rlogan

iTrader: (21)

If you look at this picture you will see that the ones with the flattened edges should be rears !?!?

The ones I have (that fit the front perfectly) have the flattened edge profile.

I dunno...

GeneSplicer

iTrader: (14)

^^ exactly like mine (like your pics), except the non-flanged flares do fit the rear but will make the wheel well look disproportionately big

turbotyla

iTrader: (2)

i actually like the non flanged flares myself. But i would have to see them in person.

I would be interested in maybe buying all the fronts you guys dont want haha.

is there anyway we can get the guy that makes these in contact with all of use to figure out what is going one with the mix match of whats going on.

i really want a set of these soon.

AlanB

iTrader: (1)

If you intend to run a wheel/tire pkg that is 23" tall (assuming you are running aggressive offsets) you HAVE to run the 'flangeless" on the front. I am pretty sure a 23" tire will grab one of the flanged flares when turning, especially under compression.

rlogan

iTrader: (21)

I have never had in my possession a pair of the non flanged flares (It's good to see that they actually exist). I think the shop that makes these for him just used the wrong jigs to trim them. They probably thought the rounded ones were wider so they must be the rear and vice-versa.

The ones I have are marked LF/RF and are clearly flanged(which as you know is not how it should be). Last time I spoke with him, I was looking at shape alone and I had told him I still did not have fronts. I was thinking maybe the shop cheaped out and just used one mold for both. That doesn't seem to be the case since some of you actually have the rounded ones.

rlogan

iTrader: (21)

Okay, I got the other pair of flares from ZXTex...they are both trimmed to fit rear (on the inside anyway).

So, I didn't have a lot of time to inspect them this morning but at a glance it looks like they trim the inside contour to fit shape of car and they also trim outside. On the fronts they are just trimming off more.

Unfortunately, the shop making them is probably screwing up and trimming more off the outside of the ones that are contoured to fit the rear.

So now we all have a bunch of worthless flares...well, the fronts would probably be fine...they would just need some additional massaging on the outside edge. The rears (or at least what they currently have as rears) could be used as a jig.

rlogan

iTrader: (21)

I emailed him, sounds like we are SOL...the guy that was making these for him died. That's his excuse anyway...

I'll do a little more test fitting this weekend and let you guys know what I have available that might be of use.

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

Geez what a headache

GeneSplicer

iTrader: (14)

Someone got lucky with fitment. He's local so maybe I can compare flares... not that that'll help anything.

If anyone wants to sell their flanged rears, let me know, I'll buy them (or the whole set... again)

Comment on flare fitment only

tuckermon

iTrader: (5)

Do we have a source for these anywhere?

chance91

iTrader: (3)

What did he use for the seam there? It looks really nice. This is what I want to do with my setup. I'm also doing what everyone else does, and using rivnuts.

I'm trying for 10.5" wheels on 275/285 tires. Need some freaking width...

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

No one makes a 285. Well I guess they do, but they're non-dot American racier 10.5x23.4R15 circle track slicks.

charchri4

285/30-18s are 24.7 tall and have quite a few good tire options...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...=1&RunFlat=All

Not all of them are cheap but there are options!

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

And they're about 1.5" too tall to work properly.

charchri4

No question they take surgery to get them on the car and you can't go as low as you can a shorter tire. Hey I should go measure mine again now that the trailer is off it. Is ride height what you mean by not working properly?

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

"surgery" like completely cutting up the car to make the wheel wells not only go higher but be wider because that wheel and tire is going to very much intersect the firewall at useful steering angles.

charchri4

No I just cut the sheet metal on the fender at the wheel arch. I didn't cut my fire wall at all but I did push the bottom of a gusset in about a 1/4". I didn't mess with any structural stuff because it's not needed. And I'm not THAT stupid!

At my current ride height I do get a little rub at full lock but other than that it doesn't hit anything. At least not in 2 autocrosses and 2500 miles. It didn't hit at all till I dropped the car a couple of turns for a high speed event. It wouldn't hit at all if I raised it back up a turn. I'll probably do that this weekend.

I did hit the bump stop in the drivers rear with the trailer on once. But that was after I lowered the car for the speed thing and only once in about 400 miles of towing the thing so not a big deal really.

To be clear I'm not saying anyone else should do what I did by any means. It absolutely totaled the car. But I do know an NA with 255/40/17s on 17x10 +25 wheels works just fine in all driving conditions including a tight autox course.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

You do realize the extra inch of width of the tires you suggested over the ones you're running turn your "slight rub at full lock" into a major issue.

charchri4

Where it rubs is a height issue. It hits the face of the tire toward the outside edge of it and rubs the dust off about an inch wide. Both sides are the same and it hits the fire wall.

I hope I don't sound like I am arguing with you because that is not my intention. I know on paper this should not work and I thought that too till I got board enough to take one of the tires of my firebird and try it.



I spent a lot of hours pulling fenders and measuring with that 275/40-17 before I figured out what will really work on the car.

I sized my flares to fit a 275/35-17 tire and I believe they would fit better than the 255/40s because they are a tad shorter. I can't prove that because I have not tried it and you are quite right there may be issues at full lock with that much tire.

As for the 285s I didn't measure for wider than 275 to speculate but my guess is on an NB if he started with that size and built his set up accordingly it would probably work fine. They are shorter than my 255s and if there are issues it would probably be at full lock. But of course you are never going to have under 4" at the pinch weld with them.

charchri4

Oh brother I just realized this is a year old thread about a different topic. My bad I'm out of here.