This is Chicane Sport Tuning's "Jimmy" Fender Lip Rolling Tool. Equipped with a 3/8-inch d
There's nothing more visually gratifying than adding a set of high-performance wheels and tires to your favorite GM musclecar. After all, a set of high-performance aftermarket wheels and tires not only enhance the performance and handling, they also boldly alter the looks of either that classic or late-model Camaro.
However, with bigger tires comes the problem of achieving adequate inner fenderwell clearance. And, that's especially true when you throw a set of lowered springs into the equation.
In the old days, you had a number of options. One, you could take a pair of tin snips and cut away the inner fender lip. In doing so you naturally create a "can opener effect," further necessitating the use of a body grinder to smooth out the rough edges.
Effective? Certainly, but in the process you also create a potentially explosive situation from sparks. You also stand a pretty good chance of bubbling the paint on the outside of the fender lip due to excessive heat buildup from the grinder.
Two, you could climb inside the fenderwell of your Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, or El Camino with a hacksaw, making a series of small cuts along the perimeter of the inner fenderwell lip-this often requires a ton of hacksaw blades. Then you could use a body hammer to pound the structurally weakened sheetmetal back out of harm's way. However, in the process those not experienced in body and fender work also stand a pretty good chance of tweaking the outer sheetmetal.
The first order of business is to jack up this '98 Camaro Z28 and remove its rear wheels a
Enter "the Jimmy" Fender Lip Rolling Tool marketed by Torrance, California's, Chicane Sport Tuning. "This tool was created to maximize the inner fenderwell clearance needed for today's bigger wheels and tires," says Chicane's Joe Gosinski. "The one-piece tool was designed to fit the inner fenderwell radius of any Camaro manufactured from 1967 to 2001. It features a 3/8-inch deep, 14-degree "cut," or radius, machined across its 4-inch jaw, which allows the user to progressively radius, or roll, the inner fenderwell lip on these vehicles aproximately 45 degrees without running the risk of damaging the outer sheetmetal."
Gosinski went on to relate that the Jimmy-which retails for $60, FOB, Torrance, California-also works great on Toyota Celicas, Mustangs, Hondas Isuzus, etc.
"This tool can be used on virtually any type of vehicle with a natural circular radius fenderwell." Chicane Sport Tuning also markets an application for radiusing the inner fenderwells of Chevy trucks or SUVs featuring angular fenderwell openings.
How easy to use is Chicane Sport Tuning's Jimmy? Very. To begin with you obviously have to have the vehicle in question elevated off the floor with the wheels and tires removed.
Once you have arrived at the amount of inner fenderwell material that needs to be rolled, you draw a scribe line on the fenderwell lip using a soft-lead pencil or marking pen.
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From there Joe Gosinski measures the unaltered inner fenderwell lip surface area. It specs
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Using the jaws of the Jimmy as a pattern, Gosinski uses a felt tip marker to scribe a "ben
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Next, "Joe-go" takes a razor blade and etches a cut line through the GM waterbase paint. T