The Black Hole

[gmanpaint]

Thanks Maniak. I was hoping somebody had some knowledge of their parts. I just didn't want to spend the extra $$ based on a review by the manufacturer alone.

They are considerably more in price, but as the old saying goes....We always have time to re-do it, but not enough time to do it right the 1st time. I know the 35" are going to stress everything on the rig, so taking precaution measures now will hopefully prevail in the long run.

 

[cybergasm]

Cough

http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/content/view/5/2/

 

[gmanpaint]

Cough

http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/content/view/5/2/

Yeah yeah, I wish I had the cash for those, but I don't

Trying to get the best that I can afford, which ain't much...lol

I managed to get the passenger side fender trimmed out as far as I could without cutting into the firewall. The pinch folds are all flattened out. I still have to do the same to the drivers side folds. Relocated the fender bracket farther in. The back 1/3 of the liners were cut off completely. I was going to remove them, but figured some protection for the engine bay is better than none. I will have to hose off the top of the trans now, but the BL helps with that.

I also added some rubber fender flares after trimming was done. These are going to have to work until the glass fenders go on. I got sick of mud flinging into the cab via the open windows. These add 2" to the fender flares, and should help a little.

Pics after its finished.

 

[CDW6212R]

...

I got sick of mud flinging into the cab via the open windows....

LOL, I'd love to see some good video of those times, on AFV Sundays.

Try to save some of the inner fender material and rebuild them to fit the shape you need better. They can be glued or epoxied to some extent, of course fiberglass might be better depending on flex needed.

 

[gmanpaint]

I made a new 1" lip after trimming. It looks fairly stock the way it was done.

The new fender lip was needed for 2 things.....1) So as not to have a tire slicer with a sharp edge...2) to have a surface to screw the flares onto.

I do have the section of fender that was removed as it was one full piece for both sides. I saved them in case I have to trim off anymore. I can weld them back on and bondo/paint to a decent finish if needed. The fiberglass replacement fenders will go on eventually, so the sliders need to come off and shortened 3" for that.

These heavy duty flares have a steel rod in the outer lip, and they look they will take some heavy abuse and survive alright. Time will tell.
They look good to me, and I might do the rears as well.

Pass side flare side view

Front angle

Front view

The pinch folds hammered flat. BTW...I discovered when you swing a hammer directly behind the fuel cutoff switch, it will trigger it!...lol

 

[gmanpaint]

Drivers side fender well is finished being mutilated.

I have the 35" installed on all 4 corners now. I have an issue to deal with still. As I had previously predicted the Sliders are too long and the tires rub them at 1/2-3/4 turn on the lug edges. The rear has 2 spanking brand new tires, the fronts have 60% tread life. With new on the front, there would be no way the tires would even make a turn past halfway.

So, I have to cut the front of the "2x4" slider end off about 1 1/2" then weld back on the cap. I am trying to think if leaving them on, and cutting off the ends with a sawzall would be less work and effort than removing them to do the work.....????

Either way, it's gonna be the Suck!

19.5" clearance under the sliders.

Its getting dark out now, so pics will be taken tomorrow.

 

[gmanpaint]

Got the sliders trimmed shorter, but still have to get the new caps welded on. Hopefully sometime this week that will get done. Left them on the rig, and used a sawzall & a grinder w/cutting wheel to take off a 1.5". Made a big dif in clearance.


Wheels turned half way and tire rub

Wheels turned 1/3 after the slider trimming done.

 

[gmanpaint]

Rolling on 35" Pro Comp 12.5" wide Mud Terrains! Never ever thought this day would happen..lol

Tires are bead balanced with tiny blue static granules.

 

[cybergasm]

all limbs still intact? :

 

[gmanpaint]

all limbs still intact? :

Not even a single scratch happened today!

 

[corkey]

did you cut at the back too, ??

 

[97sprt4x4]

You and Corkey are pioneering the IFS to new bounds.It looks great, when do the glass fenders get put on there? Are you still rocking no front bumper? would you had to have trimmed the bumper had it been there? (for some reason that doesn't make grammatical sense to me...)

 

[gmanpaint]

did you cut at the back too, ??

No trimming required

You and Corkey are pioneering the IFS to new bounds.It looks great, when do the glass fenders get put on there? Are you still rocking no front bumper? would you had to have trimmed the bumper had it been there? (for some reason that doesn't make grammatical sense to me...)

Still no front bumper yet. I have changed my mind on a simple tube design in favor for a hybrid tube / plate design to accommodate a winch. That's a nice winter project for me.

Glass fenders by spring hopefully. These mods are Expensive, and it takes time to re-coop from each one.

As far as the front bumper goes, I don't think the lower valence would survive a good wheeling trip. The coilovers with the DB crossover seems to stabilize the IFS so trimming of the stock bumper is hard to say. Each rig seems to be a little different. If there was to be some trimming of the steel version bumper, it would be nominal for tire rub.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Looking Great!!!

 

[Maniak]

Tires are bead balanced with tiny blue static granules.

Airsoft Pellets? How many did you put in? I mean in weight, not "how many"

~Mark

 

[gmanpaint]

Airsoft Pellets? How many did you put in? I mean in weight, not "how many"

~Mark

Not airsoft. These are made for tire balancing. The tire shop had them. They only used 6.5 oz per tire. The lighter and smaller the bead, the better it works. Also learned that nitrogen must be used for powder balancing or the powder will ball up.

 

[Glen4X4]

Looks great Gregg.

 

[gmanpaint]

Looking Great!!!

Looking good Gregg!!:biggthump

Looks great Gregg.

Thanks a bunch gentlemen.

Lots of cuts, scrapes, bruises, lost blood, and the farm sucked into the Black Hole to get it where it sits now.

 

[gmanpaint]

did you cut at the back too, ??

The front of the rear wheel wells looks fine, it's close but as long as there is no forward movement in the axle, everything should clear at full stuff.

The rear of the wheel well was a different story. At full stuff, the tire would definitely rub the fender. For street use, its fine.

I did remove some sheet metal to eliminate rub at full stuff. The chrome piece removed and all the fender metal was cut off below the trim line. Nothing new, as lots of people do this. The new bumper will wrap around some for protection. I do believe the exhaust tailpipe and tip has to be moved now.

As usual, do one thing, you end up having to do multiple things.....For every action, there is a reaction, ie...:frustrate******!!

 

[inh]

Looks like I got some catchin' up to do! Truck is looking great man!