How many of you have done this? What are the benefits? I am having some nerf bars fabbed and I am removing the step and was debating going ahead and trimming the body.

I have been looking at this for mine as well, and if you trim the front fenders back a bit and angle them, you will gain some clearance behind the wheel, also you can tuck the sliders up a little closer to the floor.. <IMG SRC="smilies/eyemouth.gif" border="0">

Oh, I am not gonna cut the body <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
I cut mine up to the crossmember that is on the tub up underneath. About 1" from the floor I believe. I also cut the rear corners off even with the top of the rear taillite/rear crossmember.
Go ahead & hack it Ken, you will gain clearance & be able to mount the nerfs up higher.

What do I do about the fender flare on the rear wheel? It's a little longer than where the cut will go.

Just trim the fenderflare the same amount. Here is a pic.......
<IMG width=320 height=240 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/trim.jpg">
Now get that sawzall out & hack that thing
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Live Wire ]

just cut it off even too. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Live Wire please tell me that that is not a current pic of your FoeDee. Oh the humanity! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> That doesn't look too bad. I did a search earlier and had decided against it because I didn't like the way it looks. Now what???

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sloan:
[QB]Live Wire please tell me that that is not a current pic of your FoeDee. Oh the humanity! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
LOL, No that was going to be my wife's. It was a 1976,got it as a complete running cruiser. Was completely stock, except for a 4bolt 350. I kept the eng. trans/t/c, frt. & rear diffs. Gave the rest away. Here is a pic of mine on the Con a few years ago.......
<IMG width=371 height=391 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/badbrad.JPG">
ps,cut those rockers. Your nerfs are gonna be hanging pretty low if ya don't. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Live Wire ]

I think the benifit is clearence but if your doing nerf bars your gonna have the same clearence as stock if not less. just cut it and run angle iron thats what I did and its taken major abuse with just one little bend

just my opinion.

They aren't the big fat tube type nerf bars they're like the ones on GrapeNuts. I think I may not do it for now. How much more clearance does it buy me? The other reason I'm not too worried about it is that the cruiser may be growing a little bit next winter (and I don't mean SOA
<IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> ). So I think for now I'm going to let it slide. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Sloan ]

Just cut the rocker up to the floor. From there, use 1" angle 1/4" thick as a slider. I have done this and it's just about indistructable! Trim the front fender to the same hight....and your golden. Don't be afraid of the sawsall. The sawsall is your friend!!!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

http://www.off-road.com/tlc

Check out the first article.

Michael

I just talked to the guy doing the work and he basically said he wasn't willing to open that can of worms.

I did this modification after my first trip thru the Rubicon. Due to only a 4" lift and 33's, I managed to mangle both my running boards. Got home and removed the running boards - then I took a sawzall to the rocker panels. I used the "trail added" dent as a cut line and bolted some HD angle on for body protection.

I have since used the body protection to rest the Cruiser on while "pivoting" on a rock (Old Sluice), and they held up great.

One of the best trail mods I have done to my truck.

Bottom Line - get out your tools and start cutting!!

The way he's doing the nerf bars I'll be able to sit down on them and slide, WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE! So I don't think that extra couple of inches is going to be a problem. Also within the next year or so she is going to experience a growing spurt. <IMG SRC="smilies/devil.gif" border="0">