• Hello there guest and Welcome to The #1 Classic Mustang forum!
    To gain full access you must Register. Registration is free and it takes only a few moments to complete.
    Already a member? Login here then!

Removing a fender?

K

Kats66Pny

Active Member
What am missing? I know it can't be this complicated to remove a simple fender. :amaz


I got some of the top bolts out. There is the one close to the hood hinge that is being a pain and not coming out. It's really ticking me off. :po
IMG_4063.jpg

and so I wouldn't get yelled at.. I used an old t-shirt to lay tools on since I don't have a fender cover. :lol


There was suppose to be one in the door jam but when I looked, there wasn't one? I guess it was never there?
IMG_4064.jpg


It looks as if there are two bolts in the headlight area that are suppose to be removed as well? I soaked it front and back with PB Blaster.
IMG_4061.jpg


I also removed 2 bolts on the inside of the wheel area that were connecting the valance to the fender.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"Midlife" said:
There's a bolt hidden behind the kick panel.
Click to expand...

Here's a post giving you the poop on the bolt midlife's talking about.

There's also a bolt on the road-side (bottom) of the fender (pointing "up"). It's located between the wheel well and the door area. I couldn't tell from your comments if you've found that one yet.

Sounds like you're almost done, though! :WP
 
"Midlife" said:
There's a bolt hidden behind the kick panel.
Click to expand...

Of all the stupid places to hide a bolt. :lol Thanks. Just got that one out and also found the one underneath.
Finally got the stuck bolt out. While trying to get it out, it actually broke. Oh well. Now if I can just get the two in the headlight area out I can get this damn fender off.
 
Break time before I break something!

The one underneath... it's loosened up, but it keeps spinning but won't come out. And the 2 in the headlight area... not a budge even soaked with pb blaster. :eek:mg
 
"Kats66Pny" said:
Break time before I break something!

The one underneath... it's loosened up, but it keeps spinning but won't come out. And the 2 in the headlight area... not a budge even soaked with pb blaster. :eek:mg
Click to expand...

On that one underneath: It sounds like the capture nut (inside the frame / torque box) has broken loose and is spinning. That's a :rp. Hopefully, someone else can suggest an easy fix. I can't think of one.
 
Apply pressure between the fender and the bottom of the fender bolt while turning the fender bolt. This keeps the capture nut from turning freely.

Can you access the back side of the fender where those bolts are?
 
"Midlife" said:
Can you access the back side of the fender where those bolts are?
Click to expand...

The ones in the headlight area? Yeah. They can be reached up in the wheel well area. Little tricky with the wheel on though. Tomorrow I'll have to see about putting her up on jack stand and remove the wheel to get in there better. Oh and I found a 3rd bolt holding the fender to the valance that isn't coming out either.

I'll have to mess with it more tomorrow when I can put Gertrude back in the driveway. My garage has a stupid wooden beam in the middle of it and makes it difficult to work on the passenger side. :sad
 
Take the grinder to the wooden beam and remove it! *G*
 
Oh trust me, I've thought about it!! But then I realized I prefer not having the upstairs game room/daughters bedroom collapsing. :lol
 
"Sacbill" said:
On that one underneath: It sounds like the capture nut (inside the frame / torque box) has broken loose and is spinning. That's a :rp. Hopefully, someone else can suggest an easy fix. I can't think of one.
Click to expand...

Has anyone ever found one where the capture nut wasn't broken short of the car being fully restored?

On mine it appeared some previous owner had tried to tack weld mine into place and the weld had broken.

I just jammed a flat head screwdriver in there and held mine in place while turning the bolt. It came out and I bought new capture nuts before I started to put it back together.
 
"RustyRed" said:
Has anyone ever found one where the capture nut wasn't broken short of the car being fully restored?

On mine it appeared some previous owner had tried to tack weld mine into place and the weld had broken.

I just jammed a flat head screwdriver in there and held mine in place while turning the bolt. It came out and I bought new capture nuts before I started to put it back together.
Click to expand...

Those were fine on mine. Too bad everything else is either rusted, broken, missing, or bubba engineered.
 
"RustyRed" said:
Has anyone ever found one where the capture nut wasn't broken short of the car being fully restored?

On mine it appeared some previous owner had tried to tack weld mine into place and the weld had broken.

I just jammed a flat head screwdriver in there and held mine in place while turning the bolt. It came out and I bought new capture nuts before I started to put it back together.
Click to expand...


I remember having the same problem on Red. The screw driver did wonders.
 
I had the same problem on my car. Welded the capture nut in place to hopefully avoid the problem in the future.

Also, I used a LOT of anti-seize in the process of assembling the car.
 
Well the screwdriver worked for the bolt underneath... but the bolt broke in half. It's out though.

I removed the front valance completely so I could get to the one bolt that is stuck... the one that is holding the stone deflector? to the fender.

IMG_4070.jpg


IMG_4068.jpg


that bolt is located in the green circle
IMG2_4061.jpg



this is what happened to a few bolts that were holding the valance on. :sad
IMG_4069.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The easiest way to remove a stubborn bolt for the home diy is to just use a propane torch, get it cherry red and it will come right out. Rich.
 
Don't have a propane torch. :sad

HA! Got that bolt out! PB Blaster not only works for rust on bolts.. it also likes to loosen rusted sheet metal. As I was turning the bolt, the metal area (highlighted in green) was twisting as well. I said screw it and kept turning and it twisted and broke off.

oopsc.jpg


Now there are only 2 bolts left I need to get out and the fender can come off. The ones inside the headlight area. I guess I'm going to have to go buy a torch to get those suckers out.
 
WARNING!! WARNING!!

Kat, you are approximately 30 hours from going from this...

IMG_4070.jpg


to this...
427_12_01_10_12_08_03_0.jpg


Believe me, it happens quick. You start off with good intentions taking off just one or two things, and then next thing you know you have everything off and a messy pile of stuff on the floor and you don't know what goes where to put it back on.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
:lol I have been tempted to strip her all down, but the fact that she runs and I can drive her keeps me from doing it.
 
Kat,
That is/was one hell of a nasty looking bolt. Hope you don't have a whole bunch of such hidden surprises.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top