Fender Flare TRIM and RESTORATION on the JEEP TJ | Budget Crawler Ep. 20

Today we cut some excess off of our factory fender flares and give them a quick coat of paint to freshen up the look of this faded Wrangler!

[@roguejk1236]

Holy crap, I can't believe how good those came out, especially with a utility knife. I would have made it about 6" before I got impatient and frigged the whole thing up. Nicely done!

[@dironaa]

Thanks! I'd say the key is a nice fresh sharp blade.

[@2006silvi82]

Painting the flares changed the look of the Jeep so much. Looks good!

[@dironaa]

Agreed, big difference!

[@Stuntman2304]

Great video as always! Definitely happy when I see your post notifications pop up. Jeeps turning out quite nicely!

[@dironaa]

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it so far

[@zeitgeist57]

Looks great! Still a good factory look, with the clearance you need, and Jeep guys notice the mod. Very good.

[@dironaa]

We agree!

[@TJSport-my6kn]

This is a great series, well detailed. Thanks!

[@dironaa]

Glad you like it!

[@williamdomey7584]

Great video as always. I’m on the lookout for a cheap Jeep without much success. Your videos have been helpful on things to do with it once I find one.

[@dironaa]

Patience is key and be ready to buy as soon as you find one because it will sell quick. Took about 10 years for me to find the deal I got on this one, but I've bought a few others over the years in rough shape for around half KBB value. They're out there, if you keep your eyes out you'll come across one eventually!

[@Whiteandsonsgarage]

Awesome video mate, looks so much better, crazy how faded they are

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@thewoodmaniac]

Did mine years ago - rustoleum. Came out fantastic. I did the bumpers next because they came out so good. Then the steps and the factory mud flaps. Then the mirrors and door handles. It still looks like new. Did the shield over the gas tank and anything in the front suspension that was visible. Holding up amazing. Years. I tried the heat gun, the black magic - all a waste of time and money. Spray paint - boom.

[@dironaa]

I’ve been down the same road. Nothing seems to beat paint!

[@smason]

Good stuff & many thanks for the tutorial - about to tackle the faded flares on my 06 light khaki machine.

[@dironaa]

Have fun! The khaki TJs are a nice color.

[@erickarns2987]

Man that turned out great, can't wait to try myself.

[@dironaa]

Thanks! Patience is the key to this one

[@jacobwhittaker6241]

I need to paint our XJ's bumper ends and bumpers. Also need to hammer out the dent the old lady put in the bumper when she backed into a concrete pole structure. Lol. Awesome videos. Been following since you started this project.

[@dironaa]

LOL gotta love factory metal bumpers, a similar incident would have probably cracked the plastic bumper on any newer vehicle. Thanks!

[@RedMCS1]

Looks great! It’s a Jeep and it’s going off road very good! My thought is you probably going to scratch somewhere. Easy to repair as long as you don’t bend or break something.

[@dironaa]

Exactly!

[@joeycoligan]

Yes i've been waiting for another TJ video

[@dironaa]

Tough to drag my butt inside and sit in front of a computer for video editing with the beautiful weather we've been having lol. Thanks for staying tuned!

[@Julie-uo8wg]

I especially like your Glove! : )

[@paulharris8282]

I think it turned out great I'm probably going to do the same thing to my TJ

[@dironaa]

Thanks, good luck!

[@Baticuerva]

Jeep looks great!

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@jacksondailey4171]

Love your videos bro keep it up

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@paulharris8282]

I love it, looks great

[@dironaa]

Thank you!

[@outdoorkid5095]

looks sick 👍

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@hillbillyhangover]

Looks good!

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@katyshook3941]

Been watching all your videos amazing! Nice work do you custom paint any of your jeeps you fix up? U have really good ideas thanks! I'll continue watching!!

[@dironaa]

Thanks for watching. There is no paint like factory paint, so I try to avoid repainting body panels as much as possible.

[@danbemman2271]

Looks great

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@longhorn8459]

How is the paint holding up? I would think you’d need to scuff with scotchbrite and maybe use adhesion promoter followed by a paint for plastics?

[@dironaa]

Holding up fantastic! I've used this exact process for years and have never had a problem with paint flaking off. The flares usually need a recoat after 4-5 years due to oxidation from the sun.

[@mclehed77]

Looks great man, I actually like the gloss on the fender looks stock👍🏾

[@Whiteandsonsgarage]

mclehed77mtb yeah definitely, is it normal for stock guards to fade so much?

[@dironaa]

Thanks. I'd say it's fairly normal on these jeeps. The fading could be prevented by applying something like 303 Aerospace Protectant (only if the flares are still bare plastic...I probably wouldn't apply this over paint) or keeping the Jeep in a garage when not in use. I don't think this Jeep has ever been washed, much less seen the inside of a garage or had some kind of protectant applied to the plastic, so this is what 20 years of hard sun exposure looks like.

[@mclehed77]

@@dironaa np I doubt it either but it's a jeep They work regardless

[@trentyoung1135]

Looks nice.

[@dironaa]

Thanks!

[@robbanks7393]

I like the budget series. FYI ZJ V8 front springs with JKU rear springs = even 3” lift.

[@dironaa]

I like your thinking. I actually picked up that combo a few months ago with JK shocks in anticipation of needing a lift on this Jeep, but hopefully they'll stay on a shelf in the garage and we won't end up needing them.

