Flashy, first off great idea... the only thing is do you want lambo style blocky looking ones? of flares that match up to the stock curves?
the great thing about it... i can throw together bondo/fiberglass proto plugs... and then send them off to the new carbon fiber members on here, and get some CF going for our little cars!
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01:21 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
Flashy, I liked the first set of flares. They have more of the '80's Fiero shape. Maybe just a little touch up to them to make them look less Lambo style.
what about changing that second set of flares on the yellow car to not extend all the way to the bottom of the car. could you photoshop them to where they are maybe a couple inches above the bottomof the car, perhaps in line with the gt molding all the way around. i think that would look better and then lessen their bulkiness all the way around too. maybe to where they go only an inch or two above the side trim at the middle of the car, maybe even to where the top of the flares match up with the bottom of the trim itself. that would reduce how big they look overall on the car and how much it would take to make them as well. think you could do a photoshop of this to give us a test look at this?
------------------ joeschmotty red '86 gt
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12:24 PM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
You want to make some really good money, make a body kit that looks like the Ferrari, lambo. the Saleen, etc... But do the one thing that other kit cars don't have, use the stock body mounts so there is alot less to fab. and mod., I don't think extended the frame is that hard, just having to mount a body that another guy thought up is hard. Make it good, easy and with a good price!
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a Northstar soon
Eventually I hope to design full body kits or rebody for the fiero (few years down the road)... stock mounting points, except they wouldnt be made to look like any current car...
To me the ferrari/lambo's are kinda dumb in a way... spend thousands and thousands of dollars making a car look like something its not. But of course you get the look with half the price but its still not the same.
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08:52 PM
htexans1 Member
Posts: 9114 From: Clear Lake City/Houston TX Registered: Sep 2001
How about a hood (Front) "Cowl Induction" style similar to what skitime has on his hood? I like his, but being the lazy military man i am, I'd rather have a bond on part rather than having to split a scoop like he did. I'd never get it to line up... S.Williams
------------------ 1988 Fiero Formula T-tops CJB 143 of 1252 "factory T-top cars"
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09:54 PM
Dec 11th, 2003
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
Yeah, that's probably a better representation than what I'd come up with except for everything smoothed in. The only thing is you'd somehow have to leave in the trim along the side to be able to maintain the body mounting points and to make it look factory-ish. That'll be the challenge. This reason might be why a bolt-on style may be a better way to go. UNLESS not only do you modify new molded front fenders but also the nose to line everything up. More work...Hmmmmm...
The problem with bolt on would be making it look right... I'm not sure how good it would look to be traveling along the trim and then hit these smooth fender flares. To be able to have the flares go all the way down you would need seperate sections for the nose/rear otherwise once you put it on there you couldnt remove them (unless just bolted on) and then constant removal may cause damage to fenders/nose/and flares...
there might be a way to do it but I'm not sure if it would be cost effective... I'll work on some drawings and post what I come up with... it might be a glass in application only though
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12:23 AM
Xantavar Member
Posts: 1158 From: Big Rapids, MI...Ferris State Registered: Nov 2002
You could produce them with a "lip" section that secures behind the stock fenders between the wheelwell. Then, if anyone wanted a smooth shape, they just have to fiberglass the ridge in.
this is exactly why i said to make them above the lower trim of the car (on that orange car, it is the gray trim) and below the trim that is normally on the side of the car. make them bolt on. that way you wouldnt have to deal with the flow of the trim and the car's lines at all.
------------------ joeschmotty red '86 gt
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08:32 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
wouldn't you want the trim to cover the area where the panels are split? maybe have it bonded to the top section of the fender flare? and then have the 2 smaller sections seperate? The problem i see is just making it look right bolted on... it would be really easy to bond it on there to look good; but i dont think, no matter how you did it, bolting it on would look like crap... just a cheap stuck on part... like those chrome flare accents that are out for the little import crowd (sorry if anyone has those on their fiero)... it would look very out of place....
Maybe not... I'll slap one together out of some clay over the holidays and see how it looks...
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02:06 PM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
wouldn't you want the trim to cover the area where the panels are split? maybe have it bonded to the top section of the fender flare?
I'm not sure how that would look where added trim piece would meet up with the stock piece but that's definitely a way to keep the lines flowing...Good idea.
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03:57 PM
AusFiero Member
Posts: 11513 From: Dapto NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2001
To me the ferrari/lambo's are kinda dumb in a way... spend thousands and thousands of dollars making a car look like something its not. But of course you get the look with half the price but its still not the same.
True, plus there's mnay kits out there, as well as original cars. I'd like something that emulates this look, of a car that you can't buy.
