Anyone narrow their front clip?

[74K30]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm the kind of guy that if I spend too much time thinking about a project I end up just going in the garage one night and start cutting. Thinking it'll all come together in the end somehow.
So here I am with 9" cut off the passenger side of my core support and a big relief angle cut into the inside of my fender just forward of the firewall.
So far so good. I'm not too worried about where I'm gonna put my head lights and batteries for now. Thats some other days problem.
What I wanna know is who has done this and how have you gone about reconnecting the fender to the core support.
I've seen some build threads on here that have had this done but no detailed pics of that connection.
Due to the way the sheet metal contours on both the fender and core support, I was thinking about being lazy and just welding L brackets in from the hardware store but that seems jenky.
Has anyone done any sweet custom sheet metal work on this that can enlighten me?
Oh yeah, Its a 77.

 

[Silver84k5]

I think i just welded em together... lol

It was about 4-5 years ago... Im gonna re do it here pretty soon.

 

[sope]

I just cut an 8" section out of both sides and pulled it all together and welded. No relief cuts or5 anything. It's pretty rough though but the whole body is rough. It gets beat so it's good enough for me. here's a couple pics.

 

[74K30]

Hey thanks, that's a much better idea. Plus I get to keep the headlight buckets. I'm not done with it yet but it seems to be coming together quite well. Next thing is the wheel wells. Where those hard to get cut into the right shape afterwords? And how about the hood hinges? Is that a lost cause because of the new angle. I was thinking I would have to go to a four hood pin design and just have to lift the whole thing off whenever I wanna gain access.
I would love to post a pic of my progress so far but can't figure out how.
The only option I see on here for posting pics asks me for a URL, but mine are all on my hard drive.
If I can figure that out then I'll post a build thread after I do the boat sides.

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

The inner fenders are pretty easy to cut, just take off small sections at a time so you don't overdo it. I found the hood hinges to be a lost cause because you have to cut out the mounting areas when you cut your hood to fit. I went with the four hood pin style and like it.

 

[Silver84k5]

The inner fenders are pretty easy to cut, just take off small sections at a time so you don't overdo it. I found the hood hinges to be a lost cause because you have to cut out the mounting areas when you cut your hood to fit. I went with the four hood pin style and like it.

if you really want hinges, you could use Jeep hinges...

Ive been wanting to build some inner fenders, I didnt think it would work with the stock ones... You have any pics of your inner fenders?

If i can pick up some inner fenders for cheap, and just cut to fit, that would tits!

 

[sope]

I still have my hinges but springs and brackets to hold the hood up are gone. As for fenders I bent everything in and cut as I went.

Like I said mines rough but works.

 

[74K30]

The Jeep hinges sound like a great idea. Did it work on your 84? I don't think it would work on my 77 unless I got a later model hood. Yours has a cowl between the hood and windshield where as my hood overlaps the top of the fire wall and goes all the way to the windshield. I'm looking forward to getting back in the garage and seeing how those inner fenders are gonna come together and letting you all know how it goes.
On a side note to Silver84k5, I'm having a huge party on Saturday night for my big 30 and since your not too far away over there in Hills Burrito, you should come by and check out the rig.
Always good to find more wheeling buddies, especially since all mine are going the way of the Toyota.
Pussies.

 

[GsxrMike]

I haven't narrowed mine yet but I plan on it, maybe, someday. I did however get rid of my hood hinges and latch and went 4 pin. I also cut all of the support out of the hood to make it light weight and I can get it on and off easy by myself. It also works great as something to stand on if you get stuck in some deep mud and need to hook up your winch controler.

As far as the inner fenders, I would gut those too. They weigh a ton and honestly, between my brother and I (he has inners and I don't) we can't tell much differance in the amount of mud inside the engine compartment, plus mines easier to clean.

For the pics you need to get an account at a photo hosting site like photobucket.com or the like. Once you upload your pics there you can get the url from them and paste it into insert image on here.

Good luck! Can't wait to see some pics!

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

I haven't narrowed mine yet but I plan on it, maybe, someday. I did however get rid of my hood hinges and latch and went 4 pin. I also cut all of the support out of the hood to make it light weight and I can get it on and off easy by myself. It also works great as something to stand on if you get stuck in some deep mud and need to hook up your winch controler.

As far as the inner fenders, I would gut those too. They weigh a ton and honestly, between my brother and I (he has inners and I don't) we can't tell much differance in the amount of mud inside the engine compartment, plus mines easier to clean.

