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| | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 | I have a 65 Stepside that I'm just going to get new fenders for instead of trying to fix all the rust and dents. I see where the various parts places carry both steel and fiberglass. My question is which of these works out the best?
This is supposed to be a nice daily driver, not a perfect restoration so I don't really care about it being absolutely original. I have had a bad experience in the past with some f'glass not fitting very well and taking a bunch of trimming, but on the other hand the elimination of future rust trouble sure does appeal to me.
What do yall think? How does the fit compare?
Who has good glass parts? TIA.
Dave | | | | | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 328 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2003 Posts: 328 | Dave,
I was born and raised in Midland! My dad had a 65 Chevy truck when I was very young. As far as the glass vs. steel fenders, I would go with the steel. You live in an extremely dry climate and future rust should not be a problem. Also, the fiberglass does not hold up well when it comes to rocks being thrown from you tires. A piece of gravel thrown from your tires can leave a star in the paint.
Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine and into your brain...that is where crappy ideas come from.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 | Amazing how many folks have lived in Midland at one time or another. Shoot, I probably have your dad's old truck!
Thanks for the advice about the fiberglass. I never thought about rock dings. Good advice.
Dave | | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 129 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 129 | Dave
I went with steel reproduction front fenders on my 59 and I am very happy with them. They fit great!
I have seen some very poor fiberglass fenders without proper supports that almost flap when they are driven, and rocks can be a problem as well.
Something to consider on these old trucks is spraying the inside of your fenders with bedliner. I did this on my back fenders. They are quite heavy, but I'm hoping rocks will not fly up and dent the fenders from the inside. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 185 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 185 | Originally posted by northerngmc:
...Something to consider on these old trucks is spraying the inside of your fenders with bedliner. I did this on my back fenders. They are quite heavy... Howdy Blaine. Did you reinforce the flange on the fenders to compensate for the extra weight? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 129 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 129 | No extra bracing was installed, and I really don't think they need it. Heavier yes, but still able to man handle by one person. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 185 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 185 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 734 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 734 | Since it's a daily driver, think you should go with steel for reasons already mentioned. If it was a once a week or once every couple a weeks driver then fiberglass would probably be ok. Then again, if that were the case, it'd be more of a show type truck and you'd wanna use steel. If you prep them correctly and paint, don't think rust will be a problem. Yep, steel. | | |
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