Do-it-yourself body extension

How to widen the wheel arches of a car with your own hands

Today it is very popular to install wide-profile tires on car wheels. This type of tuning has become widespread among car enthusiasts. This is explained by the fact that in this way the adhesion of rubber to the road surface improves, and thus the driving performance of the car improves.

However, this type of tuning leads to the fact that in some cases, when the rim width is increased very much, it is necessary to widen the car's wheel arches.

DIY fenders for arches

If we talk about the goal that we pursue by widening the wheel arches of a car, we can name 2 main factors:

protection of the body from dirt, dust and stones flying from under the wheels;
improving the appearance of the car.

For this purpose, you can purchase universal fenders or make arch extensions yourself.

Ready-made fenders

On sale you can find ready-made overlays that allow you to widen the wheel arches of your car. You can find the following options in stores:

Universal rubber pads. Sold in rolls. They are usually used by owners of off-road vehicles. However, rubber pads do nothing to improve the external aesthetics of the car - they only serve to protect against dirt and stones. Therefore, they are not very popular among car owners.
Fenders made of plastic. They are attached to the arches using self-tapping screws.
Fiberglass body kits are covers that are mounted on arches with self-tapping screws. The surface and gaps are covered with putty, after which they are painted to match the main color of the car.

If such overlays turn out to be unsuitable for some reason, you can make arch extensions with your own hands.

Car wheel arch extensions

We expand the wheel arches of a car using polystyrene foam

Expanded polystyrene is great for widening the wheel arches of your car. It has the following advantages:

affordable price;
non-hygroscopic;
low specific gravity;
excellent machinability;
high compression resistance;
non-flammability.

The process of working with polystyrene foam in our case is as follows:

Using Macroflex we glue the foam pieces to the car body.
Using a knife and sandpaper, we give the material the desired shape.
We apply resin to the treated polystyrene foam.
We overlap the fiberglass, making sure that there are no air bubbles.
We wait for the fiberglass to dry and perform puttying.
We grind the dried putty, fill all the irregularities with filler and wait for it to dry.
We sand again and treat with a primer.
After the primer has dried, we paint the arches to match the color of the rest of the car.

DIY wheel arch covers

Using sculptural plasticine

If you were good with plasticine in school, you can use this skill to fashion extensions for your car from it. The algorithm consists of the following stages:

Contact areas of the body are covered with construction tape.
Sculptural plasticine is glued to adhesive tape, and overlays are formed from it. This is quite painstaking work - you need to ensure the correct shape and symmetry.
Once you are satisfied that the shape suits you and both sides look symmetrical, you can coat the resulting pieces with epoxy resin and fiberglass. At least 3 layers should be applied.
After drying, remove the plasticine from the mold.
Fix the resulting products with self-tapping screws on the body of your car.
Next - perform puttying, priming and painting, as described in the previous section.

DIY wheel arches

Application of polyurethane foam

Another suitable material for forming wheel arch extensions is polyurethane foam. Working with it is quite simple, and the algorithm looks like this:

We use standard plastic fenders as a basis - we divide them into parts and fix them with self-tapping screws on the car body.
First, from below, and then from above, we blow out layers of polyurethane foam.
We wait until it dries, after which we give it the desired shape using sandpaper and a knife.
For strength, we coat the resulting fenders with epoxy and fiberglass, as described above.
Next we putty, sand, prime and paint as indicated in the previous sections.

Conclusion

It is important to understand that widening the wheel arches should be done when wide-profile tires are installed on the car. In this case, we will need effective protection of the body from stones, dirt and other negative factors.

You can purchase ready-made fenders and install them on your car, or call on all your creative abilities and make the fenders yourself. For this purpose, materials that have good machinability and allow you to obtain the necessary strength and durability are suitable.

During the work process, it is important to monitor the shape and symmetry - the result should not only protect the body, but also look beautiful. Be careful, take your time, use all your creative abilities - and the result will definitely be beyond praise.

