Fender Cutting / Cut Out Flares

[kunar]

im lookin for ideas, i really wanted to use some bushwacker cutouts for my truck but i have heard that they dont cut out very much. right now im lifted about 3" up front and about 1-1/2" out back on my 1st gen ranger. i test fit 31's (worn out 31's at that) and they barely rub on the back of the front fender. i'd like to put on 32's when i buy tires. i'd also like to be able to cut out most if not all of the rust on the fenders. most importantly though, i need to keep it looking clean (thats why i wanted cut out flares) cause it's my daily driver for now... what do you think?

235/75/15's

31's

 

[canyoncritter]

previous owner of my truck put bushwackers on it, I don't like the looks of them, so I took them off, you can kinda get a ideal of what they take out.
try getting you better pic's tomorrow if you like

 

[swynx]

what ur truck has no e brake lol, the brick is why im asking

 

[canyoncritter]

lol. truck has a working E brake. Think when that pic was taken the truck had no front end on it, so it was on jackstands. Just don't trust my life to it, just alittle extra insurance.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Had em on my 91 for a bit.....sorry about the small pics but it shows the fender opening. Thats with 1.25" spacer under the coil and 31's

 

[rickcdewitt]

if you do decide to cut them you should make the cut a half inch from where you want the opening so you can bend that extra bit in and stiffen up the fenders and bed quite a bit.the factory flare and fold makes the panel rigid so that it won't dent way in by leaning on it too hard.its an extra step but my panels don't wobble back and forth when you push on them.i don't know why i care though,every panel on my truck is bashed except the cowl LOL.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I like the flexy panels, they give instead of denting when you rub trees

 

[kunar]

canyoncritter, you think you can grab me a couple better pics? thanks

 

[kunar]

oookay... more questions. what do you use to fold the edge over? just a regular pair of pliers? what kind of sheet metal tools are there available? anything hand held to roll a bead or a flare? what about those air powered shears? or should i use a cut off wheel?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I used an electric sheet metal sheer, an air nibbler works wonders aswell.

 

[rickcdewitt]

there are some fancy tools ment for folding and flaring but i used some standard size vise grips and some different size duck bill pliers.the trick is to not bend too much at a time so the lip winds up flat, not bumpy where you can see each time you bent it.
i would draw two lines on the body before cutting. one for the cut off line and one for the bend line.
i used an air powered reciprocating sheetmetal saw on my gem of a truck(not too worried about paint scratches),you might put some tape down to protect your paint.a cut off wheel or grinder will take longer but will work ok if thats all you have.there are some braces in the fenderwell of the bed at the top that you might need to cut through and weld back up depending on how much you take out

 

[rickcdewitt]

Had em on my 91 for a bit

you don't have a good pic of the flexy flares do you sasquatch?the local cops could care less but i know i need something for ventures into different counties.same as the 1.25" jc whitney flares?
sorry for the jacking kunar i figured it might be the next question anyway

 

[canyoncritter]

the lips section they cut off/out of the fender they pop rivited back on in the inside of the fender to give it some support back. and a place to fasten the inner palstic fenders back on.the inner fenders take a litlte thinking to put back on and seal up,with the fender.As they cut the "lip" on them and added a flat strip to make back of the width to seal them up.really its simple, just think before you cut type of thing.


since then, I have moved the plastic inner fender to the tops of the fender supports inside the motor bay.to make room for the tires.thats why you cant see them in the pics, like I was talking about above.....

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

you don't have a good pic of the flexy flares do you sasquatch?the local cops could care less but i know i need something for ventures into different counties.same as the 1.25" jc whitney flares?
sorry for the jacking kunar i figured it might be the next question anyway

The ones i'm using I ordered from the local Kenworth truck shop, bought them by the foot. They are 2 1/2" wide flat surface mount flexy flares

 

[rickcdewitt]

The ones i'm using I ordered from the local Kenworth truck shop, bought them by the foot.

thanks i'll need to get some flare on a roll sometime.