Rear quarter pannel replacement/conversion

[RobSelina]

I'm considering doing some cosmetic work to the spridget. Basically I want to repaint it, replace the top and in the process do some necessary metal work up front and out back to properly address the bumperless conversion.

I'm also looking into changing over the rear quarter pannels to the older round wheel arch style since I like it better and it offers more clearance for wider tires.

I know Nial had done this and I'm wondering if any one else has? Do you need the whole quarter pannel or can you weld in the area in the vecinity of the wheel arc only? Do you need to replace or modify any of the inner pannels?

Thanks!

Also, anyone know where I can get these panels for cheap? Buying them new from Moss isn't within the budget...

 

[aeronca65t]

I just "radiused" the existing fenders using a Sawzall. The inner fenders have a long amount of overlap in this area, so you will end up cutting into them as well.
After the square-arch part of the fender and lower part of the inner fender is removed, I used steel pop-rivets and construction adhesive to reconnect the fender to the inner fender.
After some bondo and sanding, I trimmed the edge with a long rubber channel material....not really pretty, but heck, it's a race car.
One of the other guys in our club got some quite small, rubber fender flares and finished his Sprite with them...looks pretty good (I'm not sure where he got them). Of course, you could use a torch and heat-and-hammer the lip into a nice formed edge if you want to.
One good thing about doing this....the inner and outer panels that join near the square-arch are famous for trapping rust, so you'll be rid of this area (as well as adding clearance).

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Did you ever notice how the front fenders don't have a "flare", but the rear on a RWA do? Never made sense to me. You could make the rear more like a bugeye with no flare (just a simple lip).

 

[RobSelina]

my mistake. When you had your wreck, I remembered that you used an older style front fender or something to that effect and I was thinking you did the same in the rear.

 

[aeronca65t]

[ QUOTE ]
my mistake. When you had your wreck, I remembered that you used an older style front fender or something to that effect and I was thinking you did the same in the rear.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I did. The chassis is '78 and the left rear fender is a '67 (square arch). I radiused the left rear fender before I welded it onto the car. The right side was done in place.
I think my front fenders are a '79 and a '64.

Number 11 is a real hodge-podge. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

Here's a good shot of the RWA rear fender with the flair that Trevor is speaking about (and this one is on the only stock RWA Austin Sprite is existance).