The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop PU Fender to Panel Fender??

Hey guys,

Ive got a 52 3800 Panel and the rear fenders are totally rusted out at the top. I heard you could take a standard AD PU rear fender, and slice it horizontally down the middle, and convert it to a panel fender.

Ive been searching high and low for the answer to this, maybe someone can help out. Thanks

You might try it on a set of plastic fenders first.. I wouldnt hack up a set of good steel ones tho.

Pickup fenders are common - if you kill one, it's not a big loss. Panel fenders that are in decent shape are virtually worth their weight in gold.

Anyway, from looking at my parts pickup and my panel truck, I'm fairly sure that the panel fender is the same as the outside of the pickup fender.

I wouldn't call it "converting" by any means, more like "fabricating". That is going to be a big job anyway you look at it.

I would seriously think about repairing the panel fenders, if they are in decent shape other than the rust, would say it is easier to repair them than fabricate new ones.

How bad is the rust?

Yah, I have discovered they are valued like gold The top flat part where they bolt up is over 50% gone on each fender. Also, the inside curved edge where the rolled edge (the edge on the outside closest to the tire) is is all chewed up on each side, the previous owner put really wide tires on for the snow. I think the major fabrication part would be flattening out the area for bolting to the body. It may be a cut along the edge, and then welding on the flat part. My other fun project is that on the actual body, the area which the fender bolts up to is completely shot, it was a shower of rust and broken bolts as I took/broke them off! How come no one has invested in making a rear panel fender, or is the overall demand just too small still? If I get a chance, I will try to get some pics...

Actually cutting and welding the fender together is the easy part, peice of cake. The hard part is figueing out WHERE to cut it. That will have to be perfect or you will have screwed up a good pickup fender.

I'll think about how that could be done while I am work today.

Martin,
I'm not sure if any welding would be necessary. You wouldn't need to reattach the original pickup mounting area, the panel fenders bolt through the top. They look for all the world like half of a pickup fender with slots along the back edge.

wow will that work for my 46 burb too??
Jim

There is a "39 to 46" panel fender on EBAY right now... buy it for $350.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh, I pictured a fender with a lip on the edge just like the truck one. Heck, get an old pickup fender and cut for goodness sakes.

If it works, get yourself some nice ones and do it to them!

A pair of NOS AD panel fenders went on ebay last week for $811.00 . . . you can just about buy new rear fenders and cut them up for that.

I still have to wonder if the pick up fenders are the same shape. Do the people who make the repro steel pickup fenders offer delivery fenders? They certainly would if the fenders were the same shape. So if they are not, I would say it is likely they are not the same shape.

But, a banged up pickup fender is worthless, so give it a try.

I've thought about modifying pickup fenders to widen the rear of my Suburban. My impression is that the lip that bolts the fender to the body is bent inward where the fender meets the body. Is that incorrect?

I've seen fiberglass panel/suburban fenders for sale. Have you checked those?

I bought the NOS set of fenders on Ebay last week, I just picked them up and they are very nice. I can vouch that they are not even close to the pickup fenders, They really flatten out on the edge where they meet the body. I am feeling kind of lucky, I also bought a set of NOS front fenders at the Charlotte autofair a few weeks ago. I had to give $1400 for them but they are sweet. as slick as a babies rear. I am going to build a 1950 suburban w/ them. I have been fairly lucky as I am currently building a 1952 1/2 ton w/ all NOS fenders.

That was my concern, that they were not even the same shape. If they were that close they would be selling them by simply modifying the repro pickup fenders.

Better watch out Rustynuts you might end up with a horse head in your bed from one of these guys jealousy over your NOS fenders
Most everyone here is pretty low buck and would trade the wife for a set of NOS fenders.

Hey, send pictures of your wives we can talk!!!!

Hey Rusty - have horse head, will travel! BTW, my ebay user name is kinemation :mad:

Over the last weekend I went by Mile High Classic Truck Parts here in Denver, and the guy showed me some fiberglass panel fenders that he just put on a panel that were really nice. I was afraid they would be weak and look funny, but they look great, and mount just like the original. I think this may be the option to go, although I wanted to stay all steel.

They quoted me $250 per fender, and I emailed someone in the parts swap meet (Bob, [email protected]) and he can get them for $418 for the pair plus shipping, so it will be about the same.

Thanks again for all the help!