1971-72 GMC Fender GM or Aftermarket?

[Todd68Chevy]

I picked up a fender last weekend that is from a 71-72 GMC. It is in Very good condition for Indiana sheet metal. What I would like o know is how can I tell if it is original GM sheet metal or if it is an aftermarket fender? Is there any good way to tell? Thanks for any help.

[Todd68Chevy]

The guy I got it from said he painted it but there does look to de some kind or repair in the inside of the cup and a few emblem/ molding holes that have been filled.

[special-K]

Try putting it on. If it fits it's a GM . No,seriously,I need to look at mine and compare to be sure. I'll see about that and meanwhile maybe someone else knows a true telltale. I have seen some repros that have a difference shape on the cup drain holes,but yours is right.

[Todd68Chevy]

Thanks special-K

I was thinking I seen where the originals have 3 triangles up in front along the hood edge. They would be visable is picture 3 but this one does not have them. I looked at my 68 Chevy and it does have them but I have some other fenders and 1 that I know is an original from a GMC and it does not have the triangles either so I thought maybe that was a 68 only thing.

[special-K]

That's what I couldn't remember,the three triangles. I was going to take pictures of a GMC fender I have,but here's a '67 picture I already had.

[special-K]

I also hd these pictures of a 69 or 70 GMC fender...just in case anything changed:

[Todd68Chevy]

I can not tell by those pictures if the GMC has the triangles or not. Thanks for the pictures and I will look more when I get home from work tonight. Thanks

[71sierragrande]

I have two feenders that Im pretty sure are '68 chevy and they have the three triangle dimples. The fenders on my '71 GMC dont have the dimples/bends.

[special-K]

The second picture shows the dimples and all the others give you lots of other areas to compare. The dimples are just the most obvious telltales at a glance. I'm pretty sure yours aren't OEM.

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by 71sierragrande

I have two feenders that Im pretty sure are '68 chevy and they have the three triangle dimples. The fenders on my '71 GMC dont have the dimples/bends.

That is part of what I was wondering. Since this one supposed to be off of a 71-72 GMC maybe it would not have the dimples. Thanks

Originally Posted by special-K

The second picture shows the dimples and all the others give you lots of other areas to compare. The dimples are just the most obvious telltales at a glance. I'm pretty sure yours aren't OEM.

Yes it does on the 67 fender which is just like my 68 fender I described earlier. What I was meaning was on the second fender you had pictures of and said it was a 69-70 GMC. I could not see that area on it. Thanks for the pictures and I will compare them tonight. Thanks again

[special-K]

Alright,I see now. I showed those just because I had the close ups already and other details could be compared. But,I just went and looked at my all original '72 GMC and also a 100% original '72 Jimmy fender I have and there are no dimples. I never realized this before. Another break-through 67-72chevytrucks.com moment!

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by special-K

Try putting it on. If it fits it's a GM . No,seriously,I need to look at mine and compare to be sure. I'll see about that and meanwhile maybe someone else knows a true telltale. I have seen some repros that have a difference shape on the cup drain holes,but yours is right.

I forgot to say but I do not plan on installing this very soon but that would be a good way to tell. LOL I had heard something about the lower drain being different but was not sure what the different ones looked liked.

Originally Posted by special-K

Alright,I see now. I showed those just because I had the close ups already and other details could be compared. But,I just went and looked at my all original '72 GMC and also a 100% original '72 Jimmy fender I have and there are no dimples. I never realized this before. Another break-through 67-72chevytrucks.com moment!

I did not get to compare anything last night because it was to late when I got home but I do thank you for your time and effort with the pictures.

All the things I have learned from this sight is just one of the reasons that this site is so great.

[leddzepp]

The triangles have been discussed before. I believe they were only on 67-68 fenders, iirc. None of the 69-up trucks I have seen have them present.

[Todd68Chevy]

Thanks Leddzepp.

Well I looked the fender over and compared it to the pictures and a GMC fender I have off and I found one difference so I thought I found my answer and then I went out and looked at a 69 GMC I have and found it looks the same as this fender. On the front edge of this fender, there are holes where the 67-68 headlight bezel would mount. The GMC fender I have in the barn does not have any holes but when I went out and looked at the 69 GMC, it does have the holes like the one I bought. Everything I can find different, I can prove it wrong also. Maybe you were right in the beginning Special-K, the only way I will know is to install it and see how it fits.

[special-K]

The '67 I showed has the holes. I guess the 69/70 doesn't show that area. I have that '72 fender to check and also another pair of '67 GMC fenders I can check out.

[Todd68Chevy]

Well thelonerife (Chuck) was here today so I had him look the fender over and he thinks it is GM also. So my hope is still alive and good that this is GM and not aftermarket.

[schurg]

this is a great topic because I too recently bought 2 fenders and cant for the life of me tell if they are oem or not. where are these 'triangles' that you guys are talkin about? also, I wonder if they had them in 67-69 and not after 70 due to better stamping techniques? just a thought.

[black_sheep454]

A large majority of the time an aftermarket fender or any body panel with have a stamp of the aftermarket companies logo. Most of the time on these fenders they're about half way up the top edge of the fender on the inside step were the hood sits.
Posted via Mobile Device

[nitrosport_5]

One more thing i noticed with an aftermarket fender that i have here, on the inside of it where it has the welded on "nuts" the GM fender had square nuts, the aftermarket had standard hex. Not sure if this is true to all of them or not. My aftermarket fender is stamped "Gordon". Had a big dent in the front, so i am using it to patch a rust hole in a GM fender.

[schurg]

Originally Posted by special-K

That's what I couldn't remember,the three triangles. I was going to take pictures of a GMC fender I have,but here's a '67 picture I already had.

I'm a bit confused....is '443' the area code for frederick md?

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by schurg

this is a great topic because I too recently bought 2 fenders and cant for the life of me tell if they are oem or not. where are these 'triangles' that you guys are talkin about? also, I wonder if they had them in 67-69 and not after 70 due to better stamping techniques? just a thought.

I will get a picture them but it looks like they are only on 67-68 not 69 and up. Thanks

Originally Posted by black_sheep454

A large majority of the time an aftermarket fender or any body panel with have a stamp of the aftermarket companies logo. Most of the time on these fenders they're about half way up the top edge of the fender on the inside step were the hood sits.
Posted via Mobile Device

I will take a better look and see if I see anything. I am also going to a swap meet today so I will check some aftermarket ones out and see what I can tell. Thanks

Originally Posted by nitrosport_5

One more thing i noticed with an aftermarket fender that i have here, on the inside of it where it has the welded on "nuts" the GM fender had square nuts, the aftermarket had standard hex. Not sure if this is true to all of them or not. My aftermarket fender is stamped "Gordon". Had a big dent in the front, so i am using it to patch a rust hole in a GM fender.

Anothe neat piece of information. I will check it out. Thanks

Originally Posted by schurg

I'm a bit confused....is '443' the area code for frederick md?

You guys have eagle eyes. It took me a little while to even find 443. LOL

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by schurg

this is a great topic because I too recently bought 2 fenders and cant for the life of me tell if they are oem or not. where are these 'triangles' that you guys are talkin about? also, I wonder if they had them in 67-69 and not after 70 due to better stamping techniques? just a thought.

Here is the pictures of the triangles.