Fender damage.

[ccain529]

Thanks...Yeah, after re-reading my post, I guess I was rather obvious about what I had in mind......
Your running boards are nice. There's a local fella that runs those on his bug and after every cruise-in he has to wipe my drool off of em.

Anyway.... After tons of research and a one-on-one with a very dis-satisfied former "innovations in fiberglass" customer, I have decided to go with CCC fenders all around. I'm going to update the rear fenders because I like the look of the later model tail lights on a GL.
I've even been pondering those updated flush mount tails to solidify the newer look.
I've also noticed that CCC offers "Not so massive" glass running boards. According to their web-site the boards are stock size but designed to fit their widened fenders. I think that the boards being color-keyed to the body will further the clean European look I'm after.

The PO of the car beat me to the "front on the rear" bumper thing. So part of my job is already done!:agree: Thank you for the guidance on the front!!!!!

I've always looked at accidents as a hidden blessing or a "not so subtle" nudge to start projects that I've been putting off. This one is no exception. I will now get a chance to detail the inner fenders. I have a buddy that runs a shop that applies that "Spray-in" bed lining for trucks. If I take care of the prep work and the cost of the materials, as well as a six-pack of his favorite imported lager, my inner fenders and pan will be "West Virginia State Road Proof"! I may even get him to coat the underside of the new fenders to protect them from rocks being flung.
I also plan to incorporate the front turn signals and park lights into the fluted headlights. Sort of something like a new Mercedes. I've been wanting to shave the turn signals from the fenders for some time now.

I've recently made a major career change and now work where I cut my teeth. Believe me it was a "Mental well-being" change (long story perhaps for another post) But I am proudly back full-time in the automotive industry. I will be personally mixing the paint for the car. I hope to match the color. We have state of the art color matching equipment, and I will be blending the paint into the existing panels. So it should come out well. I see no sence in repainting the entire car just to match the fenders. After all the existing paint is in good shape. The paint mixing formula was no longer available in micro-fische form. The fine folks at Martin Senour were kind enough to fax me a copy of said formula. If anyone is having problems getting paint mixed for their pre 79 VW, feel free to PM me and I will try to get the formula for you to take to your local paint shop (providing they mix Martin Senour or can cross reference the mixing colors).

As always I have to thank you guys for this awesome site. Without it and you I'd just set here and bounce ideas off of the dog as he stares at me with his head ****ed to one side.:drunk:

Cheers

Chris

[oasis]

Had I gone with wider fenders (and no US-source of c/f), I would have gone with CCC if they had the right size for what I needed. And I would have probably gone with their running boards, too, with the same caveat about c/f availability. I have no personal experience but their reputation is unsurpassed.

Innovations used to be somebody else (name escapes me). They seem to have a mixed reputation. Some have speculated their negative rep is a holdover from their previous incarnation. I don't know either way.

[bt1211]

CCain I couldnt tell from your post. I am assuming that your fenders are metal?
If they are fiberglass, it is VERY easy to widen them yourself. If you dont mind sanding. The mat and resin will be less than $50. to do all four fenders.

[ccain529]

Originally Posted by bt1211

CCain I couldnt tell from your post. I am assuming that your fenders are metal?
If they are fiberglass, it is VERY easy to widen them yourself. If you dont mind sanding. The mat and resin will be less than $50. to do all four fenders.

Yeah, they are metal. I bent the inner lip out and cracked the paint. Kinda torqued me off due to the fact that the fenders were original to the car. I've decided to replace them with steel fenders which I'm going to flare. I'm goning to fix the drivers fender then hang the originals in the shop for safe keeping. I have some light background in metal work and body work so it shouldn't be too bad of a job. Besides, I like putzing around the shop. I'll post pics along the way but I hope they come out like the fenders on the Kafer Cup cars or the ones you get from Germany.

[ccain529]

Well gang....
I started work on the new fenders. A buddy of mine across town had a set of early Super front and 74 rear fenders which I got for a song.
I took all the paint off of 'em. It's nice to work with bare metal and not have to worry as to what lies beneath. Anyway I finally got them all cleaned up and started marking and cutting for the flares. Looking at the pics, the fender will be cut out to the black line just about 2 inces above the fender lip.

The first photo is the fender as it was and the last pic is an abstract of what the fender will look like once the metal is welded into place.

More to come......

Cheers

Chris

[ccain529]

Here are some pics of the front fender with the flare in place.
I still have to finish welding (I ran out of wire tonite) then all that's left to do is:
Clean up the headlight bucket, etch the metal, prime, sand, sand, sand some more, seal and paint.

[wrenchnride247]

Very nice sheet metal work:righton: