheels in the rear on my ghia. The twist is that I will be using 944 aluminum trailing arms in the rear and high offset wheels like Porsche 993 Cup, Sport Classic or C2 Turbo. Have not decided yet. I still expect to have to use spacers and "bend" the fenders somewhat.

For the fronts, I will be using modified 944 hubs and caliper adapters for the 944 NA brakes. Will probably need spacers and possibly a slight bend.

I knew someone with a ghia that had widened 8 spokes to 7.5" and had them fit under the fenders with some fenegling. Unfortunately, I have lost touch with him.

Mike

[Marc]

...it looks great.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/264381

No accounting for taste I guess. The fronts are fairly tasteful, kinda Porsche-looking but to me the rears look tacky as hell, like the flared fiberglas bug fenders of the `60s...all that's missing is wheel adapters and Chevy Ansens. Better than the scabbed-on waterpumper style I suppose.

[vujade]

these area some of my favorite flairs on a GHia...