Clearancing the wheel wells

[rockhound]

I've seen this done but wasn't real keen on attempting it. With 35's and the axle moved forward 1 1/2 " the tires would never rub. When I went to 37's, I started having trouble with the tires grabbing the bottom of the fender and rubbing at the wheel well.

Today I tore into it and got the drivers side done.

[rockhound]

Another shot

[rockhound]

It turns out I was hanging on to this old door for a reason.

It just happened to have the right curve for the patch panel.

[lilbuddy]

Looks good Al

[86bobbedtoy]

I predict this in my near future.
nice job!

[KDXSR5]

So you didn't weld it in there? If you didn't, then maybe I can do it when the time comes! I have no good welding skills.

[DTB]

[Inittowinit]

.

[DTB]

..............................Soooooooo, is that piece held in w/ glue?(What kind?)..............And your not able to kick it out/in?

I would be worried about a log coming up in there and bustin through.....ALTHOUGH...I have seen people do something similar with plexiglass so u can see the log coming in...dunno

[rockhound]

Looks good Al

Thanks Chris.

For the rest of the interested parties..

Sorry the project wasn't documented better. Pics were a last minute idea. After the fact.

The panel is welded in. The caulk is just to seal it from dust and water entering the passenger compartment.
I still need to do the passenger side. Maybe I'll show the process start to finish. 

[DTB]

Thanks Chris.

For the rest of the interested parties..

Sorry the project wasn't documented better. Pics were a last minute idea. After the fact.

The panel is welded in. The caulk is just to seal it from dust and water entering the passenger compartment.
I still need to do the passenger side. Maybe I'll show the process start to finish. 

cool...we was wondering about that! Looks nice....You made it look easy

[RTA]

Good job Al.  Don't slice up those tires!   

[DieselD]

should have cut more for when you go bigger.

[Volcom]

I am going to be doing the same exact job to fit some 40" Iroks.  I was hoping not to have to cut but there's no way around it.  Thanks for the pictures.

Rockyot - What did you use to cut your openings?  Was it hard to cut that close to the body mount?  Any more pictures?  Was the piece you welded back in flat or did it have a curve in it?

[rockhound]

Good job Al.  Don't slice up those tires!   

Ya, gotta keep 'em in good shape so I can shred 'em at the Hammers 

should have cut more for when you go bigger.

I don't plan going bigger any time soon. I do plan to increase clearance with some 6" springs and better snubbies.

[rockhound]

Passenger side..

[rockhound]

smoothed it out with a grinding wheel after getting the rough shape with the nose saw.

[rockhound]

Hopefully got enough out for the 37's. If not at least they won't catch on the seam anymore and have a smooth surface to rub against.

[rockhound]

Tacked in

[rockhound]

moved the brain, caulked it in and painted it.

I need to head over to my Costco retaining wall ramp and see how I did.   

[alwayzbroken]

I added plexiglass windows when I did mine. It turned out really well for super steep crawling when you can't see anything. You can actually look straight ahead through the small windows like a windshield on both sides to see what you are doing when the front end of the truck is high up on trail terrain.

[rockhound]

I added plexiglass windows when I did mine. It turned out really well for super steep crawling when you can't see anything. You can actually look straight ahead through the small windows like a windshield on both sides to see what you are doing when the front end of the truck is high up on trail terrain.

DirtToyBoy said something earlier about plexiglass. I like that idea. How did you attach it? How thick? Curved?

[alwayzbroken]

DirtToyBoy said something earlier about plexiglass. I like that idea. How did you attach it? How thick? Curved?

I drilled the necessary holes in the plexiglass and the floor then put a bead of silicone around the plexiglass before laying it down and bolting it in for the last time. It is flat. It is not hard to shape the sheet metal into a flat surface. I cut out the sheetmetal first, patched the hole then cut out the window I wanted from the fully patched floor. I put silicone over all the tack welds and seams. Probably not necessary but I wanted everything sealed good so it wouldn't rust through right away. 

[alwayzbroken]

The view

[DTB]

The view

oh come on...you  could of at least put a pic of a naked chick or something behind it

[rockhound]

Alwaysbroken. Cool idea. Nicely done. 

[jimbo74]

i dont know if i could get used to the plexi in the floor... i do think it looks cool though.... what about it scratching? would lexan have been better?

[alwayzbroken]

oh come on...you  could of at least put a pic of a naked chick or something behind it

Do you really want me to?

[alwayzbroken]

i dont know if i could get used to the plexi in the floor... i do think it looks cool though.... what about it scratching? would lexan have been better?

It isn't scratched after two years. I'm sure lexan would have been better. I don't foresee the plexiglass being an issue though. Its small size helps it retain a lot of rigidity.

[DieselD]

Rockyot - What did you use to cut your openings?  Was it hard to cut that close to the body mount?  Any more pictures?  Was the piece you welded back in flat or did it have a curve in it?

I used a combo of cutoff wheels and plasma cutter. the foor near the body mount is double think but the plas made easy work of it. the key is just to cut a little at a time until you get the desired size. i also tried to lien everything up so I would have less curves in the patch panal as possible. Im no body man!!

here are a couple more pics




the start of the patch



no finished pictures I guess?? Ill take some tonight