Short Fenders too??

[Heater63]

Anyone else getting "short" repro fenders?? I am finding that repro front fenders are about 3/8" shorter in length (fore to aft) than originals. This is causing an extreme fender to door gap that can't be adjusted out. My truck is original doors, inner fenders, the only repo part that could affect things is a repro core support. However, I have the original fenders, and they are longer than the reproduction ones.
I guess I will be welding a small extension to close the door gap. That is a lot of fine welding, but if Kindig can do it, so can I.

[VonDog]

If your old ones are fixable, I'd use the originals.

[BR3W CITY]

Use steel rod to build up the lip on either part. Its solid enough to weld to without burning, and you can keep the nice "roll" on the edge without filler.

[Brad54]

A lot of times, guys will use all of a reproduction panel, because they feel like they need to get their money's worth out of it. I've seen guys hang full quarters on a car, when all it needed was the bottom area in front of and behind the wheel opening, and parts of the wheel lip.
Other guys bought the full quarter, and then just used the pieces they needed to fix their original. This preserves the original fit and contours, and is often a better solution.
You might think about using your reproduction fenders as donors to fix your originals. It's either that, or invest a lot of time and money in reworking the reproductions.

[timmytimm3]

I noticed my aftermarket rockers are longer than stock. I'm going to cut them even with the door and then the fender can be adjusted closer to the door (rearward).

Sorry no pics

[rvrfoot]

Originally Posted by Heater63

Anyone else getting "short" repro fenders?? I am finding that repro front fenders are about 3/8" shorter in length (fore to aft) than originals. This is causing an extreme fender to door gap that can't be adjusted out. My truck is original doors, inner fenders, the only repo part that could affect things is a repro core support. However, I have the original fenders, and they are longer than the reproduction ones.
I guess I will be welding a small extension to close the door gap. That is a lot of fine welding, but if Kindig can do it, so can I.

I got some i will put a tape measure on it saturday a see.

[rvrfoot]

[Heater63]

Originally Posted by timmytimm3

I noticed my aftermarket rockers are longer than stock. I'm going to cut them even with the door and then the fender can be adjusted closer to the door (rearward).

Sorry no pics

Not so fast, the front fender has to align in front with the front grill support. Where that is in space is determined by your inner fenders and thickness of the radiator support.
I would triple check rockers comparing to original before shortening them.

[Heater63]

Originally Posted by rvrfoot

I got some i will put a tape measure on it saturday a see.Attachment 1694118

Thanks Rvrfoot. Are you using an original or repop radiator support? I'm wondering if maybe my repop radiator support
is "thick" and moving the grill support and fenders too far forward. Hmm.

[rvrfoot]

The radiator support is original

[timmytimm3]

Originally Posted by Heater63

Not so fast, the front fender has to align in front with the front grill support. Where that is in space is determined by your inner fenders and thickness of the radiator support.
I would triple check rockers comparing to original before shortening them.

The doors are aligned with the cab and the rockers are longer (frontward) than the doors. I'm not running stock inner fenders and the grill support and radiator support are all aftermarket. If I don't push the fenders back to fit the door nice, the rear upper fender holes don't line up with the cab.

Question- Is your radiator/grill support vertical or leaning back?

Thanks

[Heater63]

Originally Posted by timmytimm3

The doors are aligned with the cab and the rockers are longer (frontward) than the doors. I'm not running stock inner fenders and the grill support and radiator support are all aftermarket. If I don't push the fenders back to fit the door nice, the rear upper fender holes don't line up with the cab.

Question- Is your radiator/grill support vertical or leaning back?

Thanks

My radiator support is fairly vertical...the stock inner fenders have mating flanges that determine the geometry.

[Heater63]

Update on my issue. My repop radiator support was "thick" with poorly finished bends and welds that held the grill support too far forward, and thus the fenders would not go aft enough. By massaging with a hammer, and moving the doors another 1/8" forward, I think the fender gap is acceptable now.

The front clip on these trucks "float" more than I like....any one poorly made or aligning part affects the whole front clip.