Fender Flares

[Flash13783]

I just purchased the Version 1 fender flares from autokonexion, and was wondering if anyone on here had done their flares themself or where they got them done at. I dont have a problem drilling holes, taping it off, and marking the lines myself...but when it comes to hacking off a chunk of fender and tucking it/welding (or whatever secret there is for the second layer on the rears). I'd like to have someone who's done it before! Any suggestions?

[nickt93]

These are the best instructions I've found:
http://www.awrracing.com/media/wide_body_instructions.pdf

What wheels are you planning to run? Running skinny wheels with spacers to fill out the wheel well changes your suspension geometry and can negatively impact handling (the same can be said for zero offset wheels like Sportmax).

[RotorNutFD3S]

What wheels are you planning to run? Running skinny wheels with spacers to fill out the wheel well changes your suspension geometry and can negatively impact handling (the same can be said for zero offset wheels like Sportmax).

I don't know that I'd say running wide 0 offset wheels negatively affects handling, but it does change the suspension geometry. It may not be as accepted as running a 15x8 +36 6UL, but those wheels can't fill out flares either, not without spacers anyway. My car handled extremely well with the Sportmax wheels.

[nickt93]

I don't know that I'd say running wide 0 offset wheels negatively affects handling, but it does change the suspension geometry. It may not be as accepted as running a 15x8 +36 6UL, but those wheels can't fill out flares either, not without spacers anyway. My car handled extremely well with the Sportmax wheels.

You know from experience since you ran that exact setup, so I'll certainly defer to you on this one. I doubt the handling impacts of either the spacers or low offset wheels would be that noticeable to most drivers, and for a street car (versus a dedicated track or autocross car) I don't think it would be any problem at all. Just wanted to make sure the OP was taking all of these things into consideration.

[Flash13783]

lol yea had a good conversation with Eric before I bout the flares and decided on wheel and tire sizes. I'm going 0 offset with 15x8 rota zero plus wheels. Just hoped someone had some expirience with cutting these fenders.

[lance]

These are the best instructions I've found:
http://www.awrracing.com/media/wide_body_instructions.pdf

What wheels are you planning to run? Running skinny wheels with spacers to fill out the wheel well changes your suspension geometry and can negatively impact handling (the same can be said for zero offset wheels like Sportmax).

great set of instructions, but this is not a quick and easy project.

[wonton]

bring your car to me and ill do it for ya!

i havnt done it before but i know how it needs to be done!

[Flash13783]

bring your car to me and ill do it for ya!

i havnt done it before but i know how it needs to be done!

Really?!! Sweet As soon as they come in I'll let ya know, I'll bring the beer and pizza lolz!

[wonton]

Really?!! Sweet As soon as they come in I'll let ya know, I'll bring the beer and pizza lolz!

sounds like a plan! we can do it in my garage, i have a welder so we can close up your rear fenders properly!

[Beastinthebushes]

sounds like a plan! we can do it in my garage, i have a welder so we can close up your rear fenders properly!


Depending on when this gets done, I want to know so I can see if I can make it out to join in on this. Keep me posted.

[wonton]

we have it planned for next Saturday as of right now!

[oldgrayfrog]

Sean, when you get real good at this, you can do mine. LOL
My new flares should be here by the end of the week. I can't wait to see what Erics Sportmax look like on my NB. BTW I think the negative impact on handling is only going to be noticed at the traqck, just like most of us will never feel fade in our stock brakes, but for those like Nick who track their cars regularly, I would suggest 1 set of zero offset tires/wheels for the street, and 1 set of 40mm offset superlight weight wheel/tire combo for the track. I haven't been yet, but I am keeping my Enkei wheels just the same.

[wonton]

im good at everything man! haha.....theres nothing i cant do within reason!

im gonna do chris's (Flash) and im gonna be doing mine, and your if you let me! ill make sure we will get lots of pics so you can see the quality of work!

i wont try and tackle a project if i know i cant do it!