DIY arch extensions

The use of wide-profile rubber on cars and SUVs is accompanied not only by a change in appearance, but also by severe contamination of the car body. Wheel arch extensions or, as they are also called, fenders, allow you to level out these negative aspects. You can implement your plans in different ways.

Inflated wheel arches perform two main functions at once:

Protect the fenders and doors of the car from damage to the paintwork by stones thrown from under the wheels,
They give the appearance of the entire body an attractive and “muscular” appearance.

At the end of the article, watch the video instructions on how to make arch extensions with your own hands.

There are several popular methods that are used by motorists to increase wheel arches.

Universal and original fenders for arches

On sale there are both universal wheel arch extensions and original body kits.

Universal rubber fender flares are sold in roll form. They are usually used by SUV owners. But these additional elements for the body can only fulfill one of the assigned tasks. Rubber fenders will protect the arches from the effects of stones and sand, but they cannot improve the appearance of the car, which is why they are not widely used in car tuning.
Universal plastic fenders are found on sale in the form of curved blanks. They are mounted to the arch using self-tapping screws.
Fiberglass body kits can often have defects, both in configuration and in the quality of cutting. Only those motorists who are not afraid of dirty work with putty can install such expanders.
- When installing, it is important to initially accurately attach the material to the arch with self-tapping screws.
- The wing is first protected with masking tape, after which the “blown” arch is puttied.
- After drying, the surface of the fender is smoothed with sandpaper and painted in the body color.

An alternative to purchased fenders can be homemade wheel arch extensions.

DIY arch extensions

You can expand the wheel arches yourself using various materials. As a rule, all homemade fenders for arches are made of fiberglass. However, the basis of such expanders may be different.

Below we provide a brief description, and at the end of the article there is a video that clearly shows how you can make fenders for arches with your own hands.

Arch extensions based on polystyrene foam (foam)

A good material for increasing the volume of wheel arches is polystyrene foam. The sequence of manufacturing styrofoam-based fenders will be as follows:

Pieces of the required size are glued to the surface of the body using “macroflex”.
After the glue has dried, the foam styrene is processed with an electric knife and coarse sandpaper.
The treated surface is covered with a layer of resin and fiberglass to add strength.
The pieces of fiberglass are laid overlapping each other; it is important to remove any air bubbles that appear in a timely manner.
When the fiberglass layer is dry, a rough putty is applied.
The dried surface is smoothed with sandpaper.
Existing sinks are filled with a finishing layer of putty.
If necessary, several more layers of fiberglass are applied, followed by puttying, sanding, priming and painting.

Making fenders for arches using sculptural plasticine

Fender flares can also be made from fiberglass using sculpting clay.

The working surface of the body element is previously covered with masking tape.
Softened plasticine is spread on the wings. First, the material is rubbed into the masking tape in a thin layer, and then the volume of the arch is created in large pieces.
The most difficult job will be giving the arches a symmetrical shape.
Next, epoxy resin and fiberglass are applied. The number of layers must be more than three.
After drying, the resulting expander matrices are removed along with the plasticine. The inner surface of a homemade fender is cleaned of plasticine.
All that remains is to fit the parts in place and attach them to the arches using self-tapping screws and sealant.
The final stage will be the same finishing operations of grinding and applying paints and varnishes.

Arch extensions based on polyurethane foam

To make a mold for expanding the arch, you can also use polyurethane foam as a base.

The base is made from universal plastic arches. The plastic is cut into pieces and attached to the wing with self-tapping screws.
Polyurethane foam is applied immediately inside the arch, and then outside.
When the foam has completely hardened, the arch is trimmed to the required geometry using a utility knife and sandpaper.
The next step will be to reinforce the structure using fiberglass and resin. A minimum of 2 layers of fiberglass should be applied.
All that remains is finishing (sanding, priming and painting).

