I'm getting close to having to be set on what I want my truck to be and do and am starting to gather parts, and I've reached a spot I have to make a choice about; either trim 3" off my back fenders to match the front width (which I love the look of the wide back) or add in 3" to the front.

Now, obviously that's not easy, it was on the back, the front is going to take careful planning and cutting and a whole lot of welding. I've thought about using F900 fenders, but they are 4" wider and almost impossible to find, plus I would need to cut the bottoms of those to work and unless I had a junk pair I wouldn't want to cut something up that is that hard to find. (if you have a junk pair feel free to message me about them, lol)

I think if I cut it in a few strategic places I can widen it and keep it looking right, it will take a lot of planning and I imagine I will have to mark everything out, take pictures with measurements in them, and then photoshop it out farther to be sure it's the place to cut and what it will need.


So, anyone have any ideas? I'll be running 37" by 12.5" wide tires under there, being wider will allow a lot more clearance.Plus, you know, wider huge 4x4 = cooler, lol. I figure this isn't one of those things too many people have done, but if we're not reinventing the wheel what are we doing, lol.

Thanks.

 

I never done this before... But I do understand what your looking for. The question I have for you is on the grill... are you going to widen that too or are the front fenders going to take up the space where the grill is?

 

I think what I am going to try to do is leave the grille as is, and widen at the back and top where it folds down and bolts on (seams), and then cut the front in such a way that it leaves the edge where it starts to turn towards the grille and widen it from there. That front section will be a bit trickier, I'll probably cut it, do the top and back, and then see the piece I need to make for the front. And make and keep a template in case something bad happens and I need to make another one down the road.

The green line kinda explains where I was looking to add.


I won't do this till I've reached the stage in the build that the new axles and wheels are on so I can be sure of how it will look. Then I recon I will cut them while they are on, tack weld the top and back piece, and then make and tack in the piece for the front.

It should be "simple enough", but I was curious as to if anyone had any experience doing this and it's a bit more compound than a rear fender.

Then I have to make the running boards, but I already had to do that, lol.

 

Stephen have you thought about cutting a wedge into the fenders, the front being the point and moving the rear out and adding the extra sheet metal. This will keep you from modifying the grille and curve in the front of the fender & still move the rear out to meet the rear fenders. Also you will not have your front tire deep insde the fenders. Just my $.02

 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why do you feel the need to widen the front fenders to match the rear? I like the way it looks right now. Is there a functional reason you're doing it?

 

I guess I'm in the same boat as Doc . Not really understanding the whyfor this mod .
No offense I am a bit old and slow .

 

I have thought about doing a wedge design, it would help with having to adjust the front bumper. I'm also thinking adding a little up front and taking a little off back might be a good way to go.


The reasoning for it is what's coming, not how it is now. The truck is to be a 4x4 and will be running 37'x12.5" wheels (same height you see, much, much wider). I'm not sure what steering issues may arise with this, but it's probably safe to say the front wheels will stick out a bit farther than where the current fenders end up front. Right now the back is about 83" wide, the front is 77". I'll need to have the new axles and wheels on before I do anything with the fenders, I was just seeing if anyone had any ideas on it as I brainstorm the build. I won't be certain on anything till I have the actual parts up and can see.

Before this comes up you'll see me strip this whole thing down to the frame, add a new powertrain, axles, paint some pieces, put the cab back on, and start putting it back together. It will be one of those things I do just before I paint the front clip or bed.