ok so i think i have decided on fj80 axles front and rear with 37in military goodyears with recentered h1 double beadlocks on my (at the moment) stock height sased reg cab (and yes i am flexing in my front yard, glad we dont live in a area with a home owners association, that would suck)

i first of all want to say that i am not dropping hundreds of dollars on fiberglass fenders even though they look good because the axles are going to cost 750 after shipping and wheels and tires are going to be 800 after putting new centers in not including the gas to drive to trail worthy fab to get those suckers
i like the way the glass ones bulge and would like to kinda get that look not the full 4in but 2-3in i think would be perfect (keep in mind here in kansas they arnt any regulations regarding tires sticking out or anything so no big deal)
i have two ideas of achieving the bulge
1 i read somewhere that you could put a hydraulic jack on the tire and just go to town (not sure if that guy was serious or not and it seems like that would cause serious problems if i had to ever take the fender off for whatever reason when going back together)
2 the slightly more labor intensive way of cutting slits into the fender bending it out like so

(sorry about the upside down pic went to pb and flipped it but its still upside down when i copy the image code, help here would be awesome) and welding in little triangles to fill in the gaps, it would at least allow the fender to be taken off without completly deforming so i could bolt it back on unless i am wrong about what it will do in my head not for sure on that
again not sure if maybe im over exaggerating how bad the metal will deform if i shall ever have to take it off but then again i guess it could do that while welding on it sooooo....
what are your opinions on the easy way vs hard way as i havent really welding on body metal before (dreading replacing my now non existent rocker panels )

 

Why not just cut the fenders up and buy flares? The hydraulic method mentioned seems just like rolling fenders on stanced cars. Ive done a few fender rollings, and just by that, you will never get that much bulge. Maybe with that hydraulic jack method it will do more, but basically all you have to do is heat up the fender, then roll (the fender roller for cars) along the fender, changing the angle as you go. It might be easier to make your own flares out of sheet metal, cut the fenders up then weld your flares on somewhere, because just flaring up your fenders i doubt will clear 37's.

 

trying to keep the fender aspect of it to free so i dont like the option of buying flares and lots of truck around here have flares so i personally wouldnt pay 300+ to look like everybody else and i have some fabbing skills why not use them
not just flaring, i am going to do the flare after chopping quite abit out. im looking for about 5 inchs of lift
basically what im looking for is a chopped and flared fender that atleast looks good and is functional and cheap. i personally havent really met many people ( 2-3 maybe) around here that can actually pick something up and craft something by themselves even though i have a better paying job now than i did. i would still rather build something myself than buy it, just a pride thing i think. (not a rant btw just explaining)
plus its just a one off thing that i can call my own
my diesel tech teacher made a comment bout my truck today. i had mentioned earlier in the year that my truck had been built in california according to the vin and he said that it had in fact been built and engineered in the united states and not in california like the vin said but instead in my drive way (he is the definition of douche bag, gelled back hair and everything, and we dont get along but i thought that was pretty cool of him to say anyways)
thanks for the info about rolling fenders btw

 

oh and ive also considered using spray foam to find a shape i like and then glassing over that but it still need to clear a tire because im going to s&*% bricks if i hit a bump at speed and rip a fender off my truck

 

that spray foam method might work, and it'll be pretty cheap. or you could even make your own flares if you want to use fiber glass. good luck!

 

well whatever i do ill post pics and stuff just saving for axles wheels and a 1uz, that might come first but we will see
just wondering what everybodies opinions are
one question about rolling the fenders, is it just folding the inside lip over or is it actually pushing the fender out?

 

install sliders and front bumper, then make tube fender protection connecting the two, with a brace that goes back to the frame or shock towers (tied together in engine bay for extra support of course) - then add some sheet metal to fill the gap (or leave no gap and let the tube be your extension). this way you get to re-shape your fender to clear the tires and just bend your tube to match the shape - tada! = extended fender that's actually functional protection and not just cosmetic. google "toyota tube fenders" and you'll see many examples from FJ40s to 4runners/PUs, etc.

 

that sounds pretty cool

 

rolling your fenders just pulls them out/up for a flare. But highonpottery had a great idea, probably your best bet.

 

Check out post #3 in this thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot...en-runner.html

They did a really nice job of clearancing the fenders on that runner.

Kevo

 

The only thing you're going to need to worry about with the tube fender idea (especially if you connect them to the body with sheet metal, or keep them super close) is the fact that the body of you're truck moves a heck of alot different than the frame (where sliders and bumpers, and you're new tube fenders are attached)

You're slit idea is a good one, but be preperaed for days of welding, when you're working on sheet metal, you have to stitch all the welds together with single tacks to not warp the thing sheet.

 

i hate it when i dont get the emails for the thread replies soory for the late reply
anyway niall i like the slit idea to but at the same time i feel like i would loose interest about the time i had to hand cut all the little triangles to fill in the spaces
ghettofab thanks for the link