Front Fender Well Inspection Covers?

[Turbo4whl]

^^^ Like Jon said, original factory fenders have them spot welded for support. Many aftermarket fenders do not have them.

Make your own if you want them to look original. Then you can have the original rust that they all had.

 

[idahovette]

I've made new reinforcements for both sides of mine and then, hopefully, sealed them with undercoating......3 layers?? we will see??

 

[Octane]

Because they are not GM originals.

This is simply an inner fender, stock, reinforcement. That's all.

I understand.My panels were rusted too.Glad the replacements dont have that little panel

 

[Keith Seymore]

Reinforcement for what?? It seems like it was intended for some kind of inspection or access. Reinforcement cover doesn't make sense, especially the shape of them.

Reinforcement for attaching the wheel apron (fender inner) at that location.

The front end, because it is not integrated like a Dodge or a passenger car, is dancing around up there. It's pretty easy to image that bolt eating the wheelhouse up if it was only one material thickness at that location (and thin metal at that).

If it was an inspection or access - why would it be welded to the base metal?

K

 

[Octane]

The small piece that attached to my innerfender,those bolts only attached the little panel to innerfender.Dont know how that would be construed as a reenforcement thing.As the bolts didnt mount the innerfender to any other attachment point behind it.Maybe mine had been " messed with"?

 

[Keith Seymore]

Doesn't this (bigger) inboard bolt attach the fender inner to the front of dash?

Or am I thinking of something else -

K

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[Copymutt]

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Opted not to have it reoccur.

 

[idahovette]

My 75 K20 is exactly like @Keith Seymore attaching to the firewall.

 

[Octane]

Mine is kinda triangular.And its not on edge of innerfender.

 

[mtbadbob]

Reinforcement for attaching the wheel apron (fender inner) at that location.

The front end, because it is not integrated like a Dodge or a passenger car, is dancing around up there. It's pretty easy to image that bolt eating the wheelhouse up if it was only one material thickness at that location (and thin metal at that).

If it was an inspection or access - why would it be welded to the base metal?

K

I was unaware that it was welded, it looks like it just unbolts, exposing a hole for SOMETHING??

 

[mtbadbob]

Mine is kinda triangular.And its not on edge of innerfender.

Same as my '87, & the '84 sheet metal replacement truck I have.

 

[Hunter79764]

My 87 has triangular panels, bolted 3 places, and do not appear to be welded. I can't confirm, but it does look like the bolts go through to the cab corners.

Both sides are the same, passenger side pictured.

 

[Keith Seymore]

My 87 has triangular panels, bolted 3 places, and do not appear to be welded. I can't confirm, but it does look like the bolts go through to the cab corners.

Both sides are the same, passenger side pictured.

Any willingness on your part to remove those bolts?

My recollection is you will find that triangular piece is welded on there.

K

 

[Hunter79764]

Any willingness on your part to remove those bolts?

My recollection is you will find that triangular piece is welded on there.

K

Willing and able. Pulled the bolts (two 1/2" on the lip, 9/16" and longer on the inner bolt). Can't confirm any spot welds either way, but I can confirm the sucker still didn't want to move at all. I didn't get out the pry bar, but no reason to doubt that it's welded from the back side, and if i use my imaginationi could see where there might be spot welds. Also no reason to doubt they are rotted out for most, that's a mud/salt/moisture trap right there. Mine is low mile, Texas it's whole life, and just a tiny bit of dusty rust on the threads, but I'd absolutely believe any other history would end in plenty of rust.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Thank you.

It is easy for me to imagine it is a reinforcement, increasing the material thickness at the inboard attachment and spreading the load out to formed lip of the fender outer.

K