Matching Wheel Wells?

-
eekvonzipper

eekvonzipper

My Member is Legendary!
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Messages
1,457
Reaction score
1,524
Location
Cadet, Missouri
I found This car on Facebook (I think) someone was looking for it...
I thought "What a Great Idea!"
I hate it that I can't get my wheels off w/o jacking the body way up.
Gonna start Body work next winter. Considering doing something similar.
Yea or Nay? What Say You Mopar Brethren?

matching wheelwells.jpg


old wheelwells.jpg
 
You can do that by cutting up a pair of Valiant/Barracuda fenders. You cut the right fender lip off, and put it on the drivers side pointed backwards. That makes the lower body line look right. You cut the left fender lip off and put it on the passenger side. Then you gotta make the inner tubs match up. Lots of work, but it ends up looking nice...as seen on the car in your OP.
 
JDMopar said:
You can do that by cutting up a pair of Valiant/Barracuda fenders. You cut the right fender lip off, and put it on the drivers side pointed backwards. That makes the lower body line look right. You cut the left fender lip off and put it on the passenger side. Then you gotta make the inner tubs match up. Lots of work, but it ends up looking nice...as seen on the car in your OP.
Click to expand...
I just happen to have These in My shed!

fenders.jpg
 
Added a full leaf to the '65 Formula S. We don't know how much more the quarter panel will squat after glass, interior, motor and transmission are re-installed but for now the circumference of the rear tire (21570R-14) is visible. (last photo is stock configuration)

rallye wheels installed 5.JPG


rallye wheels installed 4.JPG


rallye wheels installed 7.JPG


barracuda rear squat.jpg
 
Last edited:
I personally like the original look better but thats my opinion. It does look good either way.
 
They look a lot better with the radiused wheel opening in the back. The 64-66 barracuda was always regarded by the automotive press as a valiant compact with a fastback roof tacked on. Do those rear wheel wells, it helps get it away from that stigma.
 
Just sayin'....rounded wheel openings from the inception through today...hard to disagree with that.

upload_2021-1-23_12-37-16.jpeg
 
I have seen a few early cudas done this way. I think they look great. I bet a set of 67-67 barracuda/duster outer wheel houses would work with that modified wheel opening. If I had one with rot issues there, I'd be doing exactly the same thing. The barracuda show car Chrysler made out of a 66 had radiused rear openings. I think it was orange and hinted at the 67-69 styling that was to come a year later
 
I'll add to what I posted above. Unless I was building a car that was gonna see a lot of strip time, I wouldn't bother. A buddy and I did it to a 65 Valiant we built as a drag car, back around 76 or 77. Besides that....no way I would hack up those extra fenders you have on the wall to do it! They're getting too hard to find. If you're just building a stockish 273, you will be able to get plenty of tire under it to do what you want. Just looking at the photoshop pic...the front edge of the modification needs to come more straight down. It looks odd tapering to the front. Nowadays, if I needed more tire, I'd just mini tub it and move the springs to the frame rails. Good luck with it, whatever you decide to do. :)
 
I like the idea of radiused rear wheel openings on '64 Valiants like mine. It would correct the only really awkward part of the styling, to my eye.

The wagons had it. I'm guessing it was to reduce the jacking height needed, more of an issue on a loaded-up wagon.
hd2jx4KyI9KZJflwTrHIDKLn0hd2SN2fSO4ZH8PWrf6q2Y31-RhExc_k-4dhT2RkACyrzRJX1Yqujm-36ZGYL7evG4fvucMw.jpg

(Not mine, darn it.)

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwsWAhDSsQjrQ2-OqUWstifj8hbHgSee-H_w&usqp=CAU.jpg

(Not mine, either!)
 
Wow! That looks sooo cool. I've always loved wagons, maybe because we always had in the 60's and 70's. I did a similar treatment to a '68 Pontiac Ventura wagon in the '70's. I lived that car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top