------------------ 3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com 2002/2003 World of Wheels Winner & Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
That is the ideal kit i think... one that looks like something not available on the market...
t-toppers... i plan on pulling my t-top frame casting this weekend and hope to have a fiberglass t-top headliner pulled by mid next week... fiberglass and CF headliners here we come
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01:17 AM
PFF
System Bot
Smoooooth GT Member
Posts: 8823 From: Lake Palestine, Texas Registered: Jun 2001
Just bolt ons can look good if they are done right. This one lowered the top of the wheel Well by 1" without really widening it much.
OK, after seeing this I definitely like the look of the bolt-on...even more than glassed-in believe it or not. I don't know what it is but it seems...RIGHT! Awesome work Aus. Wow!
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03:12 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
Alright, I just went out to my garage to take a close look at the fender lines. I personally think AusFiero's example would flow better. The other one would look off balance when looking straight on at the front of the car (too top heavy). Not to mention if you were to add wider wheels you'd have major tire sticking out at the bottom and tucked in at the top. Also, having it flared right to the bottom will act as a kind of mud-flap. What do others think?
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03:22 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
that is very nice. want to touch the fender! a question. on the fronts if the flares lower the wheel gap, will the tires have clearance? say, guys with 17-18's.????
Yes definitely. Those examples of my front fenders above are 17's and it's lowered...so you can see there's still lots of room. Plus if they flare outward enough, the wheel will sink up inside the fender flare's well and not rub anyway.
[This message has been edited by FLASHY (edited 12-12-2003).]
theres one key probem... i dont have a GT to mould the parts to.... hmmmmm now what... guess i'll have to go buy a GT. either that or fibercustoms will do GT plugs and I will do formula plugs... what do ya say fibercustoms?
any other ideas? i get out of school today and i plan on working all weekend so throw some more at me
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02:18 PM
Voytek Member
Posts: 1924 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Jan 2001
well flashy, i consent to your design after that final pic. i love it. its gorgeous and i would love to see it on my car in that exact design actually. whoever makes this ought to try their best to replicate it as in the pic. once again, incredible.
one request, any chance a view like that could be done of the front from a more back view like that, and perhaps on of both the front and back together from a backward slant like that. i would love to see how they protrude together from the rear/side of the car angle. thanks for your work flashy and aus! thank you for your "hopefully soon-to-be" products nebiros and fibercustoms!
------------------ joeschmotty red '86 gt
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02:01 AM
fibercustoms Member
Posts: 43 From: san diego, ca Registered: Nov 2003
unfortunately i only have a base model to work on for now, but i am sure i could find a donor car here in San Diego. Nebiros88, we should discuss who shall start designing the tooling, and which parts should have priority.
As of right now I only have a T-top Formula (my special girl)... So GT parts will need to be on hold until one of us can at least snag a front & rear bumper. (sorry guys, but it will happen soon)
Right now I'm trying to get my proto-type fiberglass t-top headliner done (this weekend) because I am tired of seeing my t-bar, other then that I dont have much in the works. I have 30 lbs of non-drying modeling clay / foam and a few other materials that I can use to develope parts. I think that would be the best way to mock stuff up; because we would be able to post pics of the clay mock-up, and see if thats the way the majority of people want it, or what needs to be changed. (Products developed for the people by the people)
Shoot me a pm on what you have planned FiberCustoms...
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02:44 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
Originally posted by joeschmotty: any chance a view like that could be done of the front from a more back view like that, and perhaps on of both the front and back together from a backward slant like that. i would love to see how they protrude together from the rear/side of the car angle.
This is the best I can do for now. It's not too accurate but gives you an idea anyway.
OOoooooo a choptop version....
[This message has been edited by FLASHY (edited 12-13-2003).]
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03:14 AM
FLASHY Member
Posts: 1079 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2001
Originally posted by Nebiros88: I have 30 lbs of non-drying modeling clay / foam and a few other materials that I can use to develope parts. I think that would be the best way to mock stuff up; because we would be able to post pics of the clay mock-up, and see if thats the way the majority of people want it, or what needs to be changed. (Products developed for the people by the people)
What a great idea! Now that's service! You guys are awesome...my dream just might come true after all.
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03:18 AM
fibercustoms Member
Posts: 43 From: san diego, ca Registered: Nov 2003
nice work Flashy. i know you dont want to hear it, but since i have a base model then thats what i think i should start with for the flares. unless i can find a guy with a GT in San Diego, then it will have to wait until one of us gets one. I was starting on the engine lid first though, so............
Here's one example I made for another thread. Notice how they fill in the fender gap? It looks lower than it really is. It's photoshopped with a choptop but that doesn't matter...
