DIY Fender Chop Lessons Learned
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 484
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From: Rapid City, SD
DIY Fender Chop Lessons Learned
Alright folks, I was bored in my 18 day stay with the in-laws as my family and I transition from Montana to Pensacola, FL - just got back from a one-year remote assignment in Korea, and the Jeep and I needed to spend some quality time together. So, after bedlining my grille with the blessing of my wife, she loved it and gave me the go ahead for the fenders!
Now, I wasn't about to bedline my fenders and NOT chop them, so I got the go ahead for that too! Never used a rotary tool before, and I've never fab'd anything before, but I figured why not? ha.
All I used was a rotary tool and accessory kit, a screwdriver, a handsaw, and some needlenose pliers.
Only thing I bought was Rustoleum Bedliner Spray (7.47 at Wal-Mart), two 18' plastic door trim boxes (find 25' if you can - cheaper and less waste), and some trim adhesive (HUGE MISTAKE).
Now, chopping the fenders was easy, and any of the write-ups will help you out with the process - my goal is to tell you what NOT to do.
First off, you'll need two cans of spray to put enough coats on - don't go running around town looking for some b/c AutoZone ran out.
Second, DO NOT USE TRIM ADHESIVE! Or maybe my cousin-in-law was just terrible at it, but the trim has adhesive on it and the heat gun is the right thing to do, but my adhesive-applying cousin-in-law put too much on, and it was impossible to fix...job doesn't look TERRIBLE, but it definitely looks homegrown.
Third, ensure you put the trim on the entire fender, regardless of if you cut that part or not. Again, my cousin applied it only to where we cut, and it looks crappy, but I can't fix it. Trusted the guy to make it look right, and I should have trusted but verified before painting.
I'll put pictures up just as soon as I get some photos done...moving and all...but I wanted to make sure I posted my thoughts before I forgot to...all in all, I love the look, and I'm happy with my newbie job. Thirty bucks is way cheaper than the $800 to buy some new ones.
Now, I wasn't about to bedline my fenders and NOT chop them, so I got the go ahead for that too! Never used a rotary tool before, and I've never fab'd anything before, but I figured why not? ha.
All I used was a rotary tool and accessory kit, a screwdriver, a handsaw, and some needlenose pliers.
Only thing I bought was Rustoleum Bedliner Spray (7.47 at Wal-Mart), two 18' plastic door trim boxes (find 25' if you can - cheaper and less waste), and some trim adhesive (HUGE MISTAKE).
Now, chopping the fenders was easy, and any of the write-ups will help you out with the process - my goal is to tell you what NOT to do.
First off, you'll need two cans of spray to put enough coats on - don't go running around town looking for some b/c AutoZone ran out.
Second, DO NOT USE TRIM ADHESIVE! Or maybe my cousin-in-law was just terrible at it, but the trim has adhesive on it and the heat gun is the right thing to do, but my adhesive-applying cousin-in-law put too much on, and it was impossible to fix...job doesn't look TERRIBLE, but it definitely looks homegrown.
Third, ensure you put the trim on the entire fender, regardless of if you cut that part or not. Again, my cousin applied it only to where we cut, and it looks crappy, but I can't fix it. Trusted the guy to make it look right, and I should have trusted but verified before painting.
I'll put pictures up just as soon as I get some photos done...moving and all...but I wanted to make sure I posted my thoughts before I forgot to...all in all, I love the look, and I'm happy with my newbie job. Thirty bucks is way cheaper than the $800 to buy some new ones.
