[Kevin in NJ]

I know a bit late, but my experience has been that a bent bar coupled with bent fender brackets makes for trouble when putting the bar in place.

I started my fender fitting by making the bar fit the brackets. The bar and the brackets were bent. I made them fit by eye. I put it together and stood back. When I started getting close the bolts started going in easier. At first the bolts were very difficult to maneuver into place so I was pleased to find everything improving as I moved along. I figured I must be doing something right. Kind of reassuring after a couple of false starts.

After I got everything fit I found a set of NOS front fender brackets. I made a jig from them. The brackets I bent to fit the bar were almost a perfect fit in my jig.