WJ fender trimming, Pics? Methods?

[Hurricane 4x4]

I got 33's mounted up today and looks like i've got some trimming to do tomorrow. They rub pretty bad in the front when I turn the wheels, looks like i need to take about 1.5" off by the rocker panel. Anyone have some nice close up pics of their WJ after trimming? I'm probably going to take off 1.5" all around the front fenders.. not sure about the rears yet. Also what tools did you use to trim.. sawzall? Angle Grinder? I have heard of people using both but anyone have an opinion on what works best?

Just want to see if I can get any opinions or ideas before I start cutting this thing up. Thanks

[ntaousakis]

just out of curiousity, what size lift do you have. I was thinking bout 33's but I only got a 4" lift

[DerekL]

Sorry its so big but you can't see the detail if it isn't.

[DerekL]

Thats a 4.5 rusty's by the way with 33's

[rradford9]

I'm in the same boat...putting 33's on the WJ next weekend and I'm trying to figure out what can be done to clearance the fenders. Did a lot of searching the past few days and came up with several threads about trimming ZJ's but not very many for WJ's. Please take pics of whatever you end up doing.

BTW, how much lift are you currently running? BS on wheels?
Got any pics of your WJ with the new meats?

EDIT: DerekL, the link just sends you to a gmail page. I didn't see any picture.

[Pitch]

What I did:

Tape off the line that you want to follow. Get a good quality sawzall blade and go to town just inside the line that you want to cut. Trim the rest with an angle grinder and a steady hand. A buddy may need to hold the fender as it flails around while you cut. Sand and prime the bare edge, then cover with door edge trim for a finished look that will slow down any rust.

The pic is 35's on 15x8's with 3.75" backspacing. No rub in the rear, very rarely up front when flexed at full lock. I could have cut more, but only cut what I had to.

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

Eric,

Your WJ is looking sick these days!

[adam99wj]

i used a jig saw and a grinder for the most part

this is 35" tires on 6.5" of lift

[Hurricane 4x4]

I am running 4" bs with 15x8 rims. The tires are mounted up right now with 3" of lift and stock control arms, but I have a set of 4" coils in the garage to put on before it ever sees the trail.

Probably my biggest issue is that it looks like i'm going to have to trim my ARB bumper as well to match the lines of the fenders.

[Hurricane 4x4]

BTW where do you get the door trim? PepBoys?

[Halfdoc]

Pepboys has a "door trim" that is for a truck door. Works perfectly. Autopaint supply stores also stock many variations including gold trim...

David.

[Pitch]

Eric,

Your WJ is looking sick these days!

Gracias!

[rradford9]

Found some more pics from other threads:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8713
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8297
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/sho...?t=8532&page=2

Dell3Orb, have you trimmed yet? I just got my 33's on and trimmed the bottom rear of the front fender enough for street clearance...gonna get to trimming the fenders for off-road clearance as soon as I get some bumpstops in and can test flex.

I'm planning to cut along the same lines as Pitch...The only thing I don't get is what to do in the rear after trimming. Would a few rivets in the inside of the rear door work to hold the pieces together? or is it necessary to do anything?

[Hurricane 4x4]

I got the front done but i haven't capped it yet. Just painted it with primer so it does not rust. I trimmed about the same lines as pitch. The rear I will do sometime this week most likely. i will take pics when its all done.

[JohnBoulderCO]

I haven't done much with the rear yet. Just filled up the gap with some foam. When it warms up some more, I plan to rivet it up with some good sealer.

[Hurricane 4x4]

Got it trimmed enough to be streetable. I still have some work to do though, need to beat the pinch seam back a bit and trim the rear. Also i think I am going to have to take off part of the front bumper, but I am going to wait until I have time to disco the swaybar and test flex it to see.

[rradford9]

Looks good, you got any close ups? Take another look at my pic above. I cut that bottom 'flap" off of the ARB...just followed the bend line. Now the bottom angles up instead of down.
Also I've got some RK 4.5" rear sway bar extensions if you want them. I broke a bolt and an easy out trying to reinstall my rear sway bar, so I just left it off.

[ArloGuthroJeep]

You shouldn't need to trim to fit 33's. Trim bumper yes, trim metal or rocker, no. You have adjustable control arms?

[Hurricane 4x4]

trimming definitely needed. Otherwise i would have to bumpstop the hell out of it.

[Hurricane 4x4]

I'm running stock CA's which is actually working out pretty well. I had to trim by the rockers to get the tires to fit but they stuff well. If I had the axle any farther forward it would rip out the washer fluid reservoir when I flexed, unless I were to put on huge bumpstop extensions

[ArloGuthroJeep]

Uhm, move the reservoir then
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321148

Compresses just fine (only had my front bumper removed because I hadn't trimmed it yet)


A 4" bump stop extension is perfect to prevent it from eating the fender & protect your shock from over compression.

[rradford9]

Arlo, do you not grab the inner fender when the tires are stuffed and turned?
The ARB isn't as easy to cut as the old plastic bumpers

I picked up some box steel today and some 4" wide scrap plate. I'm planning on trimming about an inch off of the fenders and then cutting the steel to make custom length bumpstops to whatever length is needed to prevent rubbing.

[Hurricane 4x4]

Arlo what backspacing are you running?

And in that pic it looks like you would grab the fender if you turned your wheels left

Also I have the 4.7 so moving the rezzie won't be as easy

[ArloGuthroJeep]

That is with 2" of bump stop, move it to 4" of bump stop and it'll protect the fender. That is 4" of backspacing. As is, I BARELY grab the fender...just enough to make the "pinging" noise, never bent the fender/quarter panel.

[Asphalt Assault]

I was planning out my lift and I am all over the map in my direction that I am going. tell if this would work.

I am currently thinking a fender trim gains 2" + 3" lift. would I be able to stuff 35's with the right rims and bumpstops, would it look ok, and will I flex alright?

I go rock, sand, not much Mud. I like a lower center of gravity and would like to gain break over clearance with 35's rather than a 1" larger lift. I was thinking 2" trim +3"lift = 5"similar lift. or do you think I need to go 4" + 2" trim to have clearence for the 35's?