Rapom's Rocket - just another Duster build thread

Hey Blu, I decided to change rims and stick with a 9" up front rather than try to push the envelope. A minor mistake here could end up a major expense so I chickened out! Wade, Uchoog1, is (was?) running 9.5s with 7.2" of BS and a 275/40-18 Pilot Sport. Reported tire hitting frame in back and at the same time rubbing fender at the top. Limited his turn to 1.5 turns and not on the stops. I'm trying to not create problems for myself so discretion took over.

On the fender I started out with a rubber mallet and believe it or not a big ol dull chisel. Cut 3 small slits in each corner so the metal wouldn't tear as I slowly rolled the metal over. The chisel was just the right shape to support the back of the lip as I worked the lip over with the mallet. Once I got the bend started I switched to a small body hammer and used progressively thinner pieces of scrap metal to back up the rolled portion as I worked it over. The key to the whole thing is to go S-L-O-W. Its more of a "tap tap tap" process than "wack a mole". Even though the tight spot is at the top of the arch I did a progressive roll staring almost at the bottom corners. The flat plate supports will get the roll almost even with the inner sheet metal but the sharp edge will be exposed to the tire. I used an allen wrench clamped in a pair of vice grips to back up the roll as I worked the sharp edge of the lip further over. The finished roll is lower than the surrounding sheet metal and wont slice up the tire if it ever contacts it. Now I have to duplicate it on the other side. Used a piece of flat copper as a backer and tacked the slits closed with the MIG. Finish off with a flap disk on the grinder. I took the day off to work on the car but so far have been ordering stuff and web surfing!