It makes sense to widen the wheel arches only when the car has wide tires. Blown arches will not only change the design of the car, but will also save body parts from chips and damage.

Video instructions on how to make fenders for arches with your own hands

How to expand the body

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Wheel arch extensions

Surely, many have seen wheel arch extensions or linings on various cars, more often SUVs. Many people think that these details serve as some kind of decorative element, however, the function of arch extensions is not limited to this. Let's try to figure out what widened wheel arches are, what is their main function and how to make them yourself?

Why are wheel arch extensions needed?

Off-road driving or frequent visits to rural areas necessarily requires further car washing. The fact is that wide-profile tires, most suitable for driving on such terrain, protrude significantly beyond the car’s arches. All the dirt collected on the tire treads, when the wheel rotates, flies towards the body, as a result of which it becomes quite dirty. To combat this problem, many SUV designers have made the vehicle body significantly wider by increasing the protrusion of the wheel arches.

This improvement did not apply to all cars. Many models are produced on ordinary narrow tires, which insatiable drivers are sure to replace with wide-profile ones. The wheel arches, in turn, remain the same size, which makes it necessary to increase them.

Increasing the width of the wheel arches is now possible with special linings that attach to the car body and make it a little wider. Wheel arch extensions are produced as car accessories and are installed outside the factory.

Ways to widen wheel arches

There are two ways to increase the width of the wheel arches. The first is to install special car linings, and the second involves making these parts yourself, based on the driver’s taste preferences.

Wheel arch extensions found on sale can be of three main types:

Universal . For universal extenders, there is no clear restriction on the make and model of the car. They are sold in the form of special rubber rolls, which are adjusted to the arch of the car and attached to the arch from the reverse side. This extender allows you to protect the car body from the ejection of small pebbles or dirt, but it has a rather significant drawback for drivers - an ugly design. Their execution worsens the appearance of the car, which is why such arches are used only by SUV drivers. However, the ugliness of these parts is offset by the low cost.

Universal plastic pads . They have a more advanced design and look good on many cars. There is already a limitation on the make and model of the car, since they are manufactured only in special sizes. Installing an extender from one car to another model is not possible. Fastening to the body is carried out using self-tapping screws. For all their aesthetic advantages, these arches do not protect the body well from dirt and are best used as decoration.

Fiberglass arch extensions . They are a perfect addition to the body and have some installation difficulties. They are made from rough material, the appearance of which is far from comparable to the commercial one. Such expanders are also fastened using self-tapping screws, but the surface of the linings is cleaned and a layer of putty is applied to them. After which, the part is aligned with the body and painted in the color of the car body. Thus, the result is a wheel arch extension that becomes one with the body and invisible to the naked eye. Installing such an overlay will require additional painting experience.

How to make wheel arch extensions with your own hands?

If for some reason you cannot purchase extenders in the store, you can make them yourself from various materials. Most often, the linings are made of special fiberglass, but there may be a different base. Each material has its own installation method.

Styrofoam. Polystyrene foam is a lightweight material that can be easily cut. Cut into the required shape and follow the following procedure:

1. Attach the workpiece to the car body using “macroflex”. Adjustment to the required shape can be done after the glue has dried using a special electric knife. After this, sand the surface of the foam using sandpaper.

2. To increase the strength of the foam, it must be coated with a layer of resin and a thin layer of fiberglass. Try to lay the pieces of fiberglass overlapping each other and remove any bubbles that form in time. Otherwise, there is a risk of seriously damaging the workpiece.

3. After the last two layers have dried, apply putty to the surface to be treated. Once it is dry, sand it down so that its shape is even and flows smoothly into the body of the car. It is quite possible that while you are leveling the surface of the future expander, small cavities may form. All this is eliminated with another layer of putty and processed again to a smooth state. This procedure is carried out until the surface is completely leveled, and after which a primer and paint material in the color of the car are applied.