For the pics you need to get an account at a photo hosting site like photobucket.com or the like. Once you upload your pics there you can get the url from them and paste it into insert image on here.

Good luck! Can't wait to see some pics!

It is really nice having the 4 pin style. it makes working on things wayyy nicer. with the narrowed front you can even stand on your tire to work on things, it great!!

However, I have to disagree on one thing. If you go on muddy trails like I do, I feel that inner fenders are a must. they are super light compared to the amount of mud that you can fill your engine compartment with. I have boggers for tires and they throw a lot mud. last summer my engine compartment was always full of mud and a pain in the ass to get all the mud out..... my highest car wash bill was $50. if you go in a straight line you are most likely fine.... but as soon as you turn your wheel all that mud is getting stuck under the hood. One guy I wheel with has inner fenders as well as rubber between the inner fenders and the frame. it was always dry and clean under his hood. it was also nice to work on whenever he broke down because you never had to fight mud clumps, haha




Silver84k5:
thats all you have to do, I used my old ones and cut them to fit, it was super easy. I gutted out the inside of my fender except for the lip around the wheel well. all you need to do is trim the inside side of the inner fender to your frame and around your steering shaft, the outer side can bolt right up to that lip unless you don't gut the outer fender, then you could probably mount them in the stock location. ill try to get some photos on in a bit. i got the fenders "tacked" on right now with self tapping screws but ill be Drilling and bolting them on later. I'm hitting the trails next weekend and i am in a last minute scramble to get the rig ready.

 

[doonjumper]

I bought mine already done. Here is a hood option though. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265596

 

[74K30]

I have to agree that they are a must. I used to have a 3 inch body lift and just that little gap between them and the frame was enough to shoot water straight at my air filter. Filled the motor with water once but got lucky and it shot out when I pulled the plugs and there was no harm.
I'll be cutting them to fit in as tight as possible.

 

[Silver84k5]

On a side note to Silver84k5, I'm having a huge party on Saturday night for my big 30 and since your not too far away over there in Hills Burrito, you should come by and check out the rig.
Always good to find more wheeling buddies, especially since all mine are going the way of the Toyota.
Pussies.

Just checked back on this thread tonight, Id be down to bs trucks sometime. Let me know when the next party is :P

I still got a little less than 2 years till the big 30. Kinda scares me hahah.

 

[Silver84k5]

Silver84k5:
thats all you have to do, I used my old ones and cut them to fit, it was super easy. I gutted out the inside of my fender except for the lip around the wheel well. all you need to do is trim the inside side of the inner fender to your frame and around your steering shaft, the outer side can bolt right up to that lip unless you don't gut the outer fender, then you could probably mount them in the stock location. ill try to get some photos on in a bit. i got the fenders "tacked" on right now with self tapping screws but ill be Drilling and bolting them on later. I'm hitting the trails next weekend and i am in a last minute scramble to get the rig ready.

Yea, id like to see that. After i get my current mod finished, im going to really look into this. thx.

 

[74K30]

Who knows when my next party is gonna be. I wish I could say I would passing through Hillsboro on my way to Browns Camp sometime soon but this truck is a slow going project.

 

[Silver84k5]

Who knows when my next party is gonna be. I wish I could say I would passing through Hillsboro on my way to Browns Camp sometime soon but this truck is a slow going project.

Well, if you ever need a hand wrenchin, or whatever drop me a line...

You can PM, if you buy a membership here...

 

[74K30]

I'll do that as soon as I can. Going to school full time right now so I'm broke as hell.
Thats why I'm doing these mods right now. It's free to do as opposed to the doubler kit, tires and everything else I need to buy. I'll let you know when I get that level of membership paid for so we don't have to bother these other nice folks on here with us trying to meet up. The only hard part will be getting my girlfriend to let me have a man date in the garage with some dude I met on the internet.

 

[Silver84k5]

I'll do that as soon as I can. Going to school full time right now so I'm broke as hell.
Thats why I'm doing these mods right now. It's free to do as opposed to the doubler kit, tires and everything else I need to buy. I'll let you know when I get that level of membership paid for so we don't have to bother these other nice folks on here with us trying to meet up. The only hard part will be getting my girlfriend to let me have a man date in the garage with some dude I met on the internet.

Haha. My gf would give me **** about it too.