The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Fender Advice

So I managed to pick up an ever-elusive set of rear fenders. They're the right colour and the paint is nicely aged, similar to the cab. I would like to know what the best way is to get them into better shape, without doing a full restore on them. I just wanted something that I can bolt on that looks decent and will last a few years before I have to look to replace with a new set and paint the whole truck. It appears that someone has done some patching on the bottom corners of them already, as they left the original rough edge underneath. I'm mostly concerned about the fender-to-bedside parts, as they are rusted with some breaks here and there. I'm not a welder or a body work guy and I'm sure getting someone to do it for me would cost somewhere close to what a new set would go for. I would just like to know if/where it would be good to cut and weld in some replacement metal or supports. I would then de-rust and POR15 the whole underside with some rocker-guard to prolong life as well.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

https://goo.gl/photos/7241o9yiERbdqoTc6
https://goo.gl/photos/JUP25SXf6mkNj7fM9
https://goo.gl/photos/vq6RHTTBn2ZDKHw68
https://goo.gl/photos/WLBCMAnvxSNAfpZS6
https://goo.gl/photos/fKdgbCFeb5M3Eer29

Looks pretty rough my parts truck is a ontario truck and is rusty also .if they are just temporary then paint them up use or make some washers to hold them on and keep a look for some better ones.Takes a lotime of time and a welder to fix them proper.

Those fenders are actually in pretty good shape. I'd trade them for the ones I started with. Check the photo links in this thread. Fender Patch Panel Forming
The worst spot looks like the crown brace, which can be replaced. Some fender washers would take care of the mounting holes.

Thanks Kevin,

I really enjoyed seeing your pics, although I think you made it look too easy I think I might get a better idea of the work involved once I clean out the inside of the fender down to bare metal. Does it make sense to cut out the original rusted metal from where the new metal was welded in and over-laps it?

Overlap? No. Figure out were the edges of your old metal are shot then form a patch the size and shape you need and carefully trace and cut just inside that line. Make the patch as close to fitting as possible then butt weld the new metal in. Best advice is found at MP&C's links. Follow his guidance and you'll have more than just a patched fender... you'll have new skills.

Hi CASO - that will be my approach when I do get around to trying my hand at patching/welding, but I'm actually referring to the existing overlapped welds that the PO did on the fenders. I just want to preserve it for now until I have the time/resources to do more. I would think that these overlaps would be a spot for future rust through?

Thanks

I'd sure stay away from Por15 if I planned on working on it in a few years. That shhtuff is not worker friendly when you try and remove it.... unless it was applied over clean metal.
Id drive it like it is till the time for repairs. Maybe a coat of rustoleum. At least it comes off.

Thanks CASO. Is that a vote to leave the overlapped metal? Or cut it out to expose and paint underneath?

I'm with CASO on the overlapped areas. I'd clean them up best as possible, then soak them with Rustoleum, getting it into the overlapped spots as deep as you can. The fenders came with a doubler plate where the running boards mount. That may be what you're seeing there rather than a patch. Unless you want to cut out the rust and butt weld in new patch panels, I'd use the Rustoleum approach. I looked at your pics again, and I might OA gas weld up those few cracks around the mounting holes to keep them from growing. The nice thing about OA gas welding is you don't need to get the metal spotless before welding.

^^^^ yup.

Great, thanks Kevin/CASO.