Inner fender mods with heat gun

[Connecticut4X4]

Hey,

Has anyone used a heat gun to reshape the inner fenders of a Trailblazer to accommodate larger tires?

[bartonmd]

We mostly just cut them... I can't think of anybody who has done the heat gun thing...

Mike

[Connecticut4X4]

Cutting let's all the tire backspray into the cavity behind the inner fender...don't like it. Going to try the heat and if that doesn't work I'll cut. Thanks. Brett

[Gordinho80]

I hate all the crap that gets into the door cavity! I've picked up some edging material to put inside there to block the cavity but I've not had a chance to put it in yet. 1 of the many things on the To Do list before TECORE.

[Flying Monkey]

Im thinking about using the rubber stripping people use for fender flares to solve that as well.

[Trail X]

Cutting let's all the tire backspray into the cavity behind the inner fender...don't like it. Going to try the heat and if that doesn't work I'll cut. Thanks. Brett

Not sure if your heat gun will do anything. There's metal back there that needs to be trimmed most likely if you're rubbing.

[Connecticut4X4]

Hey James,

The only metal I see is the end of the rocker panel which I also think may be a polymer. Are you talking about the mounting bracket where the rocker panel screw fastens? The inner fender material is full-on black plastic, I cut through it with a utility knife. I'm getting tire rubbing at the steering extremes running Dale Earnhardt Jr. chrome Cannon 17x8, +15mm offset, 5 3/8" backspace wheels wrapped in Dick Cepek 32 inch Crusher radials. I've installed a Truxxx 2 1/2 suspension lift and a Zone Offroad 2 inch body lift and Markmc 1 1/2 inch spacers and bolt pattern adaptors. I'm almost home free. I just need to trim the end of the rocker panel and the bottom of each end of the inner fenders so the tires will clear when turned completely to the left or right. That's why I think that I can heat the black plastic inner fender with a heat gun and simply push it back. If it doesn't work I'll cut it. Your opinion is most valued, your thoughts? Thanks, Brett

[Trail X]

I believe that the mounting screw mounts into body metal. Most people rub there before anywhere else... Some people have had luck taking a BFH to it, and moving the body metal back some, and it doesn't seem to require losing that screw either. That will help pull your fender liner back a bit too if I'm not mistaken.

But it depends on where exactly you rub I guess. If you're only rubbing deeper into the fender, some sort of deformation of the inner liner could help.

[Connecticut4X4]

Yes, exactly. Deform the black plastic and get that screw out of the way. I'll figure it out.. just seems a shame to let all the mud and water and salt and weather into the space behind the inner fender which would be the case if I cut it. Like I said, I'll go with the heat and deform and use cutting as a second option. I'll post some pics when she's done. Should looks pretty sweet. Thanks, Brett

[Philberto]

As I found out when trying to get off my UCAs, there is a lot of body metal behind most of the fender liner. Best to reshape with a Sawzall