The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front fender gaps 55 series 2

I've looked at the repair manual on line and still have questions in reference to my huge front fender gaps. I have a big gap between the cowl and fender and hood and fender on each side. The hood bumpers don't even come close to doing their job by about 3x. I need to move my fender inward at least another 1/2 - 3/4 inch and cant figure out what the problem is. I trimmed the spacer off the rear top fender holes where they go into the rounded area of the cowl, loosened / removed all the bolts across the top and cannot get the fenders in any farther. The fenders are even with the doors but I realize I can adjust the doors in a little too if I have to. My next step is to remove the fenders completely and see if perhaps a P/O has repaired the inner cowls etc and they are now too thick??

a photo's worth a thousand words... and it sounds like you know the proper next step already. Strip it down and KNOW what you have under neath. I'm always leery when "I have to" trim something that is made to fit already. Somethings not right... but then you knew that. Post some pic's.

yes, pull it apart and find the problem, might be the inner fender mounting causing it - BUT the fenders should actually be slightly proud of the doors, so the door edge doesn't snag the fender on opening, and you certainly can't adjust the doors in 1/2" and still get them to close

Bill

The hood is wedge shaped, do you have it to far back? Pulling it forward will close the hood to fender gag.

Are all of the parts original to that truck or are some replacements?

Mike B

That is a great idea and will help quite a bit I think. As far as I can tell the truck has it's original metal reworked by the P/O. I will give it a try and report back.