Maddawg's Madness /starting a make-over.

[VX KAT]

Where do the guys usually stay when in Moab? Just motel it or take RV's?

Most of us stay at "The Red Rock Lodge"....an older motel that has two rows of rooms, with a parking lot in between.
The rooms are clean, and they give us a 10% discount. Run about $59-$69 giver or take.

There's a wide sidewalk in front of the rooms and we've somehow adopted it as our own and call it "The Stoop". Most of us gather on the stoop in the evening to cavort and have fun and do some wrenching. Alcohol may be involved.....
Some have called us the "Moab mafia".... laugho:

www.red-rocklodge.com
Red Rock Lodge
51 North 100 West
Moab, Utah 84532
435-259-5431
For Reservations
Toll Free: 877-253-5431

[Maddawg]

Yep a motley crew as would be expected, lol. Just kidding all, you should see the Baja bunch I used to run with. BUT, I managed to get all four tires on the VX this morning. Now to see if I can rent a Sawzall for a day.

[pbkid]

I'm pretty sure Eftren had the 10 bolt front in Moab. I was poking around a bit on his VX looking at the SFIFS.

I forgot about that topic... what was the point? stronger half shafts?

The purpose was availability of parts, gears, lockers, and stronger half shafts. Cheaper too i imagine.

[Maddawg]

[evillecutter]

looks great - the way our fenders flare it almost looks like the tires are just a continuation of the sexy vx curves

[Scott Larson]

That's one fine lookin' Ironman if ever there was one, NICE JOB!!

[Maddawg]

Thanks guys!!

[VXorado]

Looks great Maddawg.

Good choice on the rims and tires. It reminds me of my Ironman a few years back.

[Maddawg]

Trimming front edge of clad: Determine the area of contact and lay some masking tape at the outer edge and the inside edge to define the clearance cut. This is the right hand side

I used a jigsaw which creates some heat and leaves a bit of slag behind the blade. Hey, donworryaboudit! It comes off with fingers or razor blade. So its best to not take too much off at first, can always come back and remove more if needed.

Good! Now go do the other side.

[Maddawg]

Looks great Maddawg.

Good choice on the rims and tires. It reminds me of my Ironman a few years back.

Thanks, the rims are Procomp 8101. For lack of a name I refer to them as Tarantulas, lol.

[Ldub]

Yep a motley crew as would be expected, lol. Just kidding all,

Aw hell, Motley would be an upgrade for some of us...

Tires & wheels look'n great M-D...

[Maddawg]

Aw hell, Motley would be an upgrade for some of us...

Tires & wheels look'n great M-D...

Tanx!! Rented a Sawzall and opening up the back splash guard area to see whats underneath for structure. Oh wow, nice and clean under there. Aww, am I gonna cut all that nice structure?

[pbkid]

Lookin good mad dawg! Fyi, brand new razor blade seems to be the best way to cut cladding, or airsaw, i wouldnt go sawzall

[Maddawg]

Lookin good mad dawg! Fyi, brand new razor blade seems to be the best way to cut cladding, or airsaw, i wouldnt go sawzall

Too late man, its a done deal. I can't see a way to avoid cutting the rear fender clad with the Sawzall because the clad is tucked up right against the sheet metal. The only way to avoid would be to remove the fender clad completely. BUT...if you're referring to the front piece, yes that is easy with a small hand saw.

[Maddawg]

Ok, I'm done with the left side. I pretty much followed Kate's guide and I do have clearance, but its nothing to rave about. I'm pretty sure I'm going to experience some rubbing with suspension articulation.
This pic shows the screws removed from the splash guard and the next pic shows the screws themselves.


Now the splash guard can be pulled away and bent upward. I used a bungee to my door mirror to retain it.

Now the structure is revealed below.

And for comparison this is the clad and sheet metal removed.

Save this anchor/clip nut.

The next two pics show the edge that needs to be hammered back.


I used a small handsaw to cut away this piece because there was nothing behind it now.

Because I'm such a neatnik I radiused the lower corner. The hole above it is where the saved anchor/clip nut will be reused (in the sheet metal behind).

Now tuck the splash guard back behind the clad and reinstall the screws. Done.

Well, not quite. I didn't like how close this section of the splash guard looked to my tire so I sawed it off.

Well, I hope this is informative and good luck with installation of your humongus tires in the future. If I missed anything let me know.