Sculptural plasticine. Arch extensions can be made not only from polystyrene foam, but also from special plasticine.

1. Cover the working part of the body part with masking tape. Spread the prepared plasticine on the fenders of the car. Initially, plasticine must be rubbed into small layers of tape, after which the required shape of the future expander is created. The only difficulty that may arise is giving symmetry to the expanders. Here you will need a well-trained eye and knowledge of certain principles of geometry.

2. After this, apply a layer of epoxy resin, and then the same fiberglass. There must be at least three such layers. This amount determines the most optimal strength of the future expander.

3. Once the plasticine and fiberglass are dry, you need to remove the resulting expander. All the plasticine is pulled out from the inside of the future lining, the part is adjusted to the installation site and secured with self-tapping screws.

4. The final stage includes the same treatment with putty, sandpaper and painting.

Polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam is also widely used in the manufacture of wheel arch extensions. It is perhaps the cheapest and most reliable material, which is why it is in high demand.

1. You need to take a regular universal plastic arch as a basis. The plastic part is cut into pieces and attached to the car body using self-tapping screws. Foam must be applied outside and inside the arch.

2. After the foam has dried, you will need good sculpting skills, since only the creative process will go on. Using a utility knife and sandpaper, create a shape for the future expander.

3. At the end, all the same operations are performed involving the application of resin to the surface of the hardened foam, after which the putty is laid and a layer of paint is applied.

That's all. These are all the most common ways to widen wheel arches. It is worth recalling once again that this procedure only makes sense when you plan to install tires with a wide profile. In other cases, such a change in body design may not be aesthetically pleasing. We wish you good luck on the roads!

Announcement

Body extension

Dear VladimirVS, hello.
I have read a large number of topics on this forum, but still, I still have questions about registration for you.

1) The expansion affected the rear fenders, doors, sills and trunk.
2) The car was converted from a sedan to a coupe.
3) Custom bumpers were made.
4) The neck of the gas tank has been moved.
The integrity of the neck has been preserved, only the location and the hatch have changed. 5) New plexiglass side windows were made, covered with a protective film on both sides.
6) The color of the car has been changed.

Manufacturing took place with the help of a qualified welder.
The technical aspects of the car were not touched upon, only the visual ones. I studied the procedure (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2194)

Questions:
Is such a conversion possible?
Where can I see an example of filling out an application to the traffic police?

Registration: Apr 2009
Posts: 3431

Re: Body extension

A comment

Registration: Apr 2011
Posts: 20

Re: Body extension

Thank you for your quick response.

3) The bumpers were made “by hand”.
Accordingly, there is no certificate. In my opinion, the bumpers comply with UNECE regulations No. 26. 4) Photos must be taken.
I will write a “mini-report” soon. 5) Glass, I assume, complies with UNECE rules No. 43, because were manufactured by analogy with certified glass. The fact is that I was officially refused by production, citing the refusal as being too small a batch. It’s as if: “We won’t take on such an order, because... The minimum order should be 30 thousand rubles.” Therefore, glass was made in the same production, only “on the left”, through a familiar glazier. Accordingly, I cannot obtain a certificate for them.

I would be very grateful for your advice!

A comment

Registration: Apr 2011
Posts: 20

Re: Body extension

Fuel tank neck:
The neck is a bowl with two tubes.
The first is intended for direct fuel filling, the second is for feedback from the engine and air release when filling the gas tank. Initially, the neck was in its standard place, on a rubber suspension and connected to the fuel hoses using clamps.
In this regard, it was not difficult to dismantle the product, which preserved the integrity of the rear wing. When the neck was moved to the upper part of the “visual expansion of the body,” there was no change in the integrity of the product.
The fuel hoses were extended using oil/gasoline resistant pipes from a GAZelle car and secured with clamps. The visual transfer length is approximately 100mm.
The neck has been tested and meets all original specifications. Welding work was carried out while maintaining safety requirements.