SWA formerly RB Midget needs rear fender flaring

[RickB]

I got my new tires put on my aluminum mags.
They work great on the front.

Too wide in the back, on the outsides.
I am committed to getting these to work.

So, what do I need to know about flaring out my rear wheel arches?

I know it will also help if I put the blocks back in at the fronts of the leaf springs, pick up the back an inch or so.

Here's a picture of the front.

 

[nomad]

Rick, my LoTO midget had the fenders flared by putting the car on a hoist and prying away with a 2X6. I don't reccommend it. Looks to me by the fronts you have fitted that those wheels just have too much offset.IMHO.

Kurt.

 

[aeronca65t]

You've tried rolling the car forward with a baseball bat (or similar piece of hardwood) between the tire and fender....yes?

This worked on my SWA rubber bumper racer along with a panhard rod and stock wheels. Until they stopped making 175/60-13 DOT race tires.
When I was forced to run 185/60-13s, I cut the fenders out to the RWA style. It's is a little ugly, but I actually have two RWA rear fenders I intend to fit on the car at some point.

 

[mightymidget]

Do it like the pros. roll it with a baseball bat. pick out the size of bat at your local sporting goods store, or yard sell. personally I would not try a 2X or anything that has an edge or is flat.

 

[HealeyRick]

Do it like the pros. roll it with a baseball bat.

The real pros use a tool like this:

But for the rest of us, the Louisville Slugger will do fine. Also useful to keep around for those times when you get so frustrated with your LBC that you want to beat it to death.

 

[Billm]

Rick
Don't you have a Sawzall?
BillM

 

[RickB]

Rick
Don't you have a Sawzall?
BillM

Of course, but there's also a limit to the amount of ugly I want to tolerate!

 

[RickB]

You've tried rolling the car forward with a baseball bat (or similar piece of hardwood) between the tire and fender....yes?

Not yet, I wondered how much I'd get that way.
Also not sure exactly how to go about it, what's the best technique? Just stick the bat in the wheel well and roll the car back and forth? Wonder if there's a video out there with someone doing this?

 

[58Custom]

So what is the correct backspace for an aftermarket wheel? Measured from the rear lip to the mounting area? I thought I had written it down...

I love the slots but I don't want to buy what I can not use on a SWA car.

 

[Pythias]

I thought I had it written somewhere too, BUT....

It turns out not to be quite so simple. The trick is to keep the center or the tire at the factory center, side to side wise. So when you go to a wider rim, you get more backspace. There is a maximum before the tires hit the springs. At that point one could use a spacer, but it will shift the center line.

The VTO wheels that Hap sells have a 3.25" backspace on a 5.5" wide rim, so the stock backspace computes to 2.5"

I think.

 

[RickB]

A part of my problem is that I had previously lowered the back end.
If I can't find the spacers that were in there before can I use something else?
What's a good substitute?

 

[aeronca65t]

Backspacing (from edge of rim) on a stock Rostyle Midget wheel in 3.75"

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Total</span> width of stock, Rostyle wheel is 5.5" (but these are considered 4.5" wide at the bead so that is how they are described).

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

 

[RickB]

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

Sounds like a two man operation...

 

[Guest]

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

Sounds like a two man operation...

Sounds like this is a job for BATMAN !!!


<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-style: italic">KAPOW</span></span></span> !!!! :laugh:

 

[RickB]

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

Sounds like a two man operation...

Sounds like this is a job for BATMAN !!!


<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-style: italic">KAPOW</span></span></span> !!!! :laugh:

Good one Billy!!

 

[Guest]

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

Sounds like a two man operation...

I'd put a little grease on the baseball bat and roll forward-backward, pulling outward on the bat gently. Take your time.

Sounds like a two man operation...

Sounds like this is a job for BATMAN !!!


<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-style: italic">KAPOW</span></span></span> !!!! :laugh:

I guess Robin was the guy who pushed the car.

 

[RickB]

I could use a Boy Wonder today...
Instead I'm doing it all myself as usual.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I think it is time to get out the sawzall!

 

[RickB]

If i did
that I might not remember where to stop!!

 

[Guest]

If i did
that I might not remember where to stop!!

That's o.k, the fuel dripping on the ground and flames will remind you. :hammer: :laugh: