cutting inner fenders OBS

[Dylan-0308]

i searched but came up with nothing

does anyone have underhood pictures after cutting or removing the inner fenders on an OBS( 1998, looking so see how everything was mounted back up ), i have serious rubbing issues up front and im thinking about just removing the inner fender. i tried smaller tires but it looks goofy. may also throw some bags upfront but im not sure if i want to tackle that right now as its my DD.

the top of the wheel wells are polished pretty good and i hit inner fenders constantly, i have 2" spindls and 3" springs plus a bunch of weight from the system in the truck. also i think i may just be better off putting 2" springs on, or maybe even go back to stock spindles?

this is how she sits
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/dnieradka/th_IMG00744-20110707-1854-1.jpg (http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/dnieradka/?action=view&current=IMG00744-20110707-1854-1.jpg)
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/dnieradka/th_IMG00745-20110707-1854-1.jpg (http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/dnieradka/?action=view&current=IMG00745-20110707-1854-1.jpg)

i also have helper bags in the rear now, so the back i can see light between the wheel and the fender lip, i just dont want to put the stock spindle back on and then ride cali, i would really like to bag it to be honest, but i feel like it may be alot of work. even just keep it without valves and just use a shrader valve for the time being..

[someotherguy]

You've got a lot of front tire up there.

Richard

[Dylan-0308]

what do you mean?

another thought, would i get alot of cali if i was the put the stock spindls back on the truck? the rear is up a but more now that i have added some helper bags..

[someotherguy]

What do I mean? I mean you're running an awful tall, fat tire for the amount of front drop you have. Yes, you could cut or remove your inner fenders, but that sure is a rickety solution instead of just properly sizing your tires.

Richard

[Dylan-0308]

What size do you suggest? I tried smaller but it looked a little goofy to me. I think the drop seems like more them it should with all the extra weight of the system. This are factory size rubbers on the truck right now. I'm open to other suggestions. I'm debating on throwing on the stock spindles to get three the winter so I'm not pushing snow where ever I drive. When I tried a smaller tire it looked as if it was stretched onto to Tim and I don't really like the look of a tire stretched onto a rim. It's fine when I'm on a smooth road but once I start hitting the rough roads it gets into the inner fender pretty hard

[someotherguy]

You can't have it all, where would you put it? You want a fat, wheel-well filling tire and a dropped truck but don't want it to rub? Gonna have to decide, run a smaller tire, lift the truck back up, or chop up/remove your inner fenders and have road spray all over everything under your hood...and your PCM, ABS unit, air filter housing, fuse blocks, etc. flopping all over the place.

I guess I just don't see the difficulty. There's a bazillion sizes to choose from in a 15" tire, it just comes down to whether or not you really wanna fix it. Hit a tire website like Tire Rack and pick a brand/model of tire that has a lot of 15" offerings and look at the "specs" link for the tire, look at tires in the recommended rim width of 7~9", then notice the widths and heights of the tire compared to the size you're currently running. Running a shorter tire does not mean you have to run a skinnier tire.

Richard

[Dylan-0308]

I'm not a tire person, I have no idea what sizes I woul need as its all % of other number to give you side wall, which is why I asked oppinions on what tore size I should go for.... I know that if I remove the inner fenders everything gets wet and dirty, that's is why I'm going a different route so that doesent happen, that was a last resort. I just don't want to go get a smaller tire, have it installed and it still rubs. I think the issue is that with the weight of the system my 5/6 drop turned into a lot more then I was hoping for. A when I lowerd the truck I never thought I would have done what I did. I think I'm going to throw the stock spindles back on for the winter and save some dough up to bag it. Also a bit safer since the gap is bigger and I won't need to worry about stuffing it all with snow and ice and having my wheels lock up on me

[someotherguy]

If you follow my advice on using Tire Rack's site you'll learn a bit about tires and sizing. :D Don't be skert.

Richard

[dagen_1]

are you at a 5" drop in front? i have tall tires on my 4/6 and no rubbing at all... have you tried a good quality shock?

