The Roadster Shop decided...
The Roadster Shop decided to widen the rear fenders, but not in the way you might think. A straight line marked on the fender's flat "horizontal" plane shows where it's going to split open like a hot dog in a microwave.
When it comes to custom metal work, anyone can drastically alter a truck or car for a dramatic response, and there are plenty of them out there. But do you want a vehicle that's well thought out and proportioned with clean lines, or the opposite, with a bunch of people gawking at the show because it's crazy looking? Granted, this is all a matter of taste, but custom metalwork is often a good place to exercise the "less is more" school of thought. Remember, the idea is to improve on what Detroit did or didn't do; those who find no fault in a truck's factory design tend to restore.
The Roadster Shop has honed in on this over the years and built a reputation on their good ideas and even better craftsmanship. In this installment on Mike Crimaldi's '53 F-100, we're taking a look at some of the changes to Henry's design toward the back half of the truck that might be overlooked or unnoticed if we didn't point them out. Follow along and get your wheel spinning, or call up the Roadster Shop and have them do it for you!
 A body saw makes short, steady...  A body saw makes short, steady work of almost severing the new Pro's Pick fender in half. |  After eyeballin' the situation...  After eyeballin' the situation long enough, the Roadster Shop determined that opening the very back of the fender 1 inch would accomplish what they were after. |  With the new gap well clamped...  With the new gap well clamped in place, the Roadster Shop held up a strip of sheetmetal on the back side and traced the gap onto it. |
 Sheetmetal shears quickly...  Sheetmetal shears quickly trimmed the new sliver of steel that will be added to the fender. |  Once all the trimming was...  Once all the trimming was done to ensure that the new piece fits perfectly into the gap, it was tacked in place. A job like this is probably better left to a TIG welder rather than a MIG welder's hard bead. Trying to fit a piece this long can be a tricky job, so cutting it into two or three pieces can make it much easier. |  The TIG welder leaves a softer...  The TIG welder leaves a softer weld than a MIG welder, it can be worked like the sheet-metal that surrounds it, and it can be hammer-welded with a body hammer and dolly to minimize warpage. |