Fender mount

[InkedForLife]

So I and my bodyman are test fitting the fenders and doors after priming. And neither one of us can figure why there are such large holes on the front of the fender where it mounts to the radiator support. I was pretty meticulous when disassembling, and bagged and tagged everything. However, I can find nothing about these holes. They are much too large for just a bolt. Any ideas?

Thanks
Troy

[Luva65wagon]

Troy,

These holes are that big because you may have to really move the front of the fender around a lot to get it to align with the hood (both level with and gap wise) and make it wide enough between the fenders for the grille and rocker panel. These bolts are hidden behind the grill, so you may not actually cover the entire hole with a bolt, but you won't see it.

Sadly, as is usually the case back when they built our cars that the bolts were left sort of loose, but tight enough to hold when moved, and when you've test fit the fenders to the hood and grille to the fenders, you then tighten them down and EAT INTO THE PAINT TO THE METAL.

In 65 they used the bolts with the large star washers. I wrapped the backs of my bolts with strip caulk (the black tar rope stuff) and it oozes out and pretty much protects the bare metal the bolts cause. On the upper fenders I used stainless washers under the star washers to prevent the paint from getting chewed up.

I don't know where they thought the fenders were going to go if they were not practically fused together with those bolts.

[InkedForLife]

Thanks Roger
That does make sense now. The guy doing the bodywork was just a little surprised that the holes were that large.
I know exactly what you mean about the star washers gouging up the paint. I went down to Fastenal and got some new bolts with the serrations on the underside of the head, that way I won't have to use the star washers. I will use stainless washers as well.

Troy