Trimming rear fenders?

[camino70]

I have 15X8 convo pros on my car with a backspacing I have yet to measure. I currently have 275/50/15's on there and am close to the fender lip and want a better clearance. How can I trim the inside lip so it won't cut up my tires?

I have over 2" from the tire to the frame and am hoping to purchase a wider wheel sometime soon, but in the meantime I want to give myself more clearance.

TIA
Ron

 

[Robes87GN]

Get spring extenders. I bought a set at autozone. It comes with bolts and grooved plates to fit the coil shocks. It jumped my rear end at least 1 1/2" on both sides. I have to fit 28x11.5's in there for next year and I didnt want to start tearing up the original body.

 

[zam70]

I personally don't care for the jacked up look so I used an air saw and trimmed right inside the welds. trimmed the wheel op mldg too. DON't forget corrosion protection after you cut it.
My car sits down over the rears (eibach springs) and doesn't rub at all even with someone in the back seat,
rims are 15X8 w/ 4"BS tires: 275/60 15


http://www.efi-street.com/IMAGES/turboregals2/imagepages/image51.htm

http://www.efi-street.com/IMAGES/turboregals2/imagepages/image49.htm

 

[Jesse]

I used my roto zip to cut the lip....fast and easy

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Cut the lips too, and on a 20k GN. What a hacker I am! My car sits low also and didn't want to go for the ass end up in the air look. I cut mine with the wheel opening moldings on at the same time so they would match up perfectly. Made a nice gradual cut so you don't even notice that they are cut. Treated the ends with POR-15 to prevent any rust problems.

I just couldn't bring myself to try the roll the lip trick. I think that if done right the cut lip deal looks much better.

http://www.buickgn.com/dragradial1.jpg

 

[camino70]

Thanks!
I haven't really checked it out yet, but I was wondering if anyone has a pic of the inside maybe before and after.
I really don't want anything to look like crap when I am done

At the moment all I have is a dremel, is this going to be beyond the dremel? I am thinking it will be.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Dremel won't cut it, pun intended! I actually used a jigsaw to do mine. Used a real fine tooth blade and ran some duct tape on the molding and ran a line on where I wanted to trim and went to it. Came out great but you have to take your time.

 

[strikeeagle]

When you go to 10's you'll have no choice but to notch the frame, so why not do it now, retire the 8's and 275/50's and leave the fenders alone (i.e. unhacked)?

 

[camino70]

Thanks.

I have seem some pics of notched frames, but I don't quite understand what it is or how it is done.

Any more info on this?

Ron

 

[charlloots]

what a bunch of butchers why would you do that get the correct back spacing dual airbags and new rear springs (kirbans) and you should have no problems.
i have 12.5 x 28 et streets on 8.5 centerlines with 3.5 backspacing and zero clearence problems and my lips are not rolled do not cut your car up it takes away strenght i cant believe anybody would do that to a car just to gain a inch or 2 wider tire

 

[zam70]

charlloots: some (ME) hate the jacked up look....
Why ruin a great stance (for looks and launch) just so you can get in a wider tire?

To me, the right way to do it is alter the car. If done correctly, it is far from a "hack".

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Originally posted by zam70
charlloots: some (ME) hate the jacked up look....
Why ruin a great stance (for looks and launch) just so you can get in a wider tire?

To me, the right way to do it is alter the car. If done correctly, it is far from a "hack".

100% in agreement zam70! I don't like the dog in heat look myself but wanted to stuff a big tire under the car without resorting to a frame rail notching job. If done right I don't consider that a hack either but just don't feel like going that far. If I did, I would just go all the way and tub it!

Remember when I was a teenager getting my first car back in the mid 70's. First thing you had to put on the car was a set of Gabriel Hi-Jacker air shocks and pump them up to 120lbs! A set of extended shackles for leaf spring cars was mandatory too! Now that was a fun riding car! Just like having no suspension at all in the rear.

I say to each his own, cut or roll the lip if you want, it's your car do what you want to it. Mine came out nice and you would really have to look hard to see that it was done. If I ever wanted to I could just slap a new set of wheel opening moldings on and you wouldn't even see that it was done.

 

[daviss]

I don't think it's necessary to cut or roll the lip. I run 28x11.5 ET's with no problems. They're on Weld Alumastars w/3.5 BS. I you're set on cutting or rolling the lip, there are a couple ways to do it. First someone makes a tool to roll the lip, it may take some searching but it's out there. It's a long pipe(about 2ft.) with a flat jaw that grabs the lip.

Another method I've used(don't laugh) is a softball bat. Put the car on jackstands with the tires on and put the jack under the rear end. Jack up the rear end until the bat fits snugly between the tire and the lip. rotate the tire which will roll the bat between the tire and the lip. You can adjust the tension on the handle of the bat while it's rotating. This will give you a smooth rolled lip that won't cut the tires. Be careful and take your time. I did it on a buddy's '68 firebird.

 

[Pitbozz]

Noone will laugh at you. I think that is the way everybody that rolls their fender lip does it.

 

[daviss]

Thanks, I was hoping noone would kick me off the board for stupidity

 

[Pitbozz]

Well...I can't promise you that!! Just noone will laugh at ya'!!