ZJ fender trim

[AKMark]

So fender trimming started yesterday. We cut the fronts, I'm going to test it out today and see how I like it before we put the finishing touches on the front. After which we'll cut some off the rear fenders, and do a proper finish on them as well when done.

Note: this cost me two six packs of beer. I could've gotten away with one, but I felt two was more appropriate. I will probably buy him more before this is over, because I like his perfessional touch on this.

On to the pics, this is a rough cut so nothing is fine and we are taking it about 1/3 of an inch higher than pics are showing, but are going to be using a special wheel to sand it nice and smooth before primering. We also ran out of cutting wheels to cut the bottom of the fender (you'll see in the pics) to match. But it's a nice start.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2355/set109015sm.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5888/set110028dv.jpg
My 31's look really small now. But I have lots of room for FLEX!
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5359/set111016nv.jpg
This tool cut my fenders great, as long as you hold on to it so it doesn't cut too much!
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8130/set112019gs.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2594/set113016ok.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8092/set114019hp.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/103/set114021hk.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6885/set115017sb.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6770/set115020xv.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5410/set115035tb.jpg

I'll try to get a few wheelin' pics today.

Just for fun I pulled it beside the TJ with 35's I'm watching while the owner is in Iraq. When we cut the small portion that's still sticking out behind both front tires, the 35's look like they'll fit. (at least on the front, without more lift and adjustable CA's, there's no way they'll fit on the rear) I may throw them on the front just to take a few pics and see what it looks like.

I'm also thinking after we get the timming completed, I will probably remove all the cladding except the bumpers (which I hope to replace within the next eighteen months) and put roll on bedliner on the raised portion of the fender still there as well as where the cladding was. We'll have to see. I may end up doing the front bumper and rear bumper as well just to match. That may come sometime in March though as I have way too many projects at this time and I found out on Thursday I definately have a cracked rib. The doctor gave me pain meds and said to just wait a few weeks and the pain I am experiencing (why I cannot sleep right now) will go away.

[sevenslats]

nice.
I'mlooking forward to the finished pics as well as some action shots. I haven't decided for sure to do this to mine. I've seen some hack jobs, and am still undecided.
As fas as the plastic cladding, You're gonna need to do something to cover up. ZJ look like crap without something in that place. Besides, I think the tabs that hold that plastic on leave big holes upon removal.

[AKMark]

Right now I have two small holes per side. I think I can cover them prior to doing the bedliner stuff. I've seen a few ZJ SE's that have no cladding and I think they look just fine. Especially if I bedliner it. The cladding on mine is starting to fade thanks to the AZ sun and the trim is scratched and falling off anyway.

I've seen several folks trim jobs on their ZJ's, and I think I took mine further (on the front anyway) than most. My big thing is I want to run 33's someday soon and retain my front flex. Rear flex is nice, but not as much as the front anyway.

[sevenslats]

Mine will have 33s, as soon as my TJ outgrows them. Flex isn't as important to mem in my ZJ as in my TJ. My ZJ came from AZ, but it's silver, so the fading doesn't show as bad.

[michaeljr5]

I understand the cutting thing, but it is just scary to watch it be done to a truck! It gives my chills...

[nate379]

You will find that your going to have to remove alot of the sheetmetal inside the fender as well. My tires rub in there, but don't rub the fenders... I didn't cut as much as you did.

[AKMark]

I'm running 3.75 BS on my tires and it keeps them out to a point where I barely rub in the wells (there is a spot, but it's gone now) I'm thinking of getting a set of 33x10.5's for play and using my 31's for winter and street. (I don't have the gears to run the 33's all the time)

[AKMark]

Here's a few better shots of the trimming. Note we haven't finished the front yet.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/1631/resizedtrimming18fj.jpg
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4493/resizedtrimming28dx.jpg
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4008/resizedtrimming36op.jpg
My wife got me blue fuzzy dice by mistake and I didn't realize she put them in the Jeep today. (I had left them in the house for a reason.)

[AZRedRockJK]

.
Looks sweet! Cutting sheetmetal is something that comes easier the more you do it. Ask the guys that were around when I cut the '90s fenders. Took forever to start the first cut. After it was started, it got better. I cut in stages, gradually more and more to allow max flex. When I got my current '00, it was nothing to pick up the angle grinder and go into surgery.

Nate379 is right... the inner wheelwell will need attention too. The seam piece that sticks down towars the tire especially. Just notch it every few inches, and knock it flat with a hammer. That way you retain the strength, but lose the edge. I'll post up pics to show what I'm talking about.

Look closely... and you'll see the notches I made...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/637000-637999/637794_19_full.jpg

And here's after I hammered it over...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/637000-637999/637794_17_full.jpg

.


.

