Fixing Ragged Rear Fenders

[grey beard]

My Rear Fenders

These fenders were the two roughest panels on the truck. They had been hit so many times they started to tear loose from the box. In an effort to keep things together, someone along the way stick welded them to the box sides in very crude fashion. This kept them from falling off, but they were still hit so many more times that they started to tear and crack along the wheel radius. These cracks were also stick welded – apparently by a blind bird watcher. Finally in desperation, someone fashioned l-shaped braces from foot-long pieces of 1 x ¼-inch steel strap and welded these between the box sides and the inside of the fenders near the back.

Now both fenders were permanently a part of the box and no longer in their proper position – one is half an inch further back than the other. Someone bolted mud flaps to the both rear fender lips with strips of steel. This arrangement caught moisture and swelled until one side of the fender edge rusted nearly off, with one inch of old mud flap still attached to it with rusty bolts.. This is what I had to work with, and the reason why I had to make a fiberglass mold to use as a sanding block to restore the original fender contour when I repaired them in place.

Paint and primer was roller-applied.

[Guest fallingseraphim]

WOW Grey you do some miracle work! I wish i had a quarter that kinda skill!

[grey beard]

Here's a "before" shot for comparison. I've got more than two weeks full time work in these two puppies. Sure glad I'm retired and sorta' useless otherwise . . . go figure.

[bach4660]

I feel like shipping my fenders over to you.

[48WingNut]

OMG Dave! That is some awesome work. I would have never thunk that they could have been saved. I think I would have started looking for a new box and fenders. Great job!

[Vintrader]

Buddy you do fine work. Did you have to use alot of bondo or where you able to beat them out pretty well. Dutch

Also will you go to Carlisle or Hershey next Month?

[greg g]

hammer to fit paint ot match. Nice work.

[Reg Evans]

Man...I was gonna give up on this one.

When can you be here?

Very nice work...and black paint too.

[Merle Coggins]

Good work Dave. Mine are close to that kind of shape. I gave up and bought new ones from Bebops. Haven't got to the stage of installing them yet, but they sure look nice.

Merle

[greg g]

Dave, here is where I started with my Studebaker front fenders. The painted one is the opposit side and was not quite as bad but very similar. Both now need some wet sanding and the final roller coat.

[Bouncy B]

Wow Dave, I thought my fenders were bad! Mine were split on the top about six inches (probably from being used as steps) The back half was also beat to death like yours but not near as bad. But time and effort can bring them back. You've proven that. Also like your paint. I rolled my 49 in Rustoleum Sunrise Red and Black. Love the process. Love the results.

Richard