SlimChaChi
FRF Addict
my truck was being worked on at KHC for about 3 weeks...didn't see dave around but asked about the mod...didn't get too much of an answer unfortunately...
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my truck was being worked on at KHC for about 3 weeks...didn't see dave around but asked about the mod...didn't get too much of an answer unfortunately...
Hows the build goin?
I looked up plastic welding and it looks feasible to do yourself. HOWEVER, the stock flares are not cheap so it wouldn't be a cheap mistake if you screw it up. I haven't looked into it yet but I feel like a competent body shop would be capable. no idea on cost though.
I did mine (all 4 corners, not a raptor) last year after seeing this thread, having never cut into a body OR plastic welded. It wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't call it easy by any means. I don't think I would recommend it to someone who had zero fabrication experience, but the same principles apply across trades here I think. Prep and measure are key, take your time, practice on scraps.
Plastic welding turned out to be easy, even with the cheap HF model. If you can weld, or even if you are a soldering pro you probably already have what it takes. Clean cuts, edge prep, and the right sticks make all the difference. Plenty of good YouTube vids.
Cutting the plastic can be a bear until you get the right method. I found it was easiest to score a nice clean line with a razor, back into it from the scrap side to pull out a wedge, and then I could push a sturdy razor right through the groove. Left me with a nice clean cut and no rotary scars.
The hardest part for me was filling the 4" gap left in the inner flare after welding it to the outer. Forming the filler piece to match the contours was a bit of a trick. Bondo won't stick, so I made filler paste with MEK and powdered ABS that worked well and made quick work of smoothing the final product.
If you DIY, plan on it taking a while. It doesn't seem like much to do, but my first two took me over a week of evenings. The second pair went in a couple of days. I'm glad I did it though, made my 35s look small, and everybody thinks it's lifted. Now I'm just trying to burn the rubber off these tires so I can justify filling that extra space!
Pictures or it didn't happen