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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 142 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2008 Posts: 142 | Can anyone explain how General Motors made the fenders on the stove bolts?
Was it a hefty press that started with a pre-cut/drilled and sized flat piece of steel, and then pressed/bent into shape using a mirror object?
Anyone have photos of the process? Was the steel heated?
46Canopy | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | you might say the stamping presses were "hefty"  all the sheet metal went from [usually coils of] flat virgin metal to finished part, either in one strike or progressive strikes - fendersBill | | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 142 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2008 Posts: 142 | Wow!
A STAMPING PRESS THAT COMPLETES FIVE FENDERS A MINUTE
This great machine turns out 2,700 fenders per day, one fender at each stroke. So accurate is the operation that the fender requires no further finishing touches, but is ready to be enameled as soon as the pressure of 225 tons is removed."
This is no backyard tool. Great photos. I had no idea.
Thank you Bill
Dale | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | Those aren't AD fenders. I'm sure that AD fenders were done on "progressive dies" which is just another way of saying more than one forming operation. Keep in mind that the dies themselves were all made without the benefit of any computer aided machining... just lots of meticulous hand work.
I worked in Detroit in the 70s and it's nothing short of amazing the skill required to make a simple forming die. | | |
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