Fender Chop - Replacement Fender Trim Options?

[keg392]

I'm looking into doing a fender chop on my Rubicon. I plan just to cut the plastic trim to keep the molding, but worried that if I screw it up, or looks bad, I'm stuck with it. My question is:

Are there any aftermarket or OEM(ish) options to put a trim piece back onto the stock fender in the event the plastic molding looks like hell when you install a chop kit?? Looks like the factory plastic trim comes with the fender itself, but is there anything else?

I don't want to have the edges of the fender exposed, so leaving them bare isn't something I want.

Sponsored

 

[Grayhound]

When I did the chop I accepted that I may have to buy all new fenders of it didn’t go the way I had planned. Thankfully the chop worked out for me.

 

[keg392]

When I did the chop I accepted that I may have to buy all new fenders of it didn’t go the way I had planned. Thankfully the chop worked out for me.

Chop looks good. What process / tools did you use for a clean cut?

 

[Grayhound]

I used simple hand tools. A little rotary took did the cutting for me.

I started on the passenger side as I had damaged that fender, I removed that side when I did the chop. It went well.

for drivers side I left the fender in and the chop was a lot faster.

i kept my inner liners. So if you can see in the pic I had to figure out a cut that looks okay. I decided to use the bottom of the light as my liner to cut.

all in all I really like it. I was running halogen headlights and didn’t like the temp mismatch of color afterwards so I went to oculus projector headlights for the color match.

 

[Terrymo]

I followed these two videos

 

[greige]

I'm looking into doing a fender chop on my Rubicon. I plan just to cut the plastic trim to keep the molding, but worried that if I screw it up, or looks bad, I'm stuck with it. My question is:

Are there any aftermarket or OEM(ish) options to put a trim piece back onto the stock fender in the event the plastic molding looks like hell when you install a chop kit?? Looks like the factory plastic trim comes with the fender itself, but is there anything else?

I don't want to have the edges of the fender exposed, so leaving them bare isn't something I want.

I am interested in what you are trying to accomplish. Previously, I read chop as a means to get more clearance in the fender well. Are you just trying to replace the DRL, or are you trying to get more clearance? If the latter, after watching a few videos, I would be surprised if you can keep the trim on the edge of the fender while removing the liner inside the fender. Obviously you could use a tool to cut and separate the trim from the liner, but it seems like the trim would lose a big part of its anchor and become floppy.

 

[keg392]

I am interested in what you are trying to accomplish. Previously, I read chop as a means to get more clearance in the fender well. Are you just trying to replace the DRL, or are you trying to get more clearance? If the latter, after watching a few videos, I would be surprised if you can keep the trim on the edge of the fender while removing the liner inside the fender. Obviously you could use a tool to cut and separate the trim from the liner, but it seems like the trim would lose a big part of its anchor and become floppy.

I like the way your mind works. You are correct, I'm not trying to gain clearance as I already have plenty. My goal is to get a slimmer DRL and get that giant plastic housing out of the way up front that hangs down.

I'm all ears if you've got some different ideas.

 

[greige]

I like the way your mind works. You are correct, I'm not trying to gain clearance as I already have plenty. My goal is to get a slimmer DRL and get that giant plastic housing out of the way up front that hangs down.

I'm all ears if you've got some different ideas.

I think you're on the same path as Grayhound above which sounds like a factory chop.
Good luck.

 

[svc707]

Fully gutted my JT the JL I just removed liner and trimmed for the chop.

Made my own stand-off support for the fully gutted and separated JT flares.

 

[Ney Kerestegian]

Do I get more clearance just by removing the inner fenders? because my tires are rubbing in the inner fenders when doing a full turn and hitting a small bump.

 

[broncoguy]

Fully gutted my JT the JL I just removed liner and trimmed for the chop.

Made my own stand-off support for the fully gutted and separated JT flares.

@svc707 When you did this on your JL do you gain much clearance for up travel? Or was it just for the look?

I am looking to gain a bit more up travel as my tires rub the upper inner fender liners but not sure I want to go full gut on the fenders. Was thinking of just adding inner fender liners and doing what you did here. I kinda like the stock fender look but looking for some more clearance.

Thanks!

 

[svc707]

@svc707 When you did this on your JL do you gain much clearance for up travel? Or was it just for the look?

I am looking to gain a bit more up travel as my tires rub the upper inner fender liners but not sure I want to go full gut on the fenders. Was thinking of just adding inner fender liners and doing what you did here. I kinda like the stock fender look but looking for some more clearance.

Thanks!

You do gain because you’re removing the plastic which still has some hollow gap to it.

 

[broncoguy]

You do gain because you’re removing the plastic which still has some hollow gap to it.

Thanks, I also just found this video which shows removing some of that plastic structure but leaves the trim which keeps the finished factory look. I think I'm gonna give that a go.

 

[svc707]

Thanks, I also just found this video which shows removing some of that plastic structure but leaves the trim which keeps the finished factory look. I think I'm gonna give that a go.

Yeah just take a blade to it and trim as you go. I don’t think I even took the flare off

 

[svc707]

I just did another Gladiator today with the Metalcloak Gutz delete
I also installed the Metalcloak inner liners

Sponsored