how to make room for fatter wheel -tire - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

slugish · 09-16-2009, 10:34 PM

Has anyone ever ground down (or rolled or whatever ) the 1/2 in or so inner fender lip to make room for a tire to really fill up the fender well .

If so ,whats the best way . Is this not a good idea . Do not want to mess my truck up either .

CoggedBelt75 · 09-16-2009, 11:44 PM

What year truck and how big of a tire are you planning? I have 31 x 18.50 Hoosier Pro-Street Radials on 15 x 14 Convo-Pros with 4 1/2" backspace under my '75 but the rear end has been narrowed to 44".

slugish · 09-17-2009, 08:21 PM

thanks for responding Joe,

I have a lowered 84 -- top of rear tire about even with bottom of fender well

I have 275x17x50 tires on 17x9.5 rims now , but would like to take it to the max on what would fit

Ihave stock rear & axles .

I've measured the room Ihave left & think I COULD GO ANOTHER 1.5 IN ?

IF THEY RUB , WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TRIM THE FENDER FLANGE SO THEY WILL FIT ?

Driveway Dreams · 09-17-2009, 08:29 PM

There is a tool called a fender roller, you attatch it to the whel studs with your wheel off and slowly & gradually "roll" the lip out of the way. You have to be carefull to take your time so as to not crack the paint. But those are nice tools. Or, I have seen it done many times with a piece of pipe...using the tire as leverage to "roll" the lip. But that is not always as easy.

3r!c84 · 09-17-2009, 08:52 PM

or a baseball bat

slugish · 09-17-2009, 09:18 PM

Has anyone just tried grinding the lip away , i have a good paint job & do not want to crack the paint . I'm sure would be best to roll if not painted yet.

dv8customs · 09-17-2009, 11:18 PM

If you grind it you run the risk of burning the paint. You can roll it without cracking the paint as long as you don't try and get it all at once. Helps a bit to gut a few slits as well so you are rolling shorter sections.

flamingbig10 · 09-17-2009, 11:57 PM

if were going for new wheels you can can get 15x12s with 7" or more back spacing were you wouldn't have to narrow the rear end it would require a mini tub and would allow a 29x15-15 tire

Cherub · 09-18-2009, 12:52 AM

Ive heard of guys using a heat gun to heat up the paint before rolling to prevent cracking.

andrewmp6 · 09-18-2009, 02:51 AM

A 2x4 and a bottle jack works wonders.

slugish · 09-18-2009, 08:51 AM

interesting,

can you tell me how its done > Iguess put the 2x4 against the fender flange & the jack between the board & tire & jack > Is that right??

Also as another post suggests slitting it a couple of times so it wouldnt be as much at one time to bend .

thanks for the advice all of you > Anymore ideas?

Moostifer · 09-18-2009, 10:42 AM

don't grind the lip off... it's there to give the panel some strength and rigidity.

most good wheel/tire shops will have a roller.

on my 4x4, I notched it with a cut-off wheel every 3-4 inches, rattle canned it, then gently tapped it with a rubber mallet, then sprayed again

Driveway Dreams · 09-18-2009, 11:07 AM

A few relief cuts will help in the rolling of the lip. You can use a heat gun as you roll it but the heat created by the metal moving should be enough on its own. Just GO SLOW...you will be fine.

78maliburat · 09-21-2009, 06:12 PM

29x10.5w on 10 in wheel

09-16-2009, 10:34 PM	#1
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	how to make room for fatter wheel -tire Has anyone ever ground down (or rolled or whatever ) the 1/2 in or so inner fender lip to make room for a tire to really fill up the fender well . If so ,whats the best way . Is this not a good idea . Do not want to mess my truck up either .

09-16-2009, 11:44 PM	#2
CoggedBelt75 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Altus, Oklahoma Posts: 679	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire What year truck and how big of a tire are you planning? I have 31 x 18.50 Hoosier Pro-Street Radials on 15 x 14 Convo-Pros with 4 1/2" backspace under my '75 but the rear end has been narrowed to 44". __________________ Joe __________________________________________ 1975 C10 "Questions are a sign of intelligence indicating a desire to eliminate ignorance"

09-17-2009, 08:21 PM	#3
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire thanks for responding Joe, I have a lowered 84 -- top of rear tire about even with bottom of fender well I have 275x17x50 tires on 17x9.5 rims now , but would like to take it to the max on what would fit Ihave stock rear & axles . I've measured the room Ihave left & think I COULD GO ANOTHER 1.5 IN ? IF THEY RUB , WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TRIM THE FENDER FLANGE SO THEY WILL FIT ?

09-17-2009, 08:29 PM	#4
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire There is a tool called a fender roller, you attatch it to the whel studs with your wheel off and slowly & gradually "roll" the lip out of the way. You have to be carefull to take your time so as to not crack the paint. But those are nice tools. Or, I have seen it done many times with a piece of pipe...using the tire as leverage to "roll" the lip. But that is not always as easy. __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here.

09-17-2009, 08:52 PM	#5
3r!c84 Badass Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: lox. fl Posts: 4,586	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire or a baseball bat __________________ Think outside the box? -84c10 (1stcar)→My Build← -00 Saturn 5spd drop a gear and disappear! 1/4:13:90

09-17-2009, 09:18 PM	#6
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire Has anyone just tried grinding the lip away , i have a good paint job & do not want to crack the paint . I'm sure would be best to roll if not painted yet.

09-17-2009, 11:18 PM	#7
dv8customs Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,047	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire If you grind it you run the risk of burning the paint. You can roll it without cracking the paint as long as you don't try and get it all at once. Helps a bit to gut a few slits as well so you are rolling shorter sections.

09-17-2009, 11:57 PM	#8
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire if were going for new wheels you can can get 15x12s with 7" or more back spacing were you wouldn't have to narrow the rear end it would require a mini tub and would allow a 29x15-15 tire __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326

09-18-2009, 12:52 AM	#9
Cherub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 970	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire Ive heard of guys using a heat gun to heat up the paint before rolling to prevent cracking. __________________ 2014 LTZ Z71 Silverado 82 C15 LQ4/4L80E Conversion 78 Suburban build (SOLD) 83 4x4 Suburban(SOLD) 82 C15 (my first truck)

09-18-2009, 02:51 AM	#10
andrewmp6 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 5,811	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire A 2x4 and a bottle jack works wonders.

09-18-2009, 08:51 AM	#11
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire interesting, can you tell me how its done > Iguess put the 2x4 against the fender flange & the jack between the board & tire & jack > Is that right?? Also as another post suggests slitting it a couple of times so it wouldnt be as much at one time to bend . thanks for the advice all of you > Anymore ideas?

09-18-2009, 10:42 AM	#12
Moostifer a fool with no money Join Date: May 2005 Location: Overton, Tx Posts: 532	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire don't grind the lip off... it's there to give the panel some strength and rigidity. most good wheel/tire shops will have a roller. on my 4x4, I notched it with a cut-off wheel every 3-4 inches, rattle canned it, then gently tapped it with a rubber mallet, then sprayed again __________________ Basicly stock 83 SWB with a few Bolt-ons before, during and still during http://photobucket.com/albums/y251/moostifer/truck/ http://photobucket.com/albums/y251/moostifer/motor/

09-18-2009, 11:07 AM	#13
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire A few relief cuts will help in the rolling of the lip. You can use a heat gun as you roll it but the heat created by the metal moving should be enough on its own. Just GO SLOW...you will be fine. __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here.

09-21-2009, 06:12 PM	#14
78maliburat Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: cleburne texas Posts: 174	Re: how to make room for fatter wheel -tire 29x10.5w on 10 in wheel

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