Fender flares or no fender flares?

[olymunch]

Thinking about removing the fender flares and eventually putting a custom tube fender that follows the contour of the fender- ties into custom rock sliders and mates to a custom front and rear bumper.

Any thought/pics?

[greymarooneightytwo]

I removed mine because ice was building up between them and the body in the winter, and dirt and rain was getting in in the summer... they looked okay, but I'd rather keep the body rust-free.

I'm also considering custom flares when I get around to lifting it up and getting some offset rims, I'm hoping some sort of jeep flares will be easily modified to fit.

[olymunch]

Here's some pics of a red one with no flares, I think it looks good. I don't much care for the article but the pics are good.

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1981-eagle-sx4-the-trickster/

I think there is a member here that has a ride in the ROTM, black sx4, that removed the flares and ground effects but I can't really tell from the pic.

If you find something aftermarket, especially if it bolts in, please let me know!

[vangremlin]

I don't think I've ever seen anything aftermarket that would bolt on easily.  The one in the article looks decent without the flares, but I think you'd get a lot of mud, dirt, water thrown up on it without the flares.

By the way, thanks for the link to the article.  The author is clearly unqualified to judge cars, only knows enough to try to be funny on his blog.  I posted a response and a picture of my Kammback so people can see how cool these cars are.

[olymunch]

Yea I was wondering about that too. Mud being flung and all.
Your totally right, he obviously has no idea about eagles or their far superior 4x4 system to urabus.
Check this out:

http://www.gizmag.com/italdesign-giugaro-parcour-all-terrain-supercar/26530/

It's one of my PERFECT cars!

[MudPuppy]

I removed the fender flares on my wagon and SX. Mainly just because of all the gunk they like to collect and it being a pain-in-the-arse to get it all out.

[IowaEagle]

I have no rot under the fender flares.  Now the body flair is a different story.

[MudPuppy]

I have no rot under the fender flares.  Now the body flair is a different story.

I didn't have any rot under my fender flares either... luckily. A lot of crud but no rot.
Did find an odd dent on the rear fender (that was under the flare) on the wagon though.
Still have the body flares on both, need to remove them. Don't expect any rot and hopefully I won't find any.
But the only way I see that the body flares can be removed is by taking a wheel off, unless there is some other alternative that I don't know about. I do want to keep them intact, so not wanting to just rip them off.

[IowaEagle]

I have no rot under the fender flares.  Now the body flair is a different story.

I didn't have any rot under my fender flares either... luckily. A lot of crud but no rot.
Did find an odd dent on the rear fender (that was under the flare) on the wagon though.
Still have the body flares on both, need to remove them. Don't expect any rot and hopefully I won't find any.
But the only way I see that the body flares can be removed is by taking a wheel off, unless there is some other alternative that I don't know about. I do want to keep them intact, so not wanting to just rip them off.

The are hung on kind of a flange/rail like strip on the door.  Remove the screws on the bottom and lift up.  I had a lot o crud under mine because the rocker panels were rusting out.

[MudPuppy]

I have no rot under the fender flares.  Now the body flair is a different story.

I didn't have any rot under my fender flares either... luckily. A lot of crud but no rot.
Did find an odd dent on the rear fender (that was under the flare) on the wagon though.
Still have the body flares on both, need to remove them. Don't expect any rot and hopefully I won't find any.
But the only way I see that the body flares can be removed is by taking a wheel off, unless there is some other alternative that I don't know about. I do want to keep them intact, so not wanting to just rip them off.

The are hung on kind of a flange/rail like strip on the door.  Remove the screws on the bottom and lift up.  I had a lot o crud under mine because the rocker panels were rusting out.

Good to know. Thanks Doug
Now does the flange/rail thing come off somehow? Please god, don't say it's riveted on lol

[IowaEagle]

IIRC, its riveted to the door. 

[Whuntmore]

I took mine off.   I want to keep the body as rust free as possible.  My car isn't a 'Fair-Weather' car.

[Nightpath]

Whats the wagon look like without them?

When I go to gussy my old wagon up with a sanding and a paint job I might just leave them off if it looks better.

[eaglefreek]

Whats the wagon look like without them?

A Concord.

[Whuntmore]

Pretty much or a Hornet Sportabout...   I have a concord grille... Maybe I'll stick that on as well.

Maybe I should put up a picture so you can see: