Vent Wrap

[defector69]

Removed my vent to wrap it. Ooh boy does that removes hard due to the long overlap that goes under the fender flare.

Concerned that I won’t be able to reinstall if I don’t remove the entire fender flare.

Anyone do this yet? Any tips on reinstall?

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[Shenanigans]

I would plan on removing flairs. Failed miserably on the colored wrap, used same type as clear on the hood and A pillar. Will try the thinner dry install type later. But if you think getting off was hard, reinstall is much tougher. You probably will damage your wrap if not snap one of the posts on back. Plan on getting replacement clips because unless you are real good or lucky some won’t survive. Now that weather is cooler for me I will be getting clips so I can wrap fenders and try again on color wrapping the gills.

 

[defector69]

I would plan on removing flairs. Failed miserably on the colored wrap, used same type as clear on the hood and A pillar. Will try the thinner dry install type later. But if you think getting off was hard, reinstall is much tougher. You probably will damage your wrap if not snap one of the posts on back. Plan on getting replacement clips because unless you are real good or lucky some won’t survive. Now that weather is cooler for me I will be getting clips so I can wrap fenders and try again on color wrapping the gills.

Thank you. Will probably take your advice. I don’t care if I drive around for a few weeks without it installed.

My opinion is that those very long locator pins are an assembly aid only and if I trim them off completely the fit will be no worse as location is done by the 6 clips. Will study the design a little more but might try that before pulling the flares

 

[defector69]

The locators are slightly longer than the nearby clips so they are for assembly. Two locators fit into horizontal slots so they don’t set position; one locator fits into into a hole so maybe I will keep that one if I can make it work. I might be the Guinea pig on this and cut the locators. 6 clips - 5 horizontal and 1 vertical seem overconstrained. With that modification, I think I can reassemble. No rush. I will look goofy in the meantime.

 

[defector69]

Well.
I took the fender liner out and pulled off the flare enough to install the vent and put it back together.

The clips that hold the flares on seem to need to be rotated after reinstall as the head that slides into the flares are not symmetrical so I figured if I rotate the back of the clip by 90 degrees they would hold the flares on. It seems to work as everything is tight. But I could be full of shit.

Broke only those stupid fender liner clips with the plastic screw head. What a dumb design. I had some spare Ford/Nissan Dorman 1/4” clips which worked in one or two spots and I had some spares from my mudflap install.

And I never plan to touch these silly vent/gills again. They will remain Cactus Gray.

 

[Johnny Mo]

Well.
I took the fender liner out and pulled off the flare enough to install the vent and put it back together.

The clips that hold the flares on seem to need to be rotated after reinstall as the head that slides into the flares are not symmetrical so I figured if I rotate the back of the clip by 90 degrees they would hold the flares on. It seems to work as everything is tight. But I could be full of shit.

Broke only those stupid fender liner clips with the plastic screw head. What a dumb design. I had some spare Ford/Nissan Dorman 1/4” clips which worked in one or two spots and I had some spares from my mudflap install.

And I never plan to touch these silly vent/gills again. They will remain Cactus Gray.

Any tips/tricks/caveats to taking out the fender liners? I'm gonna need all the advice I can get as I attempt to install my rock lights.

 

[IwannaGOfast]

You wrapped those? Not paint?

What brand/color did you use?

 

[defector69]

Any tips/tricks/caveats to taking out the fender liners? I'm gonna need all the advice I can get as I attempt to install my rock lights.

Removing the inner liner was relatively easy. Buy spare plastic clips ahead of time (I did not but I had some spares from my Weathertech mudflap kit) as you will break some.

7 mm socket and a rubber ball style clip removal tool bought at O’Reillys / that rubber ball permits a lot of leverage to be applied.

 

[defector69]

You wrapped those? Not paint?

What brand/color did you use?

my vehicle is cactus gray. I removed a single vent then chickened out as I found I could not reinstall it without pulling the flare which scared the shit out of me.

I did partially remove the fender flare by yanking on it but I think the reinstall is a little iffy as I had no new clips but still put it all back together. Looks fine and feels sturdy but I assume I did some damage to the OE clips.

Maybe a 2024 project to wrap in matte black when I have more time and new body clips in hand…

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