[AKMark]

Yeah, hammering that is next along with putting a finishing edge and a small fender flare on there.

Then to the rears, too bad I cannot trim as much off them, but at least the rear end flex's up and back instead of forward, so I might have to take more off the rear side of the back fenders. We'll have to see. I'll post more as I cut more.

[nate379]

I grinded my pinch weld until it was flat and welded it all back together. Cut most of the sheetmetal that's in front of the tire, it's hidden by that tuperware bumper cover. You gonna cut that back too?

How much lift is that? 2"?

[AKMark]

2"? You are kidding right? I'm running 31's with a worn out but functioning 3.5" lift plus 2" coil spring spacers. Prior to trimming I could've run 33's if I had adjustable control arms. I still want adjustable control arms, but with the backspacing I was told to run with this setup I was hitting the fenders during extreme flex. I could've just installed bumpstops, but wanted to keep the flexibility because I don't have a locker at the moment and unless I get a switchable one (ARB, Eaton, OX) I don't want one for winter driving. I grew up in northern Minnesota with a posi rear Dodge and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

I will keep the 31's for the winter and distance driving at this point, but want a set of 33" mudders for playtime. This is my DD as well as a toy, so I have to make a few compromises at times. (would really love a Long arm setup and 35's)

[nate379]

I suggest before you get into this too far, that you buy a daily driver and build the Jeep without being worried about the streetabilty. I wish I had.

[AKMark]

With mine, it has to be streetable. I won't be making modifications that keep it from doing it's assigned duties. (except parts swaps that take a few weeks to accomplish.)

[AKMark]

Trimming started on the rear last night. Rough cut on left side done, the right side is left, then trimming out the extra crap in the front fenderwells and making better edges on the cuts.

I'm also herculining the lower half of the ZJ.

[AKMark]

I'm also inheriting a decent set of 35" MT/R's that hopefully will fit for playtime.

[TJVigilante]

looks beefy, love to see it when you get it up here.

[AKMark]

Oh yeah, I got a rear tire carrier too.

[sevenslats]

you build that tire carrier?

[AKMark]

Nope, it's from a company called Vetro, they made some in WA for awhile. They were about $400 when they were available. They didn't make many, but there's a few lurking about. My only complaint is that I lost some departure angle with it.

[nate379]

Yeah I think it's too low. You'll slam down on it when going up a hill.

[AKMark]

Haven't yet, but we'll have to see.

Here's the new pics. I just got in from Herculining the lower half of my ZJ and the fender trimming is now complete as well. You'll also see my rock slider's which have also been herculined and hope to have those on this weekend. BTW, the unpainted grills of my front bumper will be cut off. They just swing in the breeze anyway. Yes, I splooged in a couple spots, but who cares, it does have 190K miles on it.

ZJ buildup never stops!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5094/herc17am.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/57/herc26vw.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/148/herc36va.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4374/herc50fm.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8577/herc43ze.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1552/herc68li.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5614/herc71yc.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1097/herc88lz.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1919/herc93py.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6712/herc105tp.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9218/herc117pl.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3360/herc128au.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9028/herc130tr.jpg

More in my next post

[sevenslats]

Is that straight Herc? Just a suggestioin, get some UV protectant for it. Herc fades bad. :(
Looks real good. Waiting for pics of the rock sliders installed...

[AKMark]

I have soo much herc left over I can coat it time and time again. The darn cladding was so faded this can't be worse.

[AKMark]

Okay, here are the nearly finished pics. I still need to touch up the grill, the bumpers, and I need to get my sliders on. :rolleyes:
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2925/10005540bg.jpg
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2677/10005558qq.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/53/10005564bn.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3080/10005575aq.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8933/10005587gy.jpg
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/227/10005595zk.jpg

Okay, I realize I didn't get any good side shots. I'll get some later.

[mousee]

airmanwoody=the anti-bling

look good man, lots better. chrome is for wusses :D

[AKMark]

I'm going to herculine my roof basket as well. I like the two tone black and green color. I like chome on certain vehicles, but this isn't one of them.

[gamble71]

wow, ground without snow on it :eek: haven't seen that since september... now I'm depressed :(

[AKMark]

Believe me, I wish I had snow right now. It was 80 here a couple of days ago. I have to get the A/C on the ZJ fixed right now.

I get depressed when I realize I'm running A/C from December through March. I remember stoaking the wood stove ever 6 hours during those months in northern Minnesota. Don't know why, but I'd rather be stoaking the stove then running the A/C, at least during this time of year.

[gamble71]

I don't run A/C... I hate A/C... turning my compressor into an air pump. I like it hot, hot, hot and a little more hot... 4yrs at Hood and I used A/C in my room maybe 5 times....

















Did I mention I like it hot?