fiberglass fender install q's...

[Hellbent]

so i picked up a brand new pair of what appear to be kartek fiberglass fenders. looking for any special installation instructions anyone might have. curious about using large fender washers on all the bolts, any special hardware, or any weird issue i might encounter? one has the holes drilled and one does not, measure twice-drill once should work good i hope. any tips would appreciated...

[slcpunk74]

I used all my stock hardware. Be ready to pull out a grinder and a sanding disc to make it fit by the windshield perfect. Post pics when your done.

[Hellbent]

I used all my stock hardware. Be ready to pull out a grinder and a sanding disc to make it fit by the windshield perfect. Post pics when your done.

i kind of set them in place to check out the fit, i can see that post area will need "fitting". that shouldn't be too bad. i'll take some before and after pics and post when i'm done. also, any tips on painting them? white looks awful with the current teal-ish and black. planning on rattle-canning them low gloss black. just scuff them and paint? primer first?

[slcpunk74]

I did a good deal of sanding then I primed then sanded and repeated till they were smooth. It is also a good idea to use a flex agent in the paint but I think you could do without. I ended up making my own shim for the "post" area out .25 alum that I drilled and counter sunk for screws. When I set mine I would throw the top on and get it where I wanted and do the bottom last

[Hellbent]

sweet. thanks for the info.
and it looks like they're hannemann's("stock" flare), which apparently is what kartek was selling.

[jpcherokeekid]

Yeah you will have a lot of sanding to do on the top corner by the window. i have a pretty big gap between the hood and the fender on both sides that i cant fix because then it wont line up with the door body lines. and the passenger side fender is a 1/4in shorter than the driver side fender. oh well they still look pretty cool, i just wish they fit a little bit better.

[Hellbent]

i don't mind if the fit is a little "off". it's a jeep, what do i care...
although just setting them up against the stock fenders the lines are very close, if not nearly perfect. the only real work looks like it'll be at the a piller/post. either way, i'm stoked. been wanting 'glass for a while.

[jpcherokeekid]

i don't mind if the fit is a little "off". it's a jeep, what do i care...
although just setting them up against the stock fenders the lines are very close, if not nearly perfect. the only real work looks like it'll be at the a piller/post. either way, i'm stoked. been wanting 'glass for a while.



Yeah the poor fit on mine is definitely tolerable and the cool factor more than makes up for it. they look way better than bushwackers.

[HeepSpeed]

Could you guys post pics of the gaps you are talking about?

and of course a finished picture is always nice!

thread resurrected! I only mention it because I have a line on some fenders for only $200 for the set and have a 1997.... :D

[J Money]

$200 is a smoking deal... go for it. I would for that price.

[HeepSpeed]

oh yea, the ones I might get are Hannemann

[scottmcneal]

:gag:

[HeepSpeed]

:gag:

Did I miss something? LOL

[J Money]

If you pass on buying the fenders, you should send them my way. :)

[scottmcneal]

DATE?

[HeepSpeed]

I figured better to post here than start ANOTHER dang fiberglass thread...am I wrong? it would just add to the search clutter.

[scottmcneal]

LOL..No you are right..I just saw the date and it was funny..Nice to see people using the search..

[Swamprat]

i still want to see a stocker or close to it with different fiberglass on it. for reference of course.

[GrimmJeeper]

97 and up will have to be shaved on the fronts of the fenders to match up with the rounded edge of the header panel. tha hannemans are designed after 96 and down fenders.

the spot that most people end up with a gap (including me) is where the rear of the fender meets the a pillar (next to the windshield) at the top of the fender. glass fenders always need some massaging to fit nice. they are made for racing where looking good isnt as important as getting the job done. if they build em to fit perfect out of the box they would be a hell of alot more expensive.

i would get you a pic but my jeep is 100 miles away from me :(

:cheers:

[dakineJ]

If someone really wanted to,they could build up that edge w/glass/resin/bondo to get rid of the gap.

[xcm]

as far as the gap, i recently installed hannemanns on my renix, and the gap is pretty big at the a-pillar. (the only place where it needed to be trimmed)... granted i probably could have finesed it a little more, but i could care less, its not a benz! i figured now would be a great time to change out the torx head screws and clips for simple self-tapping screws (w/ a rubber grommit, did i mention they fit like shit?)

im lovin my fenders... ive allways been kinda sceptical of barely-started jeepspeeds rocking fenders.... but a trip to kartek w/ some extra money and here i am.

really like the way it looks from the drivers seat, no more boring front end for me.

i'll grab some pics of install specific issues when i take em off to be painted.

[GrimmJeeper]

yea i have about a 1/2" gap at the a pillar on the passenger side. but i dont sit over there or walk along that side, so who cares? :D

ive seen em made to fit like OEM fenders and they look GREAT, but i really could give a rats ass, my jeep is made for goin fast not sitting still and looking pretty. :dunno:

[whooprunner]

For 97 and up, I believe you have to go with Ajax/ Trailer Products for Fiberglass.

[HeepSpeed]

you don't HAVE to is the theme I'm getting from all the other fiberglass threads... that's why I wanted photos of the gaps.

[whooprunner]

LOL no you don't HAVE to, but I like the cleaner look since it was designed for it. I guess it's up to your personal preference.

[Baja_XJ]

If you want gap shots I can snap some but I guess Im lucky or am more skilled at doing body work since I have about the stock 1/8 gap between a pillar and fender

[HeepSpeed]

my deal fell through. some lucky SOB picked them up today even I guaranteed to buy them tomorrow LOL

[Swamprat]

kartek fiberglass for jeeps? this is new to me, now i must search them.

searched and im suprised. i want these!
http://www.kartek.com/Product/Fiberglass/Polyerethane.html

[HeepSpeed]

totally going to get some when they come out! Those will be perfect for my type of driving!

[Ryan93]

yea those are sweet except now they wont match my white paint! haha oh well

[Tom_T&Js_Offroad]

one of the kids that work here has them. kind of strange. i dont think they will hold paint at all.

[Baja_XJ]

Yeah theres no way the paint will stay on if it gets smashed in

[crazyjim]

I'm pretty sure they'll hold paint, look at he saturns, you just need to have GOOD paint on them with a good flex agent. Whoever paints them will need to know what they're doing, no more spray bomb jobs.

[Swamprat]

I wonder if unpainted is black or dark colored like in the pictures.

[DieselSJ]

kartek fiberglass for jeeps? this is new to me, now i must search them.

searched and im suprised. i want these!
http://www.kartek.com/Product/Fiberglass/Polyerethane.html

Might need to look at those for the new car. Our glass fenders actually look worse from the rocks kicked up on the inside. I need to call and find out when they will be available for Cherokees.