Inner fender help!

[GM man]

You guys make putting body panels together look easy, but I dropped the passenger side inner fender well down to remove my AC, and for the life of me, I can't get that thing back in there correctly. Never took the front bolts out so it's still attached up front, but the rear and middle screw holes are way off. Is there a trick (other than buying another truck??)

[lks dcvn]

How far off are they - do none of them line up now? I've had to manhandle the inner fenders as they are not that rigid once they are not bolted up. You could always remove the fender, install the inner fender and then bolt it up to the truck...

Post up some pictures of your situation and we can try to assist.

[fun in dirt]

Yes similar experience; they are a total pain. I ended up having to use a long piece of pipe (shovel or something else long & stout will work) with end on inner fender & side against the tire to get some leverage to push it all somewhat back in place, then use a big philips screwdriver to get a hole lined up... it takes 2 people.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

IIRC I was talking to somebody about this and the trick is to start with the Big bolt in the back and work you way around from there. You might want to loosing the front (not all the way off but loose enough to make the big bolt your starting point)

[87Skier]

Originally Posted by 72K5CSTDarkOlive

IIRC I was talking to somebody about this and the trick is to start with the Big bolt in the back and work you way around from there. You might want to loosing the front (not all the way off but loose enough to make the big bolt your starting point)

That's how I did mine. It worked for my reproduction inner fender too.
You may also need to force the fender back and tighten up a few bolts to get the fender to pull back, then start another bolt.

[GM man]

Thanks fellas.