[someotherguy]

Dylan - how about telling us the exact size tires you're running up front. They don't look like stock 235/75/15.

I am running 255/45/20 which is actually a tiny bit taller AND wider than a stock tire and I never, NEVER rub - I mean NEVER. But I'm also running wheels with a good amount of backspacing for a drop - 5.4" on an 8.5" wheel.

Fillin' up the wheelwells...
http://www.someotherplace.com/bb/projects/rh94_58s.jpg

Richard

[Dylan-0308]

Those are 235/75/15's. The reason they look so huge is because of all the weight in the cab (35ish 8' 2"x4" and 3 sheets of 3/4 mdf and 12 10" subs). I believe whe I tried a smaller tire it was a 215/60/15 but I can't remember. I'm running the summit shocks djm springs and spindles up front. It does feel a bit squishy up front. I considers trying stiffer shocks but I'm not sure if they would stop the rubbing like I need it to?

[Dylan-0308]

And yes 3 inch springs 2 inch spindles

[someotherguy]

OK, after zooming it, I can see it's an f'ing Goodyear Wrangler, you have an all terrain type tire up there, although it has to roughly conform to a 235/75/15 size it's still a "fat" kind of tire compared to a typical street tire.

Another problem may be those Sport package wheels; someone please remind me what the backspacing is on those? It's less than 5", yeah? If I recall it's somewhere around 3.75"~4" though reports around the net are mixed. Someone tried to say they're 5.5" but there's no way, you can see it clearly that the centerline of the wheel is close to the middle of the hoop.

Richard

[Dylan-0308]

i put new tires on since then, but went with the same size tire, ill snap a picture tomorow of how the front currently sits. and i have no idea on the backspacing on this one either

[RPMbagged97]

I have 225/70r15's on my truck and I ride lower than that with no rubbing. The size tire I have is a little shorter and a little narrower than the original size, but doesn't look tiny compared to the rear tires.

[bdiamond]

Theres a HUGE difference between a 235/75 and 215/60. Thats a (roughly)29" tall tire and versus a 25.2" tire. I think you wouldn't have any problem finding a tire in between those two. A 235/60 maybe?

[bdiamond]

Try this...http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[addiction2bass]

im pretty much in the same boat as you. tho i do want to bag the front of my truck to go lower so im highly thinking of choping mine out and welding in some trailer fenders. and to keep it decent in the engine bay im just going to use some rubber mat of some type and make my own splash guards. which i dont think will be to hard. just gotta find the right material to use hell i might keep stock guards and just weld a filler plate to go from trailer fenders to the normal opening style.
as to how the stuff mounts back up its as simple as removing the stock bracket that holds pcm and abs stuff and making a new one or just try to cut it down shorter. looks simple enough to me.
i hope to bag my trucks front end by spring or summer but till then i wont know exactly what i need to cut. tho i will try to be as lazy as posible and simply cut out sections i need to and hopefully get away with keeping most of the inner fender.
my trucks only 4/6but i want lower in the front. but since its my daily driver i cannt static drop it that low or theres quite a few places i wont be able to go anymore.lol
i thought about going with smaller tires like most guys here will say to go, but like you i just dont want to look at a baby tire. i prefer a good sidewall!



if you rub so much well.... at least you already have a guide to where you need to CUT or massage with a BFH, but before ya BFH it to death i would be sure to unhook battery for awhile so you dont set off those air bags ;)
and this is just a MAYBE going thru my head but quick if its not rubbing horible, cut out section thats rubbing and use some pliers or small hammer to bent the sharp cut points up and preferably roll it so its not sharp anymore, and get some rubber material or something and cut it to be like patch panels over the cut areas and rivet it ontop the top inner fender maybe with some sealer as well to keep water and debri out as much as posible. just try to leave as much slack as posible so when the tire does rub it the material it wont try and break thru it.
hopefully ya get what i mean..... of course thats just the idea in my head. you got any pictures of how shiny yours looks? i just know what mine looks like but im not as low as yours and not as loaded in the cab.LOL

[Shwa Kid]

OK, after zooming it, I can see it's an f'ing Goodyear Wrangler - LOL!

