Can my fender be salvaged or is scrap yard material?

[In The Ten Ring]

My passenger out fender is pretty rusty at the front. In fact, part of it caved in yesterday during removal. I was hoping it could be welded up and fixed and then me hang onto it as a spare.

If that isn't possible, could it have a future as a "repair panel source?"

[sduckworth13]

Scrap yard or wall art either will work . It really is gone on that top corner and not worth it to repair.

[sduckworth13]

I have my own stash of wall art off a truck I'm working on. If the lower rear patch is good on your fender it would be a good idea to cut it off for a spare patch. Cut about a inch above the body line for good measure.

[special-K]

Rust can usually be fixed. Once it's crust it's too late. An OEM fender is certainly worth fixing rather than replacing with repro. But only to a point

[sboris]

Yeah that one is a little too far. Dont cave in though and get a repop. Find a decent original even if its not perfect. You will be waaaay ahead.

[hugger6933]

It is way too far gone to replace. You may need to stop now while you still have a truck the more you tear down the worse it seems to be getting. When we first talked it was a rocker and cab corner sort of thing now it is looking like a few more panels than that. How much more have you found on your cab?

[D-rock1981]

Anything can be fixed. The question is it worth it to fix? Probably not with reproductions being made for pretty good prices and still good junkyard parts out there. I would replace it.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

It is way too far gone to replace. You may need to stop now while you still have a truck the more you tear down the worse it seems to be getting. When we first talked it was a rocker and cab corner sort of thing now it is looking like a few more panels than that. How much more have you found on your cab?

I just hadn't told you about this fender since I expected to replace it myself. I have a NOS fender bought from HotRodTodd on the parts' forum that I'll have media blasted and painted this week (time permitting).

I am just replacing it now since I had to get to the bushings under the radiator core support and it's been rusted like this ever since the late 1980's. But yes, my truck is a "rust bucket" and I've decided to just get a new-to-me cab. My cab could probably be fixed but cost-wise, a new cab is probably going to be so much easier. I'll decide later.

I guess I can hang this up in my garage and use the lower rear portion if ever needed. Oddly enough, that section is nice.

And you thought you had rust issues!

[hugger6933]

Greg, I know how you feel I have a members truck right now that started out as a roof patch that turned in to me changing the roof section and then he said while I'm at it to fix the floors and rockers that has turned into a frame off that is gonna be lots of time involved stuff. Just for a roof patch. Jim

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

Greg, I know how you feel I have a members truck right now that started out as a roof patch that turned in to me changing the roof section and then he said while I'm at it to fix the floors and rockers that has turned into a frame off that is gonna be lots of time involved stuff. Just for a roof patch. Jim

I have a good idea what you mean. I renovated a ski condo once. A $300.00 sheetrock job in a closet turned into a hardcore repipe, rewire, and bathroom rehab. I'm not complaining, renters love the place and I learned a ton!

Now just so it won't rust anymore, could I spray it down on the front there with something like NAPA Rust Treatment while I let it hang up in the garage?