360 inner front fender/wheel arch imperfections

Discussion in '360/430' started by f360nh, Aug 11, 2014.

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  1. f360nh

    f360nh Karting

    Apr 12, 2014
    210
    NH
    Full Name:
    John Q.
    Going through my 360 with a fine tooth comb...

    Around the passenger front fender/wheel arch I noticed the sheet metal is not completely even when walking my hand against the inside part of the arch...

    See here for the section I'm talking about:

    http://www.prime-motoring.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/3604-814x400.jpg

    I'll try to post a picture but that's the idea -- any thoughts on why that may be? This is with the standard 18" wheels so no rubbing issues.
     
  2. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2009
    24,352
    Honolulu
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    In certain conditions the tires can catch the sheet metal at the 12 o'clock position. Take a wooden dowel, axe or hammer handle and put it on top of the wheel and reform it by lifting up and sliding it over the area....carefully! You should be able to correct the condition. Now how did it happen? Not sure, I inherited my car with this on both wheel arches. I have driven my car 5K miles with Ferrari recommended tires and it has not returned. You cant tell that there was ever any contact.
     
  3. fiat

    fiat Karting

    Aug 5, 2012
    80
    florida
    Full Name:
    graziano
    Have the inner lip of the fender rolled. Ferrari did just that with the 430 models. I had the same problem because i mounted 19 inch wheels and bigger tires along with lowering the car. It seems to me that Ferrari had the same problem with stock wheels and tires, perhaps that is the reason they started to roll the fender lips on the 430.
     
  4. f360nh

    f360nh Karting

    Apr 12, 2014
    210
    NH
    Full Name:
    John Q.
    I'm reading that I should use a heat gun to warm up the area (locally) to make sure the paint does not crack when rolling the fenders?
     
  5. spikes360

    spikes360 Formula Junior

    Apr 1, 2013
    420
    Niles, IL
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I had this done at the dealer - I think it was about a $100 per side. When I first purchased it the PPI caught the damage of the lip. When I would back out of my driveway and turn the wheel it would catch a few times so I had it done. Yes there are videos that show you how to do it with a bat and a heat gun. I didn't want to take the chance for a few hundred to burn the paint or crack the fender. All is wonderful now!
     
  6. ncjetskier

    ncjetskier Formula 3

    Jul 7, 2012
    1,416
    Eastern NC
    Full Name:
    Chris
    It happened to me. Car was parked on a slant (drivers side was higher than the passenger side). As I turned, the tire grabbed the lip as the car's weight as there is more weight on the passenger side. I went to the local body shop and they used a rubber mallet to beat it back into shape.

    A couple of months later, I had all the rock chips repaired, so I asked that they bend it back into the original shape. They did a good job. I will not park on an incline where one side of the car is higher than the other, putting more weight on the passenger side.
     
  7. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2009
    24,352
    Honolulu
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    Maybe this makes sense, I was ok without heat. Mine did not have a lot of metal that had moved (maybe 1/2" max) so I tried to find some hard wood that had about the same contour as the wheel arch and 30 second later all done. I ended up using a framing hammer turned sideways and with my hand on the claw and the other end resting on the tire it worked like a champ.
     
  8. fiat

    fiat Karting

    Aug 5, 2012
    80
    florida
    Full Name:
    graziano
    yes you need to heat the fenders. But as spike360 said, why take a chance. I would let a good repair shop or a dealer do the job. in my case i let a local porsche audi bentley shop do my 360. it is worth spending the money and do it right.
     
  9. MufflerMan

    MufflerMan Formula 3

    Jun 12, 2005
    1,564
    Sacramento Ca
    Full Name:
    Colby Sandman
    Absolutely heat the fender on the edge. I use a kids wood baseball bat to do it, carefully roll it between the tire and the fender lip after uniform heating, we charge $100 total for both front fenders at my shop. The first 360 to get this treatment from the factory was the CS, and as mention above, the 430s are all this way.
     

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