Okay,
I decided to post this here so others may think about doing this instead of just cutting the plastic completely off. More work but it looks better overall and protects your pinch weld and tires better.
* When you are ready to upgrade to a larger tire (31" or larger) you will need to hammer the pinch weld in.
TOOLS NEEDED:
A.
Dremel or some other cutting type of tool
B.
Heat Gun (no, not your wife's hair dryer - or for the ladies on here, not
yours)
C.
Heavy hammer (not the standard - you can buy one cheap at
Autozone or Checker Auto)
D.
Primer - spray can, black
E.
Jack Stands[b]
F. [b]Jack (floor jack best choice)
G.
Lug wrench
H.
Torque wrench
I.
Sharp Knife
J.
Thick leather gloves - must be thick leather, trust me.
Now for the work:
1. Complete the basic steps to remove your front tires/wheels and then
place your KJ on Jack stands
2. Use a dremel to cut the plastic.
a. cut straight up on both sides of the weld. Not up the curved parts.
b. do not cut the flap off
3. Lighlty, heat the flap with a heatgun to soften the flap and bend it
upwards.
a. Use duct tape to hold the flap up and out of the way
b. May need to let flap cool
4. Take the heavy hammer and just pound the pinch weld flat.
5. Spray the pinch weld with black primer and let dry.
6. Use a heat gun to soften the flap and flatten it out.
a. wearing the leather gloves, use your hands to flatten the plastic. The
flap will be very hot.
b. Make it as flat as possible so you may have to reheat and keep
working it.
7. Cut the plastic flap so it is the size of the cut out area (after flattening),
either with the Dremel or the sharp knife (Dremel is best choice).
8. Heat the flap so it lays flat against the cut out area.
9. Use some thin plastic strips and heatgun the strips to the flap and inner
wheel well liner.
a. Strips come from the cutoff plastic from the flap
b. Make them about the size of a Tootsie Pop stick
c. heatgun the strips prior to placing them against the flap and liner so
they are ready to melt into place.
* Sorta like welding it in place. The strips melt and you slowly slide the
strip down the flap and seals it in place.
Replace tires/wheels as usual and take off jack stands. You are done.
Pictures:
_________________
===
New KJ Gear -
Desert Armor Flak2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod
[b]Retired, US Military