The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front Fender Question

I am putting some (used) front fenders on my 58 apache 1/2 ton. Everytime I put them on (as a mock setup), I notice that the fender is about 1" too far forward on both fenders. Those darn things WILL NOT move back to where they are supposed to go. The bolt holes are about 1" off.

I'm fairly new with body work. Any advice on this?

Are you talking on the cab or the frame? The 55-57 frame is shorter up front than the 58-9 frame is.

I'm talking about the inner fender (seperates the engine compartment) as well as the cab mounts. The fender is about 1" to far foward from lining up with the cab mount and inner fender mount holes. So there is a big gap from the door and the fender, about 1". Maybe I just need a big hammer to hit the front of the fender:)

I hope I don't have pre-58 front fenders.

"pre-58" fenders would be single headlight - assuming you know that and have 58/9 fenders, try putting the fenders and inners together on the ground, have the rad core support loose and the front bars off [above and below grill] - then see if the fender assembly can be fit to the core support and the mounting flange sticking off the floor of the cab, and the cage bolt above the air plenum .... no telling if fenders and inners from different plants may have had different bolt spacings where they meet, but I'd think the 1" gap at the cab means you're putting something in the wrong place .... pictures would help

Bill

Hi Casey,

A miss match of an inch is quite a bit. It indicates to me perhaps the parts you are working with may not be right either because they were damaged or they are the wrong parts. But, I would like a little more information.

Are you replacing the fenders because of collision damage? Are you replacing just the outer fenders or are you replacing both the inner and outer? The inner fenders or as the parts catalog calls them "fender skirts" are also different between 1955-1957 and 1958. Do you have both inner and outer fenders for 1958? Information about parts interchange can be found at Old Online Chevy Manuals. Just look up parts numbers for the various years to know what will fit. This is one very valuable resource.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/

Alignment of front end sheet metal is one of the hardest projects on these trucks so I give you a lot of credit and wish you a lot of patience.

Thanks you guys---

Valuable info, exactly what I'm looking for. The fenders and inners fenders are definitely from a 1958.

I am replacing the fenders because the originals were hit pretty bad. The cab doesn't look like it was affected, as there is no visual damage on either side. I am going to take the steps you mentioned above and see if it works

I don't know if the 58 is the same, but on the 55-7 the radator suport is different on the v8 verses the 6 cyl., but it's more than 1"

Can anyone verify this? I have never heard of that before....

In all of the catalogs, in the fender section, it never specifies "engine size."

I wouldn't be surprised if the radiator support was different for a V8, because you would expect the manufacturer to use a larger radiator for a more demanding engine. But I would not expect the fenders to be different; outer or inner. In fact I'd be shocked if they were. It would be crazy for the manufacturer to change tool dies just for different engines in the same model truck.

Well let me clarify a little. The suport is the same, but in a different place (around 4" back). The suport mount (that's revited to the frame) is different. Trust me on this, it's true on a 55-7 I've not messed with the 4 lighters, but have done several 55-7

RRF, check the assembly manual [which was printed in 55 and doesn't have any 58/9 specifics], the difference in V8 and 6 [55-57 only] is that the same rad core support is moved back so the fan is 1/2" from the rad [same spacing as 6, except the 6 is a few inches longer] there is some extra sheet metal shrouding pieces between the grill and the core support in front of the rad - there is no difference in any other parts, same rad, same inners, same fenders, same grill - the inner fenders have the 2 different mounting hole positions already in place, regardles of which is used

and all that has absolutely nothing to do with 58 & 9, which didn't do that dance, they started using a shroud in 58 to make up for the V8 sitting further back

Bill