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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - rolling fenders in for tire clearance

Does anyone know how to roll the fenders in on a '77 B roadster? I will be doing it this winter. Thanks
Chris
c l sorenson

The traditional way to roll fender lips is to use a baseball bat. The bat is inserted between the bottom of the fender & the tire, then the car is rolled a few feet, pulling the bat with the tire & spreading the metal fender very gently. This is repeated on both fenders, gradually increasing the "fat" of the bat until the desidered amount of spread, or roll is achieved.

Additional clearance is gained by cutting the inner fender lip, or folding it flat with ahammer & dolly.

If done carefully, rolling with a bat will not even break the paint.

Jim Stuart

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=6159&keyword=fender+flare
jegawatt

Neat tool from Eastwood.

I tried the baseball bat method that Jim mentions. Didn't work for me since the fender lip is 2 thickness of sheetmetal.

I jacked up the car, removed the wheels & crawled underneath. First, I used linesman pliers (wide jaw)to bend the lip up as much as I could. Then, I held a piece of flat metal (can be wrapped with tape to protect the pain)against the outside edge of the quarter panel and used vice grips to squeeze the lip up more closed. I only did this for the top 1/3 (maybe less?) of the opening where the tire may rub.

It was slow and my hands hurt when I was finished, but it worked. My 205/60-14s don't rub even during hard cornering at Grattan Raceway. :)
Carl Floyd

Jega-That Eastwood roller "sounds" fantastic, and there are 3 positive reviews. Based on the quotes I've received to flare just one roadster, the tool pays for itself first use. That is if it does the job!. Anyone had actual hands on with this tool or the likes? Also, if the bat trick works, its a darn site cheaper than the Eastwood marvel. V
vem myers

I used a scisor jack with a block of wood against the inner wing, gained about 1" each side without damaging the paint.

Mike
M Barnfather

There's a great Rod and Custom autobody specialty issue on newsstands right now that shows in detail how the pros would handle this job. In short the story shows that duck tape is applied to the outside painted surface (to protect the paint), then a helper firmly holds a hefty 4x4 chunk of wood over the taped section while working the inside slowly in small steps with a soft faced dead blow hammer. The article says that the flange can be completely turned up without damage to the body or paintwork.
Chris J.

Hello gang,
There seems to be confusion about flairing vs rolling of the fender.
I want to roll under the lip only without changing the contour of the fender as viewed from the outside of the car.
There is a lip which is about 3/4 inch and faces straight in towards the center of the car. This lip hits my tires. I have what I think are alum. Datsun wheels which have a wider offset than MG wheels. As a result my wheels sit about 1 inch wider than stock.

I think that the rolling with the plyers is my best bet because the other techniques appear to be set up to flair out the fender.
Am I right or am I still confused as well?
Thanks for the great input.
Chris
c l sorenson

Hi

Does anybody have a picture of this after it is done? How pronounced is the rolled fender?

Bruce
Bruce Mills

I had the rear fenders of my GT rolled. There is absolutly no outward flaring of the rear fenders. The body lines are the same as when the car left the factory. The inner lip is at a pronounced upward angle (say 1 o'clock).

If I get out to the car this weekend, I'll take a picture and send it to you.

rick
1974.5 MGB/GT
rick ingram

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2004 and 23/12/2004

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