The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Repair of front fenders attachment to running boards.

Fenders and running boards are in good shape but flange on fender where they attach is rusted out. How is the best way to repair?

Most of the rust is generated in these areas due to dirt and moisture kicked up by the tires, and the lack of paint or other rust preventative measures. Any welding is going to burn away your paint protection, so I would suggest the following.

Perform necessary repairs to fender outer skin, having fitted the area to the running board for correct contour. Make inner stiffener strip for the hole area and insure it has correct contour to fit snugly inside the fender with no gaps around the perimeter. Media blast all areas, and cover each separately with a couple coats of a good epoxy primer. Let flash well, but while you are still within the recoat window, brush a heavy application of the same epoxy primer on the areas that will be adjacent to each other, and then quickly bolt the stiffener strip inside the fender and let the epoxy cure. Brush around the perimeter after bolting to help with sealing around the perimeter of the strip. With no welding to burn away at the protective coating, this will be about your best bet at future rust prevention in this area..

Thanks MPandC, please elaborate on inner stiffener strip? Is this something i make or is it available retail? What material? fiberglass?

On most of the fenders where they bolt to a running board, that area is susceptible to damage, cracks, etc from the bolts into the running boards... The factory usually has a strip of metal at the bottom inside of the fenders to help strengthen this area and spread out any stresses, hopefully preventing damage from bolt stress/fatigue. The "remnants" of one can be seen here:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/Mar%2010%202013%20OJ%20Higgins%20Meet/_MG_9996.jpg


This fender was in decent shape and yet the inside strip was practically gone. If your fenders are rusted through in this area, it's likely the strip of metal inside is history. I'm not 100% sure of the thickness, but I believe it is the same as the fender's skin. Should be about 18 ga.

Wow! great links. Thanks MPandC