Well, got the 4" Trailmaaster lift DONE.
Got the 2" body lift, DONE.
Installed 33" BFG MT tires, OMG, looks KICK ASS!
Turned the steering wheel, RUB. Aww, sh*t.
Couldn't believe that after a 4" suspension lift and a 2" body lift, the
fender wells are still narrow enough on a '96 to rub. Severely, too... enough
to blow out the tires, If i were to drive on them. Well, it was late last
night when we discovered this, I was hoping I'd be able to turn in the rental
car (and drive my Dak home), but alas, until we can correct the fender
problem, no dice.
Options?
1. Go to 3" body lift instead of 2". (rather not, 2" is just enough not to
look "gappy")
2. Reduce tire size to 32's instead of 33's. Hmmm, the whole purpose of
lifting and 33's is to give the Dak maximum allowable clearance for
offroading. I don't want to go back down to 32's if I don't have to. With the
long wheelbase and breakover angle, I need all the lift I can muster.
3. Trim the fenders. Try like hell not to make it sloppy...
Number three is the option we are going to take a serious look at tonite. I
already took a sawzall to the lower front plastic air dam and cut it short of
the front tire (along the vertical seam on the sides). The front part of the
fender can be trimmed about an inch or two, we figure, and can be covered by
notching the existing fender flare and stretching it back slightly to cover.
The problem is with the back side of the front fender. It's solid. But there
DOES appear to be a gap between the Fenderwall and inner floor. The plan is
to remove the fenderwall somehow (maybe) and see what kind of space we have
to play with. Considering a ton of stuff in the engine bay is attached, our
work is definitely cut out for us.
The back tires clear the fenders ok, but if they do any severe articulation
they'll probably rub. Not a priority right now (the priority is to make it at
least drivable on roads for now). I can figure out how to trim them later.
AAAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. Maybe suggestions on new flares
that might fit somewhat close but a little wider? Would flares for a 97-up
Dak be transferable to a Gen II with slight trimming perhaps?????
____________________
Dave Kilian -- Clayton, NC
'96 Dakota CC Sport 4x4 about to be cut
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