cutting the fenders

[Brett J]

Hey everyone,

Now to start off i have searched alot about this topic and have found out alot about it however nothing has stood out yet. I guess i just need more clerification. I have a 01 xj with a 3 inch lift and 31. I want to cut my fenders and make them look really nice at the same time. I dont want them to look like crap you know. Please could you put up pictures and help me. Is it possible to just cut instead of pinching it back and welding or what is the deal. Thanks everyone.

 

[bosco01xj]

I don't have any pics of my rear trimmed because I did that right before I put on the bushwackers.

 

[89xj]

why would you need to trim with 3" of lift and 31's?

 

[Brett J]

i dont need to but it looks like crap with the fenders off so i was going to trim and i do eventually want 33's.

also bosco01xj, how did you cut yours, did you just cut straight across?

 

[Shane_92-XJ]

why would you need to trim with 3" of lift and 31's?

i trimmed mine with 2.5 inches of lift and stock-ish tires its all about approach angle....... check out wade_hack's build hes got some good pics of his...


http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1015796

 

[Brett J]

so how do you know where to cut. Thats my issue is i have no idea where to cut. I dont want to cut to high and mess things up. how do you know where to cut?

 

[mnaemark]

I just used the top of the stock flares to cut mine. stick your head underneath and make sure you are not cutting to much. Then mark with tape and use a cutoff wheel. You can always cut less and then continue cutting until you get the desired results. Then you can get some black trim at the local auto parts store to keep it looking clean.

 

[wade_hack]

Take a look at " My daughters XJ build thread. I went through the process of cutting front and back fenders. It was easy and looks great. I could help walk you through it if you like.

 

[FallibleXJ]

this is 3.5" and 31's, 33's come early next week. (rubicon flares up front)

I used an angle grinder for all of the cutting. For the front, cut as much as your willing, I basically used the top edge of the old fender flares as a guide, keeping below the washer bottle. For the rear you need to do the cut and fold, unless you can weld. If you don't fold it, it will seperate. I used this guide for the rear:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=968906

 

[snail]

remember youre 01 will have the wiper fluid bottle in the upper part of the fender, so watch so you dont cut or drill into it. i used a angle grinder with a cutoff wheel for front and back. for the newly cut edges in the front i sprayed some white primer into a cup and used a brush to apply it to the bare metal edge. then ran universal "protecto trim" around the edge to give it a factory look.

i cut/tabbed/folded the rear and used electrical tape to mark off a nice smooth line above the new edge to paint. the electrical tape makes it easier to mask off a more fluid curve than you can with painters tape. then painted the new edge and slightly above it semigloss black. from a distance people have thought i still had the flares on

remember also that on your newer body style you will have to chop those rear plastic endcaps. ive seen them done up nicely, but on my first jeep when i did them they didnt come out that well. this here is the only pic i have. you can kind of tell if you look close..

 

[codyyy]

I really like the trimmed fenders with the flair angle still out. I'll show a pic:

See how his fenders still angle out? I think that looks really good.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

For the front, just tape it up and use a cutting wheels and go for it. For the rear, depends no whether you want to fold and tuck.

 

[trd_xj42]

Just take your time cutting and it should turn out fine.
Here is mine, the flare idea is more of a gimmick, but it does work.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1020145

There are write-ups for retaining the flare if you haven't seen those, but the pictures are gone. You can find pdf's on Kelley's Works in Progress (5-90's site).