[Beastinthebushes]

im good at everything man! haha.....theres nothing i cant do within reason!


Except for deal cards

[wonton]

shut up! :lol: cards just hate me! cars dont! :D

[chic]

shut up! :lol: cards just hate me! cars dont! :D


:lol:

[oldgrayfrog]

I trust ya, flares will cover a world of sin...

[wonton]

I trust ya, flares will cover a world of sin...

im a perfectionist though when it come to metal and other peoples cars! :D no sin to cover up............just beauty :lol:

[JMarsh]

Nothing to it....

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0076.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0080.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0116.jpg

There were (obviously) a few more steps than what is above.... I have the AWR flare kit.

[Flash13783]

Am I going to have to re-paint my whole fender?? or because I have different flares that arn't very extreme will i be ok lol?

[Flash13783]

Im going to hold off a few weeks on the fender flares....picked up my built motor and cant stand to see it sit there out of the car! So I'm going to go ahead and do my motor swap and finish buying what I need for my turbo set up. Another reason is because the wheels I want are on back order and wont be availible for a month or so....But the flares will be here this week so as soon as the motors done we can do them!

[Bianconeri]

Good luck, and since you havn't chopped yet, think twice or even three times. Flares are cool and all, but stock fenders are much easier to find cool wheels for, and the tire selection in 225/45 isn't huge to say the least. Starting at 140 treadware tires (r1r, rs2, rs3) then there's a few 100 one's (r888, ra1, nt01) and 40 (hoosier a6, r6)

And grip wise, you can fit 225/45 in stock fenders with just rolling the lip flat.

What tires are you going for?

[nickt93]

Good luck, and since you havn't chopped yet, think twice or even three times. Flares are cool and all, but stock fenders are much easier to find cool wheels for, and the tire selection in 225/45 isn't huge to say the least. Starting at 140 treadware tires (r1r, rs2, rs3) then there's a few 100 one's (r888, ra1, nt01) and 40 (hoosier a6, r6)

And grip wise, you can fit 225/45 in stock fenders with just rolling the lip flat.

What tires are you going for?

^^^ What he said. I bought the Autokonexion flares, but ultimately decided not to use them due to all of the great points made above.

[wonton]

Am I going to have to re-paint my whole fender?? or because I have different flares that arn't very extreme will i be ok lol?

he molded his in! we can probly do it without messing up your paint that is uncoverd by the flares!

just let me know what you wanna do!

[oldgrayfrog]

I think Ripley's car looked awesome, the only thing I would have done differently was NOT blending them in, that's just asking for cracks. The real reason to put on flares is about wheel selection AND tire section. If you put in a V8, or get 300 whp out of your 1.8, you will need more than a 205 section width to put that power down. Now Nick is running somewhat more modest boost levels, in a very track oriented car, for that 205 or even 215 is ample. Nick has a very dialed in track car, and as far as I know isn't looking to make it into a street car, he has the Supra and Lexus for that :) I want sick power without smoking rubber, and I like the way the Sportmax looks, I can always throw my Enkies back on when I want to go around corners quickly.

[wonton]

^^^^this!


widebody is just sex IMO! :D

[Bianconeri]

Don't get me wrong I love flares, I have flares myself. But there's time I'd want stock fenders, just for the share selection they have in wheels, and you can still fit a 225 for sticky times.

[Flash13783]

I'm planning on over 300hp, and i've already picked out the wheels I want. Rota zero plus' with a zero offset. And as far as tires I'm looking for a tire that is going to give me the grip I need to be able to use the hp I have and not just sit and spin lol. And I Don't plan on blending them. For now I'm going to paint them flat black and put them on, then when the car is re-painted paint them red with the car but still leave them their own piece.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I never sat and spun with 205s, but what do I know?

[JMarsh]

I wanted the AWR Widebody kit because I liked it. No other reason.
Also, I wanted to try and do the body work myself....something I have never done.

All of the bodywork and paint was done in under 3 days.....in my basement.