My plan for upgraded fenders: CUSTOM!

Okay, so I've been thinking of what to do about my flares for some time now. I feel they are just as functional as the hood scoops. All show and no go! I hate that dirt and crap gets stuck in them, and that they actually reduce the amount of room I have for my lovely 285s.

Of all the designs, plans, and thoughts I've had on the setup, I like this one the best:

I will remove the flares (black unpainted plastic). I will roll the inner edge and pull the fenders out as far as I can cleanly get them. (Do they make fender rollers for bigger gaps? (Longer arms on the roller)...

Then, I will remove the inner fender liner, and replace it with either a rubber sheet or carpet, something thick, sound deadening, and durable.

Then I will install bolts in each clip hole in the fender with washers large enough to completely cover the holes. These bolts will ALSO go through the new fender liner, helping to hold it in place.

THEN, I will cover the area, (almost the same size as the old flares) with some sort of bed liner material, sealing the bolts, holes, and wrapping all the way into the fender a bit.

What problems do you think I'll run into? Are the clip holes equal distance (aesthetically pleasing) from each other?

Okay...
Phase One:
Removed all the flares, cleaned up the crap they've collected for all these years!!! Worked hard to keep the rear plastic clips intact, then got to the fronts, and just pulled them off, haha... oh well. The fenders are perfect. The front clips, are not.

Phase Two:
Will be to locate a fender roller long enough to do some work on my fenders! I'll most likely be removing the plastic fender liners, and be rubber spraying the entire inner fender areas, to dampen sound, and keep everything from getting beat up from rocks, etc...

{Phase two is at a dead stop. I cannot find anyone with a fender roller to fit my truck hub to fender distance, nor am I getting ANY help from off road shops around, body shops either! It's nuts. The line x shop wants $750 total to spray the fender flare area, with a protectant mixed in for a lasting shine or whatever. I'm thinking rattle can will do the trick! But I DID want a thick layer, not just a black look. So... I might bite the bullet and get them to knock it out. BUT, before I do that, I want to either roll or cut the fenders. Looking more likely to be cut than rolled at this point. I'm thinking 1.5" or 2" then glue some sort of edge guard, and Linex over it.

Phase Three:
As soon as all these damn storms pass I'll be painting the outer flare area, where they used to be. Not sure what with yet, bed liner? Rubber spray? Regular paint? Then I'll install the bolts, and paint them as well!

 

i wanna see how this turns out.

 

Any thoughts or tips people?

 

Good luck!

 

If you plan on doing the rear fenders, there an indent that you cant see because of the flares. it would look off.

 

I think carpet in the wells is a bad idea, otherwise go for it

 

Am I reading this right? You're going to be re-forming the fender metal shape freehand?

Disappointment is inevitable IMO.

If you really want more clearance, a couple of members have taken a different approach: Trimmed-and-tabbed the fender well opening, then cover the shortened fender with a custom shortened flare skirt.

 

OK, it took some searching, but I found the post describing what I'm talking about:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17769-relentlesstacos-build-up-12.html#post2159816

 

^^ actually tabbing and cutting then rolling your fenders seems like it could turn out pretty good. stock fender flares are shit. i like this idea

 

I've thought about finding a way to secure flares from a vehicle with slightly larger wheel wells to my truck and then tracing the inside of them and trimming out the extra, buuut that's as far as I've thought it out.

If you're going to do this, might as well get more room and do some trimming while you're at it

 

Yeah. Narrowed it down to either rubber spray or ABS plastic molded in.

 

I've seen them and while they look great I still don't like having a fake flare. It only lowers clearance levels and traps dirt. No real functionality IMO.
I'm only going to roll/pull the fender. Pretty simply. No reshaping or anything crazy. Think WRX or EVO. (I've had both, and many 240SXs and always had to roll fenders, trim seam welds, firewall seams, etc.)

 

Just do it already and post pics haha If it looks good then come do mine next haha

 

I wouldn't worry about anything sound deadening in that area. Either you will be muffling the sound of the road for the engine or the sound of the engine for the road but none of that noise will really transfer to the cab IMO

 

Sounds interesting. Post up pics of what you've done on other cars so we can see what we're talking about.

 

hey bud i also have many friends who could roll my fenders and i have been convinced to do this. just have a question for ya to see if you can help me out. i dont plan on putting any bolts on my fenders do you have aby ideas of how i could fill in all them squares from the clips.?

 

Go for it! i was pondering the idea myself on my 1st gen

 

Why not just cut?

As for filling the holes, you could weld a plate to the back and then fill in with bondo.

I'll be interested in seeing the outcome regardless.

 

Sounds awesome. Finally someones putting bolts in the fender holes.

 

Did cutting screw up the bumper alignment with the fender very bad? Did you fix that or just deal with it being off? Tires rub on the bumper much?