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Experimental 1st Gen Fender

How fast/easy is it to remove/bolt in the front fenders?

Your new idea has me thinking of maybe having 2 sets of fenders; 1 for the street and 1 (like your latest idea) for the trail.
I'm going to run 11.00R16 Michelin XL's (39") so I can pretty much retain the stock wheel well for the street. And since I'm thinking along this line, I like your latest idea, nice and wide-open for articulation :bow: .
 
vtblazer said:
The fenders don't have the 1st gen 'lip' but they are an exact outline of the original fender itself.

Whatcha think?
Click to expand...


..... I think you took the easy way out. :rolleyes:



I can empathize with the struggle, but I still think it would be more "bitchiner" (I just made that up) if the stock lip was somehow preserved with a larger opening.

You don't have to tell me what a PITA it is to do them the "other" way....I understand it. I feel strongly that one of the signature design elements of the 1st Gens are those fender openings (the shape and style with the perimeter lip)....to cut those off is to throw away one of the more beautiful parts of the truck.


How about this? Go back to your old idea, build the fenders with the stock lip (but larger)....spend some time on them and make them nice. THEN, design a hanger system that allows them to be removed completely with a couple of pins and spring clips?? :thinking:

The rear cowl mount seems to lend itself to this pretty easily....it's just a big "tab" anyway. Up front, maybe do a vertical tube design (with alternating cuts like a door hinge)...part of the tube is mounted to the backside of the fender, the other part is mounted near the core support. You open up the hood, and remove a long vertical pin to disconnect the front of the fender.

After that, it's a matter of smaller items like getting the fender out cleanly from behind the grille, removing or dealing with the side marker light, etc.


I know, I know.......it's easy for the armchair bodyshop guy! :D :haha:
 
vtblazer said:
Not finished
Click to expand...

There's more info I didn't disclose when posting intitially due to remaining 'uncertainties' at the time.

The finished fender WILL have an original looking 1st gen fender lip!

In doing it this way, only one pair of fenders need to be cut and will not require any welding/fabricating.

With any luck, it could be sold as a kit for way less $$ than those first fenders I tried to make.
 
vtblazer said:
There's more info I didn't disclose when posting intitially due to remaining 'uncertainties' at the time.

The finished fender WILL have an original looking 1st gen fender lip!

In doing it this way, only one pair of fenders need to be cut and will not require any welding/fabricating.

With any luck, it could be sold as a kit for way less $$ than those first fenders I tried to make.
Click to expand...


Good to hear it....

Then I can take my cool "removeable hinge" idea back and use that myself! :haha:


ps. How's about some help on that electrical project you agreed to comment on??? Weekend's almost here you know....and I need to start pulling wire. :deal:
 
CDA 455 said:
How fast/easy is it to remove/bolt in the front fenders?
Click to expand...

May not be the best option, removing/installing your fenders isn't hard to do overall but to do it as a "trail ride today" thing would be to much IMO.

I'm trying to have a fender lip made that will allow us to just 'cut and install' alot like those plastic fender flares they sell. (same only different)

They could potentially be removable for a days wheeling if needed/wanted.
 
CDA 455 said:
I'm going to run 11.00R16 Michelin XL's (39") so I can pretty much retain the stock wheel well for the street.
Click to expand...

The tires on my blazer currently are 39.5 TSL's, so their a close comparison to what you'll be running.

You did realize that in the pics, I have the new cut fender "hanging" on top of a uncut one, yes?
Pics kinda deceiving is why I asked.

dcp_4508nolipwarrows.JPG
 
vtblazer said:
The tires on my blazer currently are 39.5 TSL's, so their a close comparison to what you'll be running.

You did realize that in the pics, I have the new cut fender "hanging" on top of a uncut one, yes?
Pics kinda deceiving is why I asked.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I thought they were the inner fender apron :doah: !
 
vtblazer said:
May not be the best option, removing/installing your fenders isn't hard to do overall but to do it as a "trail ride today" thing would be to much IMO.

I'm trying to have a fender lip made that will allow us to just 'cut and install' alot like those plastic fender flares they sell. (same only different)

They could potentially be removable for a days wheeling if needed/wanted.
Click to expand...

Have you ever seen those tabs they use on Baja 1000 Trophy Trucks? You can use a coin or a screwdriver with a half-moon shape to quick-remove panels? It's spring-loaded with a 't' on the backside to hold the panel on.

Maybe something like that to quick-swap the fenders.
 
CDA 455 said:
Also, What's your rim and backspacing measurements?
Click to expand...

Rims are 16.5x9.75 w/3.75 back spacing, IIRC.

HOUSTON WE HAVE CLEARANCE . :D

No elegant 1st gen fender lip but man oh man is there more room now.

It may get taken out by a tree or something similar but at least the tires aren't going to bend it up like they used to.

Before pic and after pic on the exact same 'test' block.

dcp_3912flexed.jpg

dcp_4537bigcut.jpg
 
Better! :thumb:

Looks like you might be able to slightly offset the opening to gain more "uniform" clearance around the tire....

The pic shows mondo clearance on the leading edge, but susbstantially less clearance in the critical trailing edge area where the tire always seems to mangle sheetmetal. :thinking:
 
Greg72 said:
Better! :thumb:

Looks like you might be able to slightly offset the opening to gain more "uniform" clearance around the tire....

The pic shows mondo clearance on the leading edge, but susbstantially less clearance in the critical trailing edge area where the tire always seems to mangle sheetmetal. :thinking:
Click to expand...

Maybe move the axle forward an inch or so :thinking: ?
 
CDA 455 said:
Maybe move the axle forward an inch or so :thinking: ?
Click to expand...

Maybe could do enough with a set of zero rates but...

There's plenty of clearance now, not super interested in moving stuff around now that it all finally works correctly...if ya know what I'm sayin'.

It's centered darn good when neutral without the big flex, what the heck do ya want!?

Did some goofing around the yard trying to twist it up...

dcp_4530bigcut.jpg

dcp_4541bigcut.jpg

dcp_4544bigcut.jpg

dcp_4546bigcut.jpg
 
vtblazer said:
Maybe could do enough with a set of zero rates but...

There's plenty of clearance now, not super interested in moving stuff around now that it all finally works correctly...if ya know what I'm sayin'.

It's centered darn good when neutral without the big flex, what the heck do ya want!?

Did some goofing around the yard trying to twist it up...
Click to expand...


...I was responded to Greg72's comments. That's what.
 
greythorn3 said:
are you running inner fenders on that thing? with the big cutout fenders?

ray

if so where are you mountingthem?
Click to expand...

Not a chance...

Only way would be to fab up something new/different.
 
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