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Hot Rods Filled or Smoothed Wheel Wells on a Fenderless Hot Rod?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by patmanta, May 24, 2019.

  1. patmanta
    Joined: May 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,872

    patmanta
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Woburn, MA
    1. MASSACHUSETTS HAMB

    I know I've seen this topic discussed in the "ROADSTERS WITH FILLED WHEELWELLS...?" thread, but I couldn't find a straight up discussion of the practice as a whole, beyond roadsters.

    I'd like to talk about, see pictures of and information on Filled or Smoothed Wheelwells on Fenderless Hot Rods here.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
    Stogy and 0NE BAD 51 MERC like this.
  2. Personally, I never cared for it but that's just one opinion, my reasoning being it appears to make the car look like a cheap fiberglass body, again it's just my opinion. HRP
     
  3. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,027

    19Fordy
    Member

    I think HRP pretty much said it all.
    Filled looks like "plastic".
     
  4. patmanta
    Joined: May 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,872

    patmanta
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Woburn, MA
    1. MASSACHUSETTS HAMB

    Yes, we know ;) and that is certainly a concern, but does not mean it can't be done "right" on the "right" car.

    If all you've got to say is "I don't like it" without showing why, you're not adding a lot of value to the discussion. Find an example of a car you think looks like a cheap glass body and post it here.
     

  5. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I think it rocks and is as traditional as apple pie bring them on... @Cyclone Kevin's is one...

    How about this for a reason...cutting down on drag on the dry lakes and of course a look that many Speedsters and larger elegant vehicles had back in the day...;)
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
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  6. patmanta
    Joined: May 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,872

    patmanta
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Woburn, MA
    1. MASSACHUSETTS HAMB

    I fixed the tag so maybe @Cyclone Kevin will chime in and post a pic pf his car.

    I cherry-picked a couple posts from the conversation on roadsters that show what I think @HOTRODPRIMER was talking about as well as a couple that look like they were filled for speed:

     
    Stogy likes this.
  7. Excuse me, I didn't mean to pee in the pool but I assumed you were asking a question. HRP
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
  8. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  9. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,783

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Although I have been a custom metal guy for over 40 years, I have not had the opportunity to do this particular mod. With that said I love viewing any custom metal modification on a hot rod or custom. It gives me a chance to view someone else's process and maybe learn a new trick or two. Larry
     
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  10. Apology's to the owner and it may have been a extremely popular modification back in the day but I prefer a Model A body to have all the hiccup's it was born with, including the wheel wells.

    This car is most likely a steel body but looks like it could be a cheap knock off.

    In the end we are all different and where some like smooth hot rods and customs others like myself prefer the stock look, there is no right or wrong. HRP

    . trog_2017-126.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
    AHotRod, hfh, ct1932ford and 12 others like this.
  11. patmanta
    Joined: May 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,872

    patmanta
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Woburn, MA
    1. MASSACHUSETTS HAMB

    I'd be very surprised if that wasn't an old glass body. The lunchbox latches, smooth tail where the subframe would otherwise meet the quarter panel, and what looks like scratches with no sign of rust all lead me to think so. If it's steel, that is A LOT of filling that seems to me would want to crack at least at the tail there.

    I'm not a big fan of it with the higher stance here either.
     
  12. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    image.png image.png This roadster looks cool!
     
  13. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER


    DSC_0074.JPG

    :rolleyes:...Hybrid...bit Custom bit Hotrod
    and of course filled wells

    Credit to Photographer, Owner
     
  14. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    I'd like to know how someone did it without a huge oil caning problem.

    Bob
     
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  15. LM14
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,936

    LM14
    Member Emeritus
    from Iowa

    Not a fan of it. Body looses its character.
    SPark
     
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  16. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 2,820

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    On stock or hot rods, I like it, it gives a place for the rear tire to "fit" vs just sticking the tire anywhere look.

    On a custom as above? Anything goes.
     
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  17. G V Gordon
    Joined: Oct 29, 2002
    Posts: 5,713

    G V Gordon
    Member
    from Enid OK

    While the wheel wells are indeed filled they have left a body line for character. I like this one but the slab sided look of the others is a turn off.
     
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  18. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Like many mods done in the past if keeping the well bead it may have been a filler panel inserted and welded perhaps braced and filled with either lead or bonded. The smoothed ones perhaps hammer welds, lap welds you name it, with lead or bondo or nothing added...

    I'm sure if done by an experienced metalsmith, they would consider and address as needed.
     
  19. If we're talking traditional as in how did the average hot rodder do it back in the day, then, no. As far as customs and Bonnie type cars, probably some were done back in the day but I doubt it was very common.
     
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  20. Ziggster
    Joined: Aug 27, 2018
    Posts: 1,697

    Ziggster
    Member

    I'm still learning about early Fords etc, and I recently came across this nice example. Would this be considered filled? I'm personally not a fan of fiberglass bodies, but that is just me. Is this steel or fiberglass?
    image.png
     
  21. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,711

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    I remember seeing one back in the 80's that had the wheel wells sunk in like tubs, and some enormous tires on back, probably an attempt at a pro street look. Didn't look bad, just a little strange.
     
  22. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,783

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Why does every post wanting to see custom metal work or modifications end up being a zillion pages of I DON"T LIKE IT! This site is suppose to be about hot rods and customs right? I wanted to see custom metal work not more drama.:(:( Larry
     
  23. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    Don't yell at me, I'd like to know how it was done with warping the quarters. Bob
     
  24. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,097

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Well thats probably because he asked for a discussion and to talk about it, not just photos.

    That’s what he got, the people against it just outnumber those who like it. Just like it clearly was back then or you’d have seen it more.

    They probably didn’t warp the quarter buy just filling the revel with 30 pounds of lead if most of the surviving cars from that area tell us anything .
     
  25. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Not at all the modification being discussed here.
     
  26. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,783

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Was not yelling at anyone. Just disappointed that these threads always seem to attract more I don't like its than examples of what has been done. Larry
     
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  27. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Interesting you mention this as it could be a streamlining option as I mentioned before which is in fact purpose built which is laughable that Traditional Hotrodders revel in being so negative about true purpose built mods...:D...which is the Mantra of Hotrod...Purpose built made to go fast...everything else next...

    Clever engineering in my books...and not a remotely new mod at that...
     
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  28. Maybe not 100% the mod mentioned here but it should be similar. Could just make the wheel well much shallower and not add the 2 bead rolls
    Butt welded in the center of the bead
    No oil can. Just simple hammer and dolly
    B92F24D9-A39D-4930-B2ED-0D9DCE63B01B.jpeg

    Any deformation created from a weld can be cured by proper hammer and dolly work along the weld area. It’s very important to restore any damage before welding.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
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  29. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,711

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    Maybe not, but they were smooth, no ribs.
     
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  30. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    It's certainly a matter of taste but it also falls into the Kustom category of "modification for modification's sake". Far too many customs got ugly because someone thought every single panel needed to be modified with little thought of the overall look. Bonneville racer, old drag car, '80s-90s hot rod? - sure. Nice traditional hot rod - nope.
    Don't like that ugly inner fender panel? Just put the fender on it and fill it with tire. There's a reason you don't see it all that often. Just my .02.
     
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