Another problem may be those Sport package wheels; someone please remind me what the backspacing is on those? It's less than 5", yeah? If I recall it's somewhere around 3.75"~4" though reports around the net are mixed. Someone tried to say they're 5.5" but there's no way, you can see it clearly that the centerline of the wheel is close to the middle of the hoop.

Richard

4.25" BS according to this thread: http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/general-discussion/technical-maintenance/461061-454ss-sport-wheel-dimensions.html .. I think the source was quite reliable.

[addiction2bass]

And can measure a rim tonight. I got 2 just sitting im my garage right now

[nlkicker05]

I ran 235/60 up front 275/60 in the rear for the longest time, different rims though.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/nlkicker05/100_0049.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/nlkicker05/102_5941.jpg

[Dylan-0308]

its the weight of the truck making it sag so much, when the system isent in the truck it isent nearly as bad or bad at all.

[addiction2bass]

ya you got a good 500lbs or more in the truck.lol
and we all know removing the weight isnt a option :D tho one thing ive noticed.... remove all the extra weight and the truck is a whole new beast again! i got my bed cleared out for my new air setup back there and i can do some wicked burnouts even with my studded tires again this week :D its really to much fun and i know im ripping out more studs but i just cannt help myself every now and then! LOL
to bad ill put back maybe half the weight back in next week. i got the steel i need to build my mount i want for everything today. and since i got the weekend off its defiantly going to get done!

[Dylan-0308]

i have more then 500 extra pounds in the truck.. lol the only time i can spin the tires is when its wet, and as soon as the tire heats up thats all i can do really lol

[addiction2bass]

LOL whats your MPG lookin like lately with all that in there as well? mines right at just over 14mpg with it weighted down and studded rear tires. i get about 1more mpg without the studded tires on.

[Dylan-0308]

not sure i dont really pay attention to that. i just throw the fuel in when i need to... i know for next summer i would really love to install an e-fan or 2 to help with highway millage, well millage all around i sopose

[rookie929]

just unbolt the inner fenders you dont even have to pull the fender off to get them out... then just relocate everything

[addiction2bass]

on a daily driver just removing the liners isnt a good option IMO! at least if you care about your engine bay staying decently clean!

about how much milage you get per tank? i typically get 315 with maybe a gallon in the tank left something like that. 21-22gallons

[rookie929]

I agree but until he figures out what to do about tire wheel combo that will work it would be better than risking cutting a tire and having a blow out everytime he drives it. Could also buy trailer fenders and mount them high enuff to clear the tires your running..

[addiction2bass]

well he couldnt blow a tire that way as long as he removed the bolts that rub the head. as long as he has removed the bolts in the rub area then it will be fine, but you still hear the RUB SOUND ;) it will just keep shining up the metal with the tire. just dont remove the whole thing.

[Dylan-0308]

yeah its making my inner fender look like a mirror now. im just worried about relocating everything.. mabey ill hold off until i bag the truck. and i can fill my tank and drive about 400KM on the highway and have about a half tank left.. i dont really do the whole millage thing because then you realize how much it accually costs to drive around

[addiction2bass]

That's true, but if you keep. Regular eye on it you can tell when your starting to have a problem, like low air in a tire, worn spark plugs and such just kinda gives ya a early warning. Of course also tells ya when you need to start slowin down.LOL I do drive 80mph on a regular basis on the highway early mornings to work. One good thing about workin early is highways pretty empty! :D and sometimes faster if I'm runing a bit behind.lol. I have pegged out the 120mph escalade cluster a few times with no traffic but not for very long tho. She still a truck with truck tires, justhope one never blows out on me when I'm being stupid! So far my trucks only had 1 blow out going 70mph on the rear and suprisingly I didn't even feel it or know it was me til a saw the cloud behind me! Which reminds me I still gotta slap my spare tire on the truck!