are they actually needed? are they structural at all? one of mine has some good rust and i am wondering if i can just cut them out

 

yes, it needed. its a structual piece.

 

im trying to see how it is though


since you have the frame rails from the strut tower and then the frame rails underneath it. the fender aprons metal isnt thick at all

 

I believe they provide the crumbling zone

 

now that makes some since as it would absorb some of the impact in the event of a wreck. im just trying to justify some of the extra hundred to put the fender aprons back in because of the rust when i can cut them out for nothing

 

that too

 

They are a huge aspect of your cars structural integrity. Removing them is like cutting a huge hole in your roof, you'll notice it. Keep them, the Fox-4 is already weak enough.

 

I think you could remove them then just weld in some tube if you want to strengthen it up. That area has no structural support besides holding the bumper on, the fenders up, and the radiator in place. Cut it up and make it lighter. Drag cars do it all the time.

 

im not doing it to make it lighter. just trying to justify the price/cost of putting new ones in

 

make your own