Stock Gaps : Fender Install

[WE3RX7]

So while I'm somewhat in between mini projects on the bigger FC project, I decided to start fitting up the Foresight front fenders I got a few months ago from shine auto.

Overall I'm satisfied with the product. Its giving me the extra width up front I need without the (IMHO) terrible vents most aftermarket fenders for our cars have.

I give the build of the fenders 7/10. They look great, but I can already tell some decent finishing work is going to be required to make them look great once painted. The fitment is TIGHT. I had to muck around with them for about an hour to get them where I was satisfied for the night, but not really satisfied.

The issue I have is that I dont have a set of stock fenders any longer. So I'm not sure what the stock gap is supposed to be. I measured the gap at the rear of the door thinking it should be at least the same.

That measurement is 3/16" at the door to body (near the rear). Currently, my fender gap is 1/4" so I need to bring it in about another 1/16 to be what I THINK is stock.

Can somebody measure their FC for me? Measure the gap at the top in front of the mirror where the door and fender meet, as well as the middle where the molding is, and again at the bottom. I recall the '91 T2 I had, had more gap at the bottom than an S4 car so I'm trying to get this set as best I can. I believe these fenders to made and tested on an S5 as Shine seems to do that.

Sadly, I need to take it all off again before paint.. what a pain!

Here's some shots of what I've got so far...

The lighting makes it look worse, but here's the fender lined up as it is now:
http://www.findtuners.com/FCProject/fender_install5.jpg
http://www.findtuners.com/FCProject/fender_install2.jpg

Here's the top, this actually looks ok and follows the curve pretty well:
http://www.findtuners.com/FCProject/fender_install1.jpg

Here's the gap:
http://www.findtuners.com/FCProject/fender_install3.jpg

Here's the stock gap behind the door leading to the rear quarter:
http://www.findtuners.com/FCProject/fender_install4.jpg


The stock gap actually looks a little tighter than 3/16". I'll measure the drivers side door too, just to be safe.

Any insight would be appreciated. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so if additional body work ends up being what I need, than oh well. The bottom gap doesnt concern me as much since it'll be covered by sideskirts.

[Rx-7fetish]

I wouldn't worry to much about using stock gap widths with aftermarket stuff just try to make all the gaps with the new fenders all even from right to left fender.

[TitaniumTT]

Lining up an entire front end is going to be VERY tricky. Honestly Bill, I wouldn't worry to much about the gaps for now. I would start to really lock into them once you have a hood and a front bumper as well.

Actually, now that I think about it. If I were you I would bolt on a FACTORY hood and a FACTORY front bumper and then start messing around with the gaps. More than likely you are going to need to adjust the gap by adding or removing material front the fenders. Once you are happy with the fitment of the fenders, then more onto the hood or the nose but always doing one at a time.

Maybe Joe - Classic Auto - can chime in as he is way more experienced than I.

But that's what I would do, stock hood and nose to help align the fenders, then move onto the nose, finally the hood.

[WE3RX7]

Yea... I'm not overly worried about lining the entire fender up just yet since I'm still waiting on the other parts. This started because I wanted to make sure the fenders were ok before ordering more parts from shine. The only line I'm looking at now is the vertical one from door to fender as that should be independent from the other parts - although I'm sure it'll shift when I start playing with the bumper....

I like the idea of using stock parts, but unfortunately, my stock hood was damaged years ago and my stock front bumper got tossed when I moved about 5 years ago (it was cut up from the FMIC setup anyway)

[Max777]

yeah, most stuff is going to be S5... the front edges of the fenders also don't line up perfect with the S4 bumper, but S5 fits great, I've researched quite a bit, and found that shine auto tends to make stuff that fits tighter than original JDM aero parts at times and very close to factory, and overall have good fitment from all the people I spoke to about the product.


All in all, running ANY aftermarket aero parts on your car is a compromise of weight, fitment, quality and price.

[WE3RX7]

Yea - Overall I'm happy with the product and cant wait for the rest of the parts to be done!

I'll post a pic with everything on the car once its all done...