squint0241's Oahu Build

What's the story on the hand?

 

I managed to save my hand by applying a tourniquet as well as a Mickey Mouse Band-Aid from my daughter's medicine cabinet... Beware of really pointy Exacto Blades..

 

Chop away Rick, chop away.

 

Fast shipping to Hawaii! Planned on mounting them this weekend wrapped in 35" MTR's, but there are no MTR's in Hawaii... Goodyear said 2 months to ship here... Talk about 3rd world! In the meantime they will be displayed as art pieces... Excellent packaging and the note was a nice touch with the enclosed SCS decal..

 

Those are pretty. Not surprising no one has 35" MTRs in stock tho... That would take up a lot of space and probably sit for a long time. 4wp might have other 35s in stock.

 

Thanks! I agree they are a pretty wheel, and "pretty" is a word us guys don't use lightly... Honestly, I think your wheels are by far the best looking and most practical for hardcore off-roading imo. Just a little out of my price range.. And I agree, 35" MTR's...who uses them and can afford them?..not too many on Oahu... Luckily, I have nice wheels and tires on the truck to last a couple more months during the wait...

 

So where's the finish product?

 

Tires are sitting off the coast of Molokai right now...

 

This going down for the Dirty Fives... Thanks to @bullaculla for the tips and hardware..!


These getting mounted tomorrow...

 

Nothing like that pucker feeling when you start up a perfectly good truck

 

But it wasn't perfectly good until I cut it...

 

Cool, you are already ahead of me!

 

Want to do this so much!!! Great work, Rick!!!

 

Thanks...Mine as well...life is short... Takes about 4 hours per wheel well from start to finish (Doing it right..) Measuring, cutting, grinding, sanding, painting...

 

How did you install the splash guards? Were you able to use the OEM's? Or did you buy and fab some aftermarket material?

 

They won't work anymore. There's no mounting holes with the OEM flare gone. Gonna have to be custom for the Bushwhackers. I'll figure out something...

 

sweet!!

 

Clearance for 35's...
A few more pics from the....

Marking the cut-off line is fairly easy by eyeballing the glare line between the top and bottom. No.2 pencil. I didn't measure the flare...just cut off the vertical face. Follow up with a fresh 24tpi jig-saw blade and it cuts like butter! I recommend using a separate blade for the fenders (sheet metal). It wears down the blade fast and if you cut the flares afterwards it will bubble up and reseal instantly. I used a 17tpi blade for the sheet metal cuts. Thought about using the angle grinder, but it's too big and cumbersome and is not precise as a jig-saw.


Generous use of painters tape for the mark-up. Using the master (@bullaculla ) technique, I made a tab template to score in the liner mount points that will be bent inwards. Also pre-drilled the holes at the tab junctions to make it easier to turn the jig-saw (@bullaculla ) method. Recommend cutting a large radius along the entire length of the fender at the bottom tab line. This will eliminate the old fender edge with the factory holes and make it easier to cut into the outline as well. You can also notice the bushwhacker flare holes I drilled (painted squares) are not in the same place as the OEM flare mount points. First thing you do before any cutting is mount the bushwhacker to the fender to mark the holes!!


After the cut out, use the flap wheel to clean up any jaggies and rough edges. You can then bend the tabs back using a hand seamer or a make-shift bending block of your choice.


Used this badboy that @bullaculla purchased to hone the flare edge for a clean line after cutting. This thing is awesome! Thanks Iven..


The whole process took about 13 hrs. It's time consuming, but you want to ensure you do it correctly. Align, measure, cut, deburr, sand, paint. I learned a lot from the first fender cut on what the best method was to utilize. If anyone ever goes this route give me a buzz and I'll help out. It's easier than you think.. Getting the flares color matched next week. Although the black does look nice, it's not my vision..

 

Teaser pic... Need to break out the heavy gun camera tomorrow...

 

That looks awesome!