The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 41-46 fender reinforcment

Does anyone have any ideas about reinforcing the outer perimeter of these big floppy fenders? Thanks, Scott

They had fender braces. The braces trapped mud and water, leading to rust through. I have a rear fender in the the process of being repaired for use on my '46 project. When I removed the brace even it was badly rusted. I may leave the fender without one. A buddy is also working on his '46 and found the replacement part he'd ordered didn't fit as advertised.

Scott, I think you are talking about the outer edge of the fender lip. Correct? If so what my body man did was weld a round rod to the inside curl which makes the edge much stiffer. Then, so that no water or mud is allowed to sit in that area he used some bondo over the top of the rod and smoothed it to the inside of the fender. I know some people don't like to use bondo but it has worked for me for the last 10 years.

Hope this helps
George

Thank's George. What was the diameter of the round rod?

Agree with George. Mine were cracked in a couple areas near brace and I used a 3/8 carriage bolt about 6" long and welded up. You may have to grind enough area where brace is to get a good fit.
Dan

I have the fender braces for the front fender but have a s-10 clip. And been trying to get them to work. And ideas. Thanks

I am doing a 46 right now with a S10 complete frame using the kit from ez swap and the front fender braces still mounts to the radiator support. I have pre fit the front end parts and one you get all the bolts into the cab, inter fender, and radiator support those fender are pretty secure. PM me and I will see what you are doing wrong. Norm

I installed a new chevy 350 this winter and had to move the radiator support forward .I never used the supports before now getting a small crack in the fender. I might have to fab some braces to supports the fenders

Moving the radiator support sounds like a bad idea, but I'm not sure what you mean or what you did. Could you please provide some photos so that we can try to help out?

My '46 has a full S-10 frame with a 455 Buick and I didn't move the rad support, but I did change where the rad mounts. Mind you I don't know if yours is a Chevy or GMC. They had different rad supports.

Got the fender braces on .It's a 46 Chevy . Thanks for the help

On the 40 I did for best friend and my 37 I relocated the radiator forward on the support to get me more room for the motor, but when you more the support you throw all the front end parts location off. You are going to have put the radiator support back to the correct location and move the radiator. On the 40 we move it to other side support mounting point and put some spacer on it, we also had to modified the grille upper filler pan at the rear so it would not hit the radiator. I agree with 46gmcpu that yo will have change where you mount the radiator to the support on the 46. Send pictures and good luck