I have read like 40 write up and everyone says don't cut past the pinch welds but if you don't cut past them you will still see all the bolt holes and won't even gain but like a 1/2 inch

 

ok

 

you can cut further if you like, let us know how it turns out

 

I don't want the bolt holes to be showing still looks kinda dumb lol just wanna know how I can trim a little more

 

this is with trimming about 1/2" off and then folding more back. I just notched each top corner and folded it back with a mallet.

 

u dont want to cut horizontally above the pinch welds, because those are what hold the inner & outer fender together....also dont wanna go too far vertically past the welds, because that'll open holes between the inner & outer fender

not too much of an issue if u kno how to weld, & plan to seal the inner & outers with molten metal, but for those of us who are inexperienced with welding, folding the holes & pinch welds in, & filling any holes with seam sealer, is the easier option

 

So what year is your jeep and you had to of cut higher than the tack welds on my jeep the welds are in the same spot as the bolt holes

 

I have a welder and I'm good at it just nerves as hel* cause I don't wanna screw up my jeep

 

i'm the same way....took me a couple years to grow the ***** to do this to the rears.....but honestly 4" cut-off wheel (or as i later found out, metal shears work great on the single layers) made the project super easy.....hardest part was getting myself to get over the fact i cut just a little too high (vertically) in a few spots, separating the inner & outer fender at the top of that cut, but with seam sealer & bed liner closed them up

the process for me was, horizontally cut off the first "lip" (closest to the tire) then cut vertically up to maybe 1/16-1/32" under the 2nd lip 1"-1.5" between the pinch welds, closer around the corners (to better form the contour of the bend/corner & folded the "tabs" inward

 

I did... turned out fine thanks to my handy dandy welder...

I went like an inch or more past the pinch weld

 

I cut all the way out to the door and then remade the inner fender, Works great and looks nice I can stuff a 38 with out rubbing, The down side is it took almost 2 days per side and sucked, I have done the cut and fold on many xjs and you can push the limits to gain more, All in all I perfer to cut and fold because the extra you gain isnt worth the extra work and if you still rub just add bump stops

 

What do you all do to finish it off once you fold the tabs in? Do you seal it at all? I'm curious because I just got done repairing all kinds of rot and I want to trim the fenders.... but I don't want to have to deal with more rot if moisture gets between the tabs and body....

 

Moved to chat.

 

This

 

by far the cleanest cut and fold i have seen. please do a how to on this.