First, I removed the flares. Then I started on the front and rear edges of the wheel well opening and bent the metal out at the seam where the inner and outer sheet metal pieces meet. I used pliers and two hammers to contour the metal so that it flares out and follows the wheel well opening up to the second flare retaining bolt hole (counting from the bottom - in the front and rear.) I left the remaining four holes in place to hold the flare on, but bent the 3/8" lip out just below the holes following the factory bend. This process gave me maximum clearance at the front and rear of the tire up to the second flare retaining studs and an extra 3/8" clearance around the remaining four retaining studs. I then cut the inner liner to fit as tight to the metal as I could and drilled a couple holes for screws to hold the lower portion of this liner against the new fender lip. The metal pieces that fit inside the flare on the front and rear were then trimmed to just a small piece holding the second stud in place. A portion of the flare near the lowest bolt holes was then cut away with a utility knife. The flare was then reinstalled along with the modified liner. The flare seems to be plenty stiff without the lowest studs holding it on. The screw at the bottom is important to hold the flare in place though. The flare can now be trimmed to any extent desired in the front and rear of the wheel opening and still have a finished look inside the flare. I only had to trim a real small portion of the actual flare on the bottom leading and trailing edges to eliminate any contact with my 33x9.5x15 BFG AT's on stock 7" aluminum 10 spoke rims. When twisted up, there was, and is more now, room for the tires, however, when both sides stuffed as in a large bump, the tire would rub the lower rear area of the liner. There is now as much room in this area as can be without MAJOR surgery of the wheel well metal. The paint did get quite messed up during my operation, but it is all hidden behind the flare and I will be priming and painting it to deter rust. I hope you all found this usefull or at least entertaining!
- Jeff Ayers |
