To Roll or Not to Roll That is the Question

[Ferf]

I am in the process of completing the restomod of my '65 coupe. The car is currently in primer and getting ready for paint. I am wondering if I should roll the fenders or not since the car has not yet been painted.

My current suspension setup is:

- Shelby Drop
- 620 Springs (1"drop)
- KYB Gas-Adjust Shocks
- 4.5 mid-eye leafs

I love the stance of DodgeStang's car:

and Chromedog's car which runs 17x7 torq-thrust with 215 45 17 front, 225's rear...

According to DodgeStang's chart (Here) 17x7's should fit just fine without rolling the fenders.

Since my motor will be pushing 430HP I would like to go a bit wider and run 17x8's. According to the chart, some people have put 17x8's on their car without rolling the fenders at all. Others have rolled all 4 fenders.

Does anyone know if it is necessary to roll the fenders with 17x8's?

Should I just roll them now regardless before we spray paint?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[silverbluebp]

One thing I should have done but didn't was rolling the fender lips. If I have to re-paint my 66 one day, I'll roll em then!

I say, roll them.

 

[red65]

I am in the process of completing the restomod of my '65 coupe. The car is currently in primer and getting ready for paint. I am wondering if I should roll the fenders or not since the car has not yet been painted.

The 17x7s on the front of my '65 with similar suspension mods as yours, and 235/45R17 rubber, sometimes hit the inner front fender lips, but only when I'm on it very hard in corners at the track. They never hit during street driving, and I'm sure they wouldn't on a drag strip. If you're planning on running HPDE or open track events, definitely roll them.

On second thought, roll them anyway. Now's the time to do it.

 

[dodgestang]

I have my rears rolled but not my front and I run 17x8 all around. If you haven't painted it, you should just roll them IMO if you are going to work to maximize rubber on the car.

 

[triostang]

You really have no choice other than to "ROLL THEM".

 

[golf4283]

can someone please explain what rolling the fenders means? I have no clue but I think I'm gonna have to do it on my 66 cuase i will be running 17x8's on it.

 

[triostang]

When we put bigger or wider tires on our cars they will eventually rub on the fender and alot of the times cut the tires. so.... to help this people "roll" the inner edge of the fender inwards so there is a bit of more clearance and no more of the bad cutting on tires.

 

[Ferf]

can someone please explain what rolling the fenders means? I have no clue but I think I'm gonna have to do it on my 66 cuase i will be running 17x8's on it.

It is when you take the fender lip and roll it up into the wheel well. It increases tire clearance so you can run a wider tire.

http://www.fly-ford.com/MM0105-How_To_Roll_Fenders-0407.htm

Later,

Chris

 

[dodgestang]

Running 17x8 doesn't mean you have to roll the fenders. It is the tire size you select for it. You can easily run a 235 45 17 on the car on a 17x8 and not have to roll the fenders in the rear and on the front if you have rebuilt the suspension, done the shelby drop and have a decent alignment you wouldn't need to roll the front either in most cases.

 

[golf4283]

I'm gonna run 245's on the rear and 235's on the front. I already have the wheels and tires ready to roll.

 

[red65]

Running 17x8 doesn't mean you have to roll the fenders. It is the tire size you select for it. You can easily run a 235 45 17 on the car on a 17x8 and not have to roll the fenders in the rear and on the front if you have rebuilt the suspension, done the shelby drop and have a decent alignment you wouldn't need to roll the front either in most cases.

[Raising hand to point out that this isn't always true...] Please see post 3

 

[dodgestang]

[Raising hand to point out that this isn't always true...] Please see post 3

Read my post more carefully

"have rebuilt the suspension, done the shelby drop and have a decent alignment you wouldn't need to roll the front either in most cases."

I believe that clearly states it is not always true. For the record I have 245 40 17 and don't rub on the front and I don't have the fenders rolled. But I have a very aggressive track tip to my tires in the alignment.

 

[rbohm]

i also say roll the fender lips. now is the best time to do it.

 

[66Runt]

The up side is more clearance (between 1/4" and 3/8"). The down side is, it's a great place to get dirt and mud caught up in.
I'd suggest rolling like a "U" shape, and then using a POR or undercoat in the "U".
The other down side is on rolling the rear fenders. It's double wall and spot welded, so you need to be gentle otherwise the outer flare gets bumpy looking.
After doing many cars with a bat, I bought the roller from Eastwood.
OMG! it is so nice to use the right tool.
Good luck,

 

[chromedog]

my rear fender lips are rolled, (they were when i got the car) in the front, however, the lips were removed, all except about 1/16". and a piece if 1/8" round stock stitched in. seal the welds with duraglas, and youre done. btw, i vote roll them now.

 

[Z06killinSBF]

Roll em now and not mess the paint up later.

 

[garner67]

Unless you want to install wheel well trim molding after painting it, you might as well roll the fender lips.

 

[70vert]

I was sooo tempted to rickroll this thread just because of the title . . . just sayin'!

 

[Grabber70Mach]

I'd vote to roll them now.