05-05-2013, 04:40 PM | #1 |
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Cracked fender
Yesterday, back from a nice Model A tour, I noticed that my right front steel fender had cracked. The crack started at the bead end of the fender and continued about 4 inches in the direction toward the engine.
I understand that this is quite common but I would like to know the best way to repair it or is it best to belly up and buy a new reprp fender? My car is a 1931 model, slant windshield Cabriolet. |
05-05-2013, 05:22 PM | #2 |
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Re: Cracked fender
The old fordbarn message 338694 had a tutorial maybe someone saved it?
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05-05-2013, 05:22 PM | #3 |
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Re: Cracked fender
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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
05-05-2013, 05:42 PM | #4 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Wait wait I think I found it;
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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
05-05-2013, 05:53 PM | #5 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Thanks for the previous articles, however, they do not address my question of the proper way to repair a cracked fender or do I go and buy a new repo fender.
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05-05-2013, 06:54 PM | #6 |
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Re: Cracked fender
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05-05-2013, 06:54 PM | #7 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Mike,
I have repaired many by tig welding and reforming. It is also good to drill a small hole at the end of the crack to relieve the stress line before welding. I have used this technique for years and never had one reappear. Regards, Paul |
05-05-2013, 07:02 PM | #8 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Thanks guys. Now, that was a real help. Thanks a bunch!
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05-05-2013, 07:05 PM | #9 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Cracks are fairly common due to vibration. Once you fix the crack make sure all the mounting points are tight and correct to minimize the vibration. My neighbor has a 1930 coupe hotrod and his fiberglass right front fender also has a crack in the typical spot along the bead.
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05-05-2013, 08:24 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Cracked fender
Quote:
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05-05-2013, 08:46 PM | #11 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Wow, that was helpful. Thanks!
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05-05-2013, 09:27 PM | #12 |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Re: Cracked fender
Fixed my brothers by grinding the crack welded it up top and bottom side. Grinded the top side down, left most of the bottom side weld, but I did clean it up a bit. Then put a very small smear of bondo on the top side weld. Then blocked it twice and reprinted that area and blended out the paint on the rest of the fender. Took about 3 hours with primer/paint drying. Sadly it's the smoothest and slickest part of the fender now lol. But it was an easy and good fix.
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05-05-2013, 11:36 PM | #13 |
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Re: Cracked fender
Hi
Actually all of my fenders were cracked on my car when I rebuilt it. I wire welded a six inch by 4 inch patch of 22 guage steel under the fender and ground the welds down and glass bondo to smooth it over. You can feel it is slightly thicker if you know where to look but after 16 years of service and 9000 miles none of my fenders have cracked with the reinforcement metal in place. |
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