Stretched wheel wells ?

[Skim]

Has anyone stretched out the rear wheel wells of a 55 ?

Looking to add some wheelbase.

 

[Gumby]

The inner wells go into the interior so you would need to do custom tubs.

You could only go so far back on the left without relocating the filler neck.

Those would be the two major obstacles.

 

[Talos]

you mean something like this?

 

[clemson55]

Just out of curiosity why do you want to do this?

 

[Talos]

well in my case it´s for a better ride (longer wheelbase= "smoother" ride) and for traction in snow, I want most of the weight to sit on the front (60/40), because when driving up glaciers if the rear is too heavy the truck just sits on it´s ass, and land cruisers tend to have a lot of junk in the "trunk"

it´s just what we do over here

 

[Wayneraintree]

I like the idea of moving the rear axle back. Talos, not sure if I read anywhere how you moved the rear axle back (if that is the case? not sure from the pic)...

 

[Talos]

well actually it had been stretched when I bought it, but you can see how the wheel wells have been lengthened in the middle in the inside pic, it´s just alot of cutting and welding basicly.

I´ll be doing something very similar on my HJ-61, not as long though.

...also I think it looks alot better with a longer wheelbase

 

[clemson55]

That makes sense for you Talos but hes not gonna be driving over any glaciers in Ca. I would think that the intention here might be so there is a lot less overhang in the back maybe for wheeling. But then the wheelbase would be so long climbing over obstacles would be more difficult. So you see the double edged sword which is why I asked his intentions.

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

Im gonna be doing some stretching here pretty soon.I will post up pics when I do Not the best pic but you can see what is needed ;p

 

[Skim]

Reduce rear overhang without bobbing the tail.

Thinking of using coils so that it can go back as far as I want.

Frizzlefry - can't wait to see the pics.

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

That looks sick Frizzlefry. Got any pics from a little farther away (more of the whole truck)?

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

That looks sick Frizzlefry. Got any pics from a little farther away (more of the whole truck)?

I try and stay outa here with my pics,affraid the Knights o the piggys will come get me My build so far is here https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=131786

 

[solidfrontaxle]

the wheelbase would be so long climbing over obstacles would be more difficult.

In my experience, a longer wheelbase makes climbing much easier. You have more stability, less of an angle, and better weight distribution. It does reduce your breakover angle, but increases your departure angle. IMO I would much rather hit my frame or sliders than my rear.

 

[RHINO]

i'm on board with stretching the rear well a bit myself. i want to move my axle back about 6-8" not much but enough to clear body panels and reduce the overhang some. been on the drawing board for a while just need to go out and do it one day.

 

[Talos]

this is what I did on the HJ-61

about 8 inches, won´t have to change the wheelwells.

Something similar shouldn´t be a problem on a 55

 

[Skim]

Any pics of 55s 0r 60s after the rear fenders have been radiused ?

 

[Talos]

it´ll look something like this (this is the flare mold)

and as fate would have it I just cut the wells today

mind you I plan on lifting the rear a bit more. And the flare will hide most of the ugly stuff

 

[scouthead]

I like where the rear wheel is sitting Frizzlefry. I'm not big on the mega-flares but I think it could look real nice if the fender lip coud kind of follow the factory shape/line.