Robert J Robert Janca Oakland, CA (53 posts) Registered: 10/21/2011 06:31PM Main British Car: 1975 MGB Ford 331 Stroker |
Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Based on Keith Tanner's excellent photo outline linked below, I decided to go ahead and install some VW Rabbit fender flares on the rear of my '75 MGB. Thought I would post these pictures here to add to the database.
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roverman Art Gertz Winchester, CA. (3188 posts) Registered: 04/24/2009 11:02AM Main British Car: 74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Robert, I bought "new" Rabbit rear flares,not fenders, from Rock Auto. Approx $34./ea, plus shipping. Not an endorsement. Thanks for the pick's, roverman.
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Personally, I don't like 'em. Purely a matter of taste mind you and for those that do, that's fine. But it sort of puts me in mind of rubber bolt-on Jeep flares. Nothing in common with the rest of the body. But at least they are steel.
Jim |
rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302 |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Jim, they're very similar to Omni flares; do you not like those either? Maybe I'm biased, but I think they look very natural on the B.
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
I don't mean to bash anyone's car or their craftsmanship. I know they have gained wide acceptance. I'm in the minority. It could be a minority of one. But the body contours of the MGB are all rounded. The only crease to be found anywhere on the car is the line down the side. It just doesn't meet my sense of aesthetics to put a crease around the wheel-well lip, that's all.
Jim |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Thanks for the photos. I have this comming up. I see you slotted the inner sheet metal. Do you fold that up to the new flair? If so can you show some pics of that? Thanks, Steve
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Robert J Robert Janca Oakland, CA (53 posts) Registered: 10/21/2011 06:31PM Main British Car: 1975 MGB Ford 331 Stroker |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Jim; No offense, but I always get a kick out of your mention of not liking the Rabbit flares. I feel that they are exponentially more tasteful than certain super wide rear ends. ;) They are very proportional to the car and look great in person.
In any case, I am using Omni flares on the front of my car and Rabbit flares on the rear. There is only a minimal difference between the two in person. Someone else built a GT with the same combination. I can post a picture if I find it. Steve - I shortened the tabs a small amount (0 to 3/4") from the length they are in the picture posted above. I folded them to meet the inside of the flare, tack welded all of them to the flare, then fiberglassed over that. They are "under glass" now, so pictures will not be a possibility. Let me just assure you that it is very easy to do. The whole rear flare project was as intuitive as can be. Just take your time to trim and prepare everything properly. Preparation and patience will be rewarded. Now on to the front flares...Wish me luck. |
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Robert J Robert Janca Oakland, CA (53 posts) Registered: 10/21/2011 06:31PM Main British Car: 1975 MGB Ford 331 Stroker |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
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Robert J Robert Janca Oakland, CA (53 posts) Registered: 10/21/2011 06:31PM Main British Car: 1975 MGB Ford 331 Stroker |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
I'd like to point out one more interesting tidbit. You may notice that Kieth's flares sit up over the trim line on his car. The top of my flares just meet the trim line, like the flares on the red car shown above. I'm not sure exactly how Keith came up with that fit, but it looks like either way does work fine.
Ah yes - Buy a sheet metal nibbler. They are cheap on Ebay, they run on air and they make the most beautiful cuts you would ever like to make on any body metal. Seriously, buy one. Thank me later. |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Yes, those wide flares are sort of a necessary evil I guess. How else to avoid tubbing the car? I'll grant you it pushes the styling in the Ace/Cobra direction, which is not a result to be desired since the MGB is overall a much better car to start with. But how much rear tire is too much? IS there any such thing?
Of course it is all a system of compromises. The flares enable the wide tires. The wide tires enable the Jag IRS, and all three enable the 8" of suspension travel which has wonderful benefits for all aspects of driving. But could you see Rabbit flares covering the stock inner wheelwells moved outwards by adding a 3" strip of metal to the center seam? We looked at it, and I don't think it can be done. At least not without tubbing the rear and that is just a huge job once you're into the frame rails. The red car does look good. Jim |
Robert J Robert Janca Oakland, CA (53 posts) Registered: 10/21/2011 06:31PM Main British Car: 1975 MGB Ford 331 Stroker |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
I'm just ribbing you Jim. I certainly don't know where you would put the wheels if you tubbed the car and anyway the rear end sets the stage for the blower through the hood.
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
Actually you are quite right, since the flares came first. And of course it'd all be for nought without the wing;-)
Jim |
NCtim Tim Shumbera Western North Carolina (239 posts) Registered: 01/19/2012 04:35PM Main British Car: |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
If you were a glutton for punishment you could cut that lip off the flare or roll it softly under to meet the inner metal. It would be unique and keep with the softness of the MG's curves. Just a thought . . .
Tim |
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Keith Keith Tanner Grand Junction, Colorado (92 posts) Registered: 10/31/2008 01:45AM Main British Car: For the purpose of this forum, 1972 MGB GT 5.7l Chevrolet LS1 |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
I came up with my fit for functional reasons. I set up the suspension limits first, and at full compression that's where my wheel ended up. I needed to place my flares where I did to clear and cover the wheels. I do have a relatively wide track, chosen for the handling aspects.
I think they suit the car perfectly. I would argue that there are a number of angles on the car similar to the edge of the flares - especially on the GT. The front of the hood. The edges of the roof. The depression around the rear window glass. The top of the rear fenders. The headlight openings. Even the treatment of the Special Tuning air dam blends in really nicely to them. In person, the car doesn't look modified unless you realize that Pininfarina didn't put them there. It's defintely not "cobraesque" - the Sebring flares are much further along that line. |
Jim Stabe Jim Stabe San Diego, Ca (829 posts) Registered: 02/28/2009 10:01AM Main British Car: 1966 MGB Roadster 350 LT1 Chevy |
Re: Rear Rabbit Flares Installed
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