The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Aftermarket steel fenders

Fiberglass fenders came with my truck, but I'd really like to put steel on it. I see that classic parts is now selling repro steel fenders. I was wondering if anyone has bought them and how do they fit? I don't want to get something that doesn't line up. Thanks in advance

Most fenders require more that just bolting them on. Haven't ever found a perfect fit on any of them.

gazim,

I might have to resort to a steel repo. What year steel fenders and what vendors have you tried?

Tim

They all come off the same boat. Ad truck repops from Taiwan (Republic of China) are Thinner than stock and will need some protection from stones slung from the tires.

Agree with Gazim 100%. Just watched a professional body man/ shop owner/ street rod builder go through a weeks of fitting on steel fenders from Yogi’s. They were a lot better than the glass front fenders that they tried first time round but still had to use a filler where it meet the grill.
I believe that these were made in the states not Chin origin. Can’t back this up but It’s rumored that the original dies have been bought by manufacturers in the states and the parts are being made under license from GM. I don’t know how else they could acquire dies this complex and justify the cost, the volume is simply not there.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

This is second hand info. There was a guy selling parts on Ebay that mentioned he had new fenders/hood on his own truck(55-59). I emailed him and asked how they fit. He was very honest.

He said he originally had a mix of old and new components and the fit was very poor. I don't know what his level of expertise was. He went on the say that he finally switched to all new components and the situation improved but still left something to be desired.

However from reading posts here I've learned even a GM fender can give you fits. I shall find out soon when I start to mock up.

Keith

all those body parts you get from gm are assembly line "no fits". all the best get used first and the rest are collision support parts.

Ugh... I was hoping new metal would fit better. I don't know if I'm going to have much choice in the matter though. Finding decent sheetmetal in the northeast is impossible. I've found some stuff online, but it's from the south, needs some work, and I'd have to pay to ship it here. By the time that's over, it's almost the same price as a new part...

I'm not a body man but have dealt with and had many friends that were for a good portion of my life. I've always been interested in bending tin because it is in my eyes a true art form. The subject of original or factory replacement sheet metal vs reproduction comes up often. They all pretty much say the same thing, and that is, that none of it fits like a machined part and you pretty much have to massage it into place. So I wouldn’t expect any part, not even the original ones from your truck to bolt right back in place without a couple of pry bars and some well aimed curse words.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hmm, good point there. The repro's are looking better by the minute...