front fender gap

[Inman789]

I need some advice on the best way to close an excessive passenger side front fender gap. After reading everything I can find on the subject, unless I am way off base, I think it may boil down to two possible options.

1. Loosen and shift the radiator support to the passenger side to even the gaps
2. possible aftermarket fender on the passenger side

on option 2 above, the top part of the fender closest to the windshield doesnt come close to matching the contour. The driver side isnt perfect but it is way better than the passenger side.

Thoughts? Getting it ready for paint, have new doors, new bedsides and new tailgate.

Thanks

 

[Randy and Easton]

@Inman789 , we are going to be watching this thread… same boat but post paint….

Randy and Easton

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Definitely somethin going on with the top mount to the cab. Check how many shims are there, as well as adjustment on core support.

 

[Inman789]

I think the mounting nuts on the backside of the fender will determine this gap (I may be wrong)
I found a picture of the backside of a front fender and zooming in where it bolts to the radiator support there is really no way to "massage them" as they are part of the formed inner skin of the front fender. Meaning, even if I loosen and attempt to move the radiator support, that distance will always remain the same? Does that make sense?
I am leaning more and more towards this being an aftermarket fender and while it does bolt up the tooling for the inner skin is different from the factory. (I think) I zoomed in on this picture to view the front bolting and dont see where that can be modified.
Am I on the right track?
Before I paint, am thinking about a new AMD front fender.
The picture is from FB market place where someone is selling a fender. Havent pulled mine yet, just wanted a visual of the front mounting points

 

[Inman789]

@PrairieDrifter if you are talking about raising or lowering the back of the fender closest to the door, it is shimmed so that the seam (for two tone paint) on the fender, door, and bedside all line up. I think if I remove any shims at the top of the rear fender, that body line would not line up. ??? Just guessing at this point.

 

[RecklessWOT]

Driver's side actually looks normal. These trucks weren't known for the best panel fitment from the factory. There's definitely something going on with the passenger side. Stupid question, but is the fender bent somehow? Looks like it has a bit of a "wave" to it like it's slightly bowed.

 

[Inman789]

At some point in the past 50 years it has been in a front end accident. The Silverado fender badges arent correct for a 73. The inner driver side is white, where the passenger is black. I am absolutely happy with the fitment of the AMD doors, bedsides and tailgate...so I am really thinking new pass front fender.

 

[CalSgt]

Don’t use that picture for a reference…. That’s and 81+ fender, totally different design from yours.

 

[Inman789]

I thought 81 & up fenders had lower horizontal side marker lamps? That 73-80 had the vertical ones?

 

[Grit dog]

Don’t have a solution for you but I’ll echo what @RecklessWOT said. And never try to make the transition from fender to A pillar “fit” better. That’s just how they are. Every square looks just a little different here and the 2 pieces don’t line up well. Just the character of these trucks.
You’re probably right though, cheap repop fender.
Buddy bought a repop front fender for one of his ‘72 C10s. I even helped him try to get it to fit right. To the point we were cutting and bending sht to try to make it work. In the end, it looked like ass and stuck out like a turd in a punch bowl.
He fixed the old OE fender, painted it before fitting it up (it did come off the same truck, I think) and slapped it on. Fit was perfect.

 

[Inman789]

Thanks @Grit dog. Good advice, especially on the A pillar fit. I agree the existing passenger side fender is most likely a overseas re-pop. I will search for replacement options and see how that looks.
Thanks everyone. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing some shimming or alignment for the front gap. Thanks all

 

[peats]

Glad both of my squares are Natural patina trucks. So much more to consider when you are going for #1 or #2 quality. Fit and finish is the last thing on my mind.

 

[Jdgrant96]

I kinda had the same issues. I bought a repop passenger side fender and the fitment was aggravating. I could line up the A pillar well, but then I’d have a massive gap at the core support.

I think what I ended up doing was loosening the cab body mounts, core support mounts, and the whole front clip. I aligned the driver side (original panel) first, and tightened it. I then had to jack up the cab and core support in a couple different configurations to get things to line up and tightened.

Even with new mount bushings there’s a couple extra washers under some mounts but everything is lined up.

 

[CalSgt]

I thought 81 & up fenders had lower horizontal side marker lamps? That 73-80 had the vertical ones?

The fender you said you were using for a reference does have horizontal side markers, and hood hinges with a spiral/clock spring, and the angular bends in the wheel well. All of these things are from the 81+ trucks.

ETA:
Here’s a picture of a GM factory replacement fender for 80 & earlier I bought in 1997.
(Ignore the 4” tube I welded to it)

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[SquareRoot]

@CalSgt is dead on. At some point (81 I assume) the fenders no longer match the cab at the point being discussed. They will bolt on, they just don't line up. I had similar issue with a parts truck I was playing around with. I also discovered the shades of White aren't the same either. lol