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fender cutting '72 cj5

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by '72CJ5, Jul 29, 2012.

  1. Jul 29, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    before i begin, let me just say that I LOVE the stock fender look on the '5s and am not looking forward to changing it. With that said, I want to cut my front fenders. Why do you ask when I just said I dont want to? becuase i would rather cut my front fenders cleanly then have my tires mangle them beyond repair. I do not want to tube them nor do i want to cut the entire lip off, just leaving the flat top. I would like to be able to cut them where they still look like cj fenders and still have the cj look...while also allowing for more tire clearence for up travel. I would like to see pictures of jeeps from those of you who have done this and i would also like your opinion on the before and after. Thank you all.
     
  2. Jul 29, 2012
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
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    When I had mine, I trimmed right along the raised edgeof the front fender. For the rear I made a template that matched the curve of the fender and used that to keep the same general shape. The 35's were just to big not to trim them. below is link to a picture of the CJ after I finished trimming the fenders.

    http://www.hudsonhawk.net/jeep/fend.jpg
     
  3. Jul 29, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    I already have the rear opened up when I installed the TJ flares. How well did the front fenders work once you trimed them? tires still rub or get cut?
     
  4. Jul 29, 2012
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
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    After trimming the fenders I did not have any issues with the tires cutting or catching on the fenders.
     
  5. Jul 29, 2012
    HeavyIron

    HeavyIron Member

    So Cal or East...
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    Hawk,
    Did you do anything to eliminate the sharp cut edges?
     
  6. Jul 29, 2012
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    well , youve seen my front fenders , they are different and allow for more up travel .my stockers were being murdered by my 33's with twist.look at the pic for my avatar.... for my rears my axle is pushed back as far as I could get it ,and the tires hit those corners hard so I cut a pretty good chunk out of it and then welded a piece or 1/4" flat stock to the inside so it was finished and not a sharp cut.
     
  7. Jul 29, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    Yes steve, I have drooled over your fenders for quite some time now. I would be more than happy to ship you my fenders and then pay for the shipping back if you are feelin froggy...just sayin. I dont have the tools or .....courage to try tubing my fenders like that and im sort of wanting to keep the fender in the same CJ shape that they are now...but with less hanging down if that makes scence. Also, when i added the TJ flares, i had to cut about 1.5 inches out of the rear portion of the wheel wells and that opened it up just enough to fit a 35 just right without hitting on either end.
     
  8. Jul 30, 2012
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    Mark, here is what you need to do. Cut the lip off, cut the fender to the height you want then weld the lip back to the remaining fender. Gives you a stock look with a bobbed fender. Sorry no pics, but I can describe it better in person when I drop off the carb next week.

    Sent from my LS670
     
  9. Jul 30, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    ooooo!!!!!!!! I like that idea! I cant weld thin metal like that but what I mess up, im sure my buddies bondo and flap disk can make better. Which way are you going to chowchilla next week?
     
  10. Jul 30, 2012
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    99 from Sac. What type of welder do you have? Spot weld from the farthest point of your last weld. When it gets warm, let it cool. Keep at it until its all filled in. I haven't done this yet, this is my plan for my fenders.

    Sent from my LS670
     
  11. Jul 30, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    Well i think im going to give it a shot. Times got hard and I had to sell my welder but the one i use is my brother in laws lincoln 220 mig with sheilded gas or i have buddies with some small 110 flux welders. My brother in law is a body guy for like 11 years so im sure i will have some help with it. I will give it a shot and see what happens. If you come down 99 south into chowchilla, the best place to meet would be the wal-mart parking lot. Its right off 99s once you get into Turlock. Take Fulkerth exit then turn left at the bottom of the off ramp its bout 100 yards to the left.
     
  12. Jul 30, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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  13. Jul 30, 2012
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
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    I did not do anything other than sand the razor sharp edge so that it was rounded.
     
  14. Aug 1, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    [​IMG]

    Exactly what I want my fenders to look like. Found this pic while searching through google images.
     
  15. Aug 1, 2012
    OleBlue

    OleBlue Sponsor

    Tennessee
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    Kinda looks like the fenders on Rick Russells CJ6 he drives in his video of offroading in Clayton, OK.
     
  16. Aug 1, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    I never like the flat fender look before but this one look awesome!!!!
     
  17. Aug 1, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    BCfarms, does he have any videos posted on youtube or is it someplace else?
     
  18. Aug 1, 2012
    OleBlue

    OleBlue Sponsor

    Tennessee
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    I have his DVD. He made a bunch of different ones and I'm sure he's on YouTube but I haven't looked. I googled Rick Russells CJ6 and this was the first link http://www.sidekickoffroad.com/CJ-6.htm
     
  19. Aug 2, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    Oh yes, my buddy has one of his videos of him running the Rubicon with some H1s...awsome 6. And yes, those fenders are almost the same and I like the look of the cut fenders with the flare a thousand times better then without them.
     
  20. Aug 5, 2012
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

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    Ok well I will button up this thread with some photos of what I ended up with. My passenger side fender was a little too mangled to try and weld the bottom lip back on, but I saved both side of it to try out later on once I can get the fender straightened out. Here is how I did it: Removed the old flares and cleaned up the outside of the fenders. Used a jig saw with a metal blade and followed the original fender line right where the inner fender meets. Once I cut along the fender, i took a measurment of where i wanted the fenders to run into the grill, then drew a line and followed it. Then I used 1/4" fuel line, slit long ways and filled with "seal-All" and slipped over the edges. Used vise grips to hold into place until dry.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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