The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Patch (Repair) Panels for Rear Fenders

Does anyone know of a source for patch panels for the front bottom of the rear fenders on a '53 3100. I ordered what appeared to be and was described as repair panels for the rear fenders but the actual items were for the rear of the front fenders. I've run out of locations to check and it looks like no one patches the rear fenders next to the running board. Any help is appreciated......Thanks!

That's the perfect place to start making your own from scratch. about all you need is a vice and a few dollies and a piece of sheet metal the proper gauge. (Ohhh and a welder)
I used the top piece I cut off my cab corner patches and used them on spots in front of the door. If your buying other panels your may have that option as well.

II lost my bookmarks or I'd link it but somewhere early in MP&C's pages he shows a nifty shrinker he made from a pair of vice grips for turning the corner.
It's probably the most fun you're ever gonna have working on that truck. Beating on stuff and making something from that is Way better than sanding primer...
or not.

Yessir, I think you're correct on all counts. After reading a little further in the posts and responses I found some info on MP&C concerning fender repairs. The info mostly referred to a later model truck, but the principles should be the same. Anyhoo, I'm gonna give it a shot! Thanks again.

Star, if you want to read from start to finish on making a metal patch (different year fender), I had a thread a couple of months ago on here . I can't find it right now, but it was April/May. Robert (MP&C) gave some good advice & links/tips/WTHs along the way. I made the tucking pliers as well. If you already know what you're doing shaping metal, disregard. I'd never attempted anything like it before then.

You'll like the fender more if you make it yourself- that'd be the gist of it.

Brad

Brad's thread....



https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...in=161630&Number=1096026#Post1096026

That's not my idea of fun. Trying to make flat sheet metal into a fender. That's my idea of a headache. My idea of fun would be to find a donor with a dent or two, get it cheap and cut off the piece I need and weld it on. 47-55.1. Then it's perfect.
If you have all the equipment these guys have, go for it. A hammer and a vise won't do it for a beginner. If you have a whole lot of repair, a whole lot of expensive sheet metal, all the tools, go to a workshop and then practice, maybe. A donor piece will get done real quick and move on. Just doing that is hard enough.
Thank you for your service, Star.

My hat is off to those guys who turn out nice pieces. It's an art form for sure.

I believe The filling Station has them.

Bartamos...Since your response makes the most sense to me, I'm wondering if you would take the time to check something out for me. It involves the repair panel for the front portion of the rear fender. The Filling Station part number is SA-252 and the online catalog has a photo of the part. My problem is this: that part will not fit the front portion of the rear fender but is actually made for the rear portion of the front fender. Filling Station and Jim Carter both insist the part will fit the rear fender. I know this sounds (and in fact is confusing). I have ordered and received the parts from Jim Carter, then returned them because they did not fit. The front portion of the rear fender of a '53 3100 does not have the curved section like the repair panel. I called the Filling Station today and the parts person insists the repair panel is for the rear fender. My head is bustin' open from this confusion and now I know all this ramblin' probably doesn't make sense. Anyway, if you can shed some light on this, I'll be beholden to you forever. Thank you for your patience!

My response is a general patch panel opinion. I don't have a clue about a specific patch panel for an AD fender. If there is a patch panel available, that's your ticket. Usually Jim Carter and group know what they are talking about. If two vendors say they are for the area you describe it should work.

Jim Carter PN: SMF400L says it is exactly what you want.
Filling Station PN: SA-252L
They do look like the same part with the same description. I believe if it was wrong, they would have found out by now.

NEWS FLASH: I may have figured out what the AD guys already knew and are laughing at me.
From what I see on the web, the lower rear of your front fender has a "bolster", stick out/wrap around, bulgy, skirt form. The front of the lower rear fender has this same feature. At the exact spot you say you need a patch. The piece sold above IS this bulge. It fits with it's longest curve horizontal. Look in our gallery pics or on the web and you will see. You may be thinking it fits vertically or you have had too much pepper spray blowback lately. You may have to reorder
Anyway, it's what I think I see, not ever having an AD yet and the pictures of the patch panels are small. Maybe there was a fender that did not have that moulding feature? or it's rusted off? or you have a bad old repair? Someone let me know if I'm all wet.