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Trimming Inner Fender for Bugeye Bonnet

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Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

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Need some guidance from those who have gone here before.

Spridget inner fender has an additional lip around the wheeel well opening that needs to be trimmed off in order to get a Bugeye Bonnet to open and close properly. Not sure whether or not I need to go flush with horizontal side of inner fender or can leave a little bit of the horizontal lip around the inner fender. Looks to me like I need 1/2" trimmed from the outer lip on each side for clearance.

How about this might be easier. Any BE Owners got time to give me a inner fender to inner fender outside dimension, across the top of the inner fenders at the first seam, including any lip around the inner fender. I need a reference point from a BE. I need side to side to check for clearance as the front hinged bonnet is raised or lowered. TIA for your help.

Also if anyone has done this before with a Spridget, got any pics of the inner fender after cutting / trimming the outside lip. Like any advice of finishing outside edge after trimming.
 
Jim -

If you do not get the information you need, stop by the garage this weekend. I will be down there most of the weekend. Call my cell before you depart.
 
Jim

Either cut slits in it and fold it up or take it off flush with the wheel well.
It looks much neater if you cut it flush and sand the raw edge smooth. I have done it both ways.
 
Thanks Frank, I think its going to be cut off flush. Just need to see how close I can get with the air shears and then take the grinding wheel to it. Thanks again.
 
Just use a cut off wheel, then finish with a grinding wheel.
 
Trevor Cut off wheel takes forever. I tried it and air shear is the way to go I think. A little more strategy and cogitation are in order and it will be done carefully and with deliberation.
 
What type of cutoff wheel are you using? I'd avoid the shears because you are near a corner of heavy gauge metal. I'd be afraid of busting the shear blade or stretching the metal.

However, the cutoff wheel will leave a big mess to sweep off the driveway.
 
Angle grinder with a cut off wheel, followed by one of those 36 grit sanding discs that fit the grinder. I LOVE THOSE SANDING DISCS!
 
You mean the "flappy" ones. Those are great!
 
I'll let the list know what gives the best results. I've got all of those things in the garage.
 
Well the Angle Grinder with a cutoff wheel, that $9.95 special I bought from Horrible Freight years ago, did the job in record time. Tried using the air shears but could not get close enough to the vertical side of the inner fender. Made lots of sparks, be sure no open flammables, and wear eye protection. Sweep up the dust afterwards that you generate to keep mama happy. There will be lots of it from the cutoff wheel.

Angle grinder, go slow at first till you get the feel and whale away with it. Don't cut too close to the vertical side, angle grinder will take off excess metal left over in a flash. Leave 1/8" if you can and then grind off closer from another angle. Each side took less than 5 minutes to remove and then a few minutes to trim up. Still need to go at it with the flapper rough disk on the angle grinder but minimal cleanup will be needed.

Off to the hardware store for all of the nuts and bolts needed for the tilt assembly. Hopefully will have front tilt Bugeye Bonnet fitted when I get back to it tomorrow morning.
 
You did cover your windshield, I hope. Grinding sparks are almost as bad as welding sparks for pitting old windshields.
 
Well did not touch windshield with sparks. At least I don't think so. Got a spare windshield & frame that I am planning on installing that is in better shape than the one I've got on Bugsy now. I'll keep that in mind as I finish trimming and grinding. Amazing watching sparks land 10' away, quite a light show.
 
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