[@arizona5253]

Rob, 3 inch lift on a TJ what other mods do you need to do like steering arm or linkages or? Thanks for the FYI

[@robbanks7393]

@@arizona5253 Adjustable front track bar, bumpstops, shocks. I’ve been building a LJ and found the ZJ V8 springs with a 4.0 is only 2” on the front. I got 3” with the ZJv8 springs with my 2.5 4 cyl.

[@matthewsassaphotography9358]

Nice. Just painted mine a few weeks ago. I used same but in Semi-flat black. Btw, where did you get that gadget you have on the rattle can?

[@dironaa]

Cool! Found it hanging next to the spray cans at tractor supply a few years ago. Was under 10 bucks and this one has easily sprayed 100+ cans of paint. VERY worthwhile investment.

[@shanerobinson6776]

Love 1 of them jeeps dont c many here in the UK

[@dironaa]

They're great! On the plus side I bet you could find a nice series 2 Land Rover. Those are tough to find in the States.

[@shanerobinson6776]

@@dironaa true prices silly on landrovers tons of after market parts but silly prices cheap 1s or dogs rust everywhere.

[@ryanm2109]

Propane torch gets oxidation off and makes them new without paint

[@dironaa]

I always thought that would yield similar results to a heat gun, but maybe I'll give it a try in the future.

[@cycl0nnus]

looks actually pretty decent for stock height

[@dironaa]

I dig it!

[@steveblankenship2413]

looks good ,painted mine, but used primer first, and its flaking, i see you didnt prime first,may try redoing mine later with no primer

[@dironaa]

No primer but his is the first time I've used this brand of plastic paint. I usually use Krylon Fusion (without primer) and seem to get 3-4 years out of it before needing a recoat.

[@rustyjeep9783]

I used a heat gun on my dash work okay but had to do it a few times because of the issue you mentioned.

[@mcdoctorglock]

I just ripped out my dash completely. I have a flat piece of 14ga steel to span the empty area after I ripped out the HVAC system. It was so inefficient. I replaced it with a classic car heater system from ebay, it uses two 4" 12v computer fans and it works great, just no AC. I removed the compressor years ago, so AC wasn't an issue. There is so much wasted space and crap in behind the car-like dash of the TJ. I just have to get the wife sew me up a cover for the exposed part of the steering column and all will be well..

[@rustyjeep9783]

Christopher Sturm That sounds like a great idea I wish I can see a photo also Ac is over rated and I don’t have it anyway lol.

[@Whiteandsonsgarage]

RUSTY JEEP on the dash? How bad was it faded?

[@dironaa]

Hmmm so maybe I didn't make enough passes with the heatgun. Flat dash sounds like an interesting concept, I've seen it done on YJs but this is the first I've heard of in a TJ. I assume your eliminated he passenger airbag?

[@rustyjeep9783]

@@Whiteandsonsgarage The side pieces were pretty bad on both sides and the steering wheel surround was grey . The key to doing it was getting it really hot and doing it multiple times but not melting the texture away. Ive painted dashes before but they never came out looking stock.

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

Are you putting on a lift? I just replaced the factory shocks on my 99 TJ with rough country 2.5” lift. The kit with springs was just a little bit more than buying new factory shocks, and they are apparently better

[@dironaa]

Cool! Hoping to avoid a lift and keep the factory suspension, but I have a feeling I'll eventually end up with a small lift.

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

Dirona 👍if it ain’t broke...seems like your list is working for you. Can’t wait to see what’s next

[@Aurshh]

My jeep looks just like, that, black, 33mudtires Rocky Mountain edition

[@dironaa]

Nice!

[@tomheumann234]

Have a video on your frame? Appears to be gloss black?

[@dironaa]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYK2eKeip9B4pLc

[@patrickreid2509]

How did you prevent rubbing with the 33’s

[@dironaa]

With a highly calibrated steering wheel hand lol. The only thing that rubs are the tires on the lower control arms when the steering wheel is fully turned. And the only time that happens with on-road driving is while maneuvering in a parking lot. I quickly got accustomed to how far the wheel is able to turn before the tires rub and I very rarely turn the wheel too far anymore. The better answer to your question is there are a couple bolts on the front axle that you can adjust to stop the steering knuckles from turning too far. This adjustment is very easy and takes about 10 or 15 minutes; I may eventually do this but haven't felt the need yet.

[@WhiteJeep]

do you prefer the look of the stock flares over the trimmed ones?

[@dironaa]

I prefer the stock ones, but the trimmed ones aren't too bad.

[@jake-hy2zb]

Personally I like the look. Almost highline but not quite.

[@dironaa]

Yes, it's slowly growing on me

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Is this the Joe Pera of Jeep Wrangler vids?😂

[@dironaa]

Maybe? Not sure I get the reference lol

[@Stuntman2304]

First comment 🔥

[@dironaa]

First reply.

[@Stuntman2304]

Dirona I love it

[@Leatherkid01]

Kinda looked color matched because u use gloss instead of satin.... it works since u have it already. Itll dull up after a while ....youll get your satin eventually 😝

[@dironaa]

Haha very true!

[@Lolktnx2]

Do you have an instagram?!

[@dironaa]

Technically yes, but I haven't uploaded anything there in a year or so. If this channel subscriber base becomes a little larger I may consider making the account active again.

[@MrSpitfireMustang]

Fenders look better trimmed

[@dironaa]

Agreed!

[@BluePatch-pc7sx]

WOMAN

[@dironaa]

Lennon?