trimming 60 fenders

[7FootYeti]

Well I got a screaming deal on some 35's. I'm currently running a 2.5" TPI lift with a 1" body lift and 33's. I mounted up the 35's and much to my amazment they fit real well. Brought them out to a spot to get it flexed up thinking they would rub everywhere. The only place I got real bad rub was when I had the rear end way up in the air. When the shackle swung forward I was catching on the front lip on the fender, plus on the middle of the front part of the inner fenderwell. That was with the axle against the bumpstops.

Plan is to cut the front fender lip off and cut around forward, then beat the front of the inner fender well with a hammer to clearance .

The rear fit pretty well too. I'm gonna chop the rear corner off, as sometime this summer I'm gonna chop the bottom of my quarter off anyway. I'm guessing that I will rub the inside of the tire on the inner fender. Not much I can do about that until I get some 2.5" BS rims.

Anybody got any good pics of fender clearancing? Just curious what others have done.
I'm not to concerned with sheet metal, after all here in MN it'll rust sooner or later.

[RustyNailJustin]

I clear 40s with not much more than a SOA. I removed quite a bit in the front and there is no rubbing and in the back just cut about 1'' off the whole way around. It flexes pretty good all the way around and no rubbing. No real good pictures of the cutting but seems pretty straight foward.

[RustyNailJustin]

2nd

[heavytlc]

I went to GSMTR for 6-7 hours on thursday. We wheeled 4,5,6,and had a great time. I am running 35 mtr's, I just went out side and took these pics with my phone. The first, is the rear where the paint was kissing the tire at full stuff. The rear was perfect, the front needs a bit more up front, I could have left more fender on the trailing side of the front. Hope the pics are clear enough.

[heavytlc]

This is the trailing edge of front fender, it was fine.

[heavytlc]

This is .leading edge of the front, it rubbed. I will have to extend the cut. It was not enough contact to chunk the tire, just enough to make some noise.

[Overlord]

Originally Posted by heavytlc

This is the trailing edge of front fender, it was fine.

I wouldn't think one needs to worry about rubbing on this parts because the axle tends to move up and forward. Not up and backward.

[7FootYeti]

Cool. Do you have any pics of the inner fender. After I cut the outer fender, should I just bend the inner up to match and run a couple of screws through?

[heavytlc]

Originally Posted by Overlord

I wouldn't think one needs to worry about rubbing on this parts because the axle tends to move up and forward. Not up and backward.

It makes for a better looking body line imo, and the way my trucks go, it will be soa, sr soon anyway

[heavytlc]

Originally Posted by 7FootYeti

Cool. Do you have any pics of the inner fender. After I cut the outer fender, should I just bend the inner up to match and run a couple of screws through?

I cut mine with a plasma on the first side, the next side I found it was easier to cut with a die grinder. I cut the out side panel a couple of inches higher than the inside panel, then I cut a piece of 16ga steel to fill the gap.
I tried to cut as much steel, as high as possible, because I know the way my trucks go. At some point I will have 37+ tires,other than my tow rig, everything is on at least 35's, 37's are about the norm at my house...
To answer your question, no you do not touch the inner, other than cutting it. The steel you weld to the outside panel angles down to the inner panel. I can messure if you like. My only suggestion is that you start on the pass. side. You can hack the shit out of the driver side,but you will pay hell trying to get it to match the driver side. The fill hose is the limiting factor, but my quarters are still higher than the bottom of the frame rails.
My girlfriend is calling me to bed, I will finish this latter....

[7FootYeti]

Heavytlc, what are your suspension specs?

[ginericfj80]

2.5" might be too much for a 60 to clear the top section (top edge) of the fender. What width are you getting? I ran 35s on my 60 with a 1.75" body lift and OME. I rubbed a bit in the back on the flat part of the body above the frame. I put a 2x4 cut to length on the body and hit it with a BFH a couple of times. I got a nice square looking dent that looked factory and the rubbing went away. I never had an issue with front or back section of the fender. I was running 3.5" backspace 15x8s but had always wished for some 3.0s or 3.25s. You might flex your rig and measure off your current tire and wheel to see if it will still stuff and clear with what a 2.5" backspace wheel will do.

[7FootYeti]

They fit. Awful darn close though. I'm now running 35 x 12.5 x 15 on 15 x 8 wheels. I would like to run 2.5-3" bs wheels but am running what I got which is 3.75 or 3.5 bs.

It's hard to describe, but I just drew a line from where the front lip of the fender starts to curve toward the front to about midway up the wheel opening. Then we unbolted the inner fender and beat it with a hammer then tackwelded it for a little more forward clearance. I'll see if I can get some pics.

[heavytlc]

I have Man A Fre springs, with shackles. They were on the truck when I got it, it was an insurance wreck. The lift would not be my first choice, but it was there.I am running 15x10, 058's, 3.75bs champion bead locked. The tires just clear the rear fenders outer lip, at full stuff.