Speedster Fenders

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Speedster Fenders
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Friday, March 21, 2014 - 09:27 am:

Howdy everybody! So, I have a brass speedster but I really like the way the Mercury Body speedster fenders look. What I thought would be even cooler would be to have them brass plated to match the rest of the car. Over a few months I called and emailed a bunch of different hotrod and motorcycle shops all over the country looking for someone to make these for me. Literally all but 1 place said "No thanks, too busy." which is just wild to me in this economy, but whatever. The one place I did find said that they would make them from steel and have them brass plated, for about $2,000. I was really starting to wonder if maybe this was harder than I thought, or I was asking something really crazy. I then started calling around and found a brass plating shop in Maryland who said they'd plate my fenders for about $450 once I had them made. So that $2,000 just seemed a bit high, like "Yeah we will do it for $2,000 but hopefully he won't want to for that price."

Then I posted something about this whole idea I had on the forum and Ken Kopsky said to hit him up. I didn't get any of this "too busy" garbage. Ken said here's the measurements I want you to take, here are your options for the edge of the fender, get that back to me and I'll give you a price. WOWZA! Folks the people we have on the forum are awesome. I haven't made the brackets yet but as the pictures will show, these are works of art.











I'm in North Carolina - I know I measured about 6 different times and sent him that info but I swear he must have snuck over from Texas and test fit these babies a few times. I have the front end off the ground so the wheels spin, otherwise I'd show the front fenders too - they don't wrap quite as far as the back. Look at those pictures! You could definitely take those straight to paint. Since he knew they were getting plated he left them naked for me. The first round of copper plating will remove the tiny scratches, but I can darn near see myself in them already. I couldn't be more impressed or more pleased. Plus the price was RIGHT. Ya'll shoot Ken an email next time you want something fabricated. I won't post his email here cause I don't want him to get spammed (he can post it if he's cool with that), but I'll be glad to pass it out to anyone who wants. Thank you Ken! More pics to follow once I have these mounted and finally plated.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Schreiber- Santa Isabel Ecuador on Friday, March 21, 2014 - 09:46 am:

Look great. Clean and effective. Cool


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warren W. Mortensen on Friday, March 21, 2014 - 06:29 pm:

That is awesome!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Saturday, June 21, 2014 - 10:44 pm:

I know this is an older thread but since it's so short I thought I'd add an update. I haven't been able to work on Eliza much because I moved to a new house, but I recently was able to spend some time on it. Got the front brackets made and on. The rears should be easier and quicker and will hopefully be done soon.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Schreiber- Santa Isabel Ecuador on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 07:59 am:

They look great!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 11:32 am:

Seth Do you have any detailed drawings of the front brackets as I've had fenders for 40 yrs, but can't figure out how to make the brackets. I have a pr of reprod Merc rear brackets to make the rears with, as I'm going to use NOS TT express fenders for the rear. They match width etc for my original fronts. danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 01:36 pm:

Thanks for all the "flowers", Seth. I should mention Seth was very patient with me on these fenders. It was the first time I had made fenders with such a deep shape on a narrow body (radius) and it was a challenge for me. The rears are a full 180 degree tire rap and the fronts are 152.5 degrees.

I made a quick drawing, shown below, from the specs provided by Seth and that was my work sheet. I really didn't sneak up to North Carolina. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 02:08 pm:

I think those look much neater on a speedster than the full-fendered Rootlieb look. (No offense, Tom, just my opinion. :-) ) These have a really "racy" look to them, fitting the whole idea of a speedster.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 02:14 pm:

John - This is not the OEM setup but this shows one owner's method for the front fenders. There's three braces but the rear is hard to see. It looks like the rear bracket is attached to the steering arm with U-bolts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 03:37 pm:

Seth,

You are making great progress.

Ken,

Great looking fenders! Someday I hope to get some fenders on my speedster and those you made above look fantastic.

John,

If you have not already seen Fred Houston's article/page on constructing Cycle Fender brackets, please see his article on the Tulsa Model T Ford Club Tech page at: Cycle fenders from the Tulsa Model T Club web site
http://mtfctulsa.com/Tech/speedster_fenders.htm

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 04:24 pm:

I would have used moto fenders on the Speedster in the Greatraces, Mike, if they had been available. The early fenders, especially, add a lot of drag and instability at high speed. After we removed them in Cheyenne on the 2000 GR, it was like driving a different car. I was amazed.

The full fendered speedster is sometimes called a poor man's Mercer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 06:40 pm:

Thanks Hap, Didn't know Fred had put them up GREAT


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 07:24 pm:

Ralph -- Those pics look like a rich man's Mercer. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Saylor on Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 08:15 pm:

Yowza! Hope you don't get rained on :D


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