I'd keep the fenders you now have and not alter them. Put them somewhere for future use. Here's an option on tubing https://www.pro-werks.com/partlist/18758/ I'm sure there are other places that sell this too.

 

X2 on keeping current front fenders stored properly in case you wish to go back to them at some future date.

 

If you buy a set of tube fenders, ie: Smittybuilt, etc. They do not come with an inner fender. You have to cut your original fenders to fit the tube fenders. So either way, if you buy or make your own your going to have to trash your fenders anyways. In the process of doing mine as we speak using the Smittybuilt fenders.

 

I stumbled on these a few years ago...dude was asking $200 for both on CL...even threw in a clean, freshly sandblasted and primed grill!
Don't know who made these, but they're extremely well made.

 

$200? Are you sure they weren't stolen? (joking)

Not bad.

Be sure to post some pics when you install them

 

Those are some nice looking fenders. They look similar to what my buddy has on his YJ. Do you have a picture of them installed on your CJ?

 

Haha, pics would be a ways off...
I plan to install the fenders and grill when I repaint the body tub, which I'll do when I build a new frame. New frame I'll fab up after finishing the new house, late fall of 2021?? Here's a pic of the detached garage, AKA "the boat shop". I build a lot of boats, besides building Jeeps.

Those fenders were originally bought by a local (to me, Albany, NY) off road shop to install on some dudes TJ. They painted the fenders before verifying that they fit!! Never found out who made them, but they're really nice.

 

These are from between '91 and '93

1) These are my fiberglass flat fender replacements for my CJ

I later swapped the glass 2A grill for a '43 MB grill

2) This was my 1st around the block test drive after close to 2 years of Body-Off restoration

3) My initial drivable "Willy" version (that's not a decal on the windshield frame--It's the real deal), my daughter inside, aided with the restore process.

I never really wanted to change these fenders over to rounded/ different ones, I always thought that flat fenders were for flat fendered Jeeps

4) I've been known to build a 1 sheet, 1/4 plywood boat from time to time, this one has the 'extra' bow addition.

For some reason, the contents was mad at me that day. Months later, this boat was stolen. Even later the contents was also test driven by others and had go also.

I was able to keep both Jeeps and half of the daughter.

---JEEPFELLER

 

Good condition OEM fenders are getting hard to get. I would put them away safe or sell them to buy some damaged fenders that you can then modify.

 

What design fenders are you wanting? Just a J bend welded to the stock thin sheet? J bend with plate on top and rear of the wheel with a stock inner fender? wider than stock/built in flare? You aren't going to be able to bend anything with a conduit bender that is going to hold up to a decent tap of a tree or rock. I would look at either 1" or 1-3/8" .120 wall for the tube. Should be a shop semi local that can bend you a J that is longer than you need for a decent price for a good starting place. Mine are a simple J bend with 1/8" plate top and angle pieces. I had fashioned inner fenders when I built them, but found that they didn't do much and with the full width axles, I really wasn't getting anything thrown into the engine bay. Angle iron where they bolt to the tub and a piece of 1/8" strap formed to the grill for mounting.