The Ford Barn

Jim in Wisconsin · 03-28-2015, 04:23 PM

I'm working on fixing up the front fenders on my 33 2 door sedan - cracks in the beads, don't fit right against the running boards, etc. In the course of trial fitting I have re-attached the inner fenders to the frame, leaving the bolts a little loose. It seems lilke the inner fenders can't be pulled tight against the grill, they need to be away from it by about a half an inch on each side. This is on the upper part of the inner fenders, right up at the front. There are holes there that line up as though there should be a screw in there, but pulling them together messes up the fitting of the fenders.
Maybe a spacer is supposed to be in there?
Also is there supposed to be a third bracket (in the lowest postition) on the radiator side sheet metal holding the grill?
I hope I'm explaining this well enough to be understandable - I'm not good enough with digital cameras and computers to ever figure out how to put a picture on here.
Thanks
Jim S.

FlatheadTed · 03-28-2015, 05:14 PM

There is a screw that attaches the grill to the inner fender no spacer required .Maybe you can unattached it of the running board and get it fitting around the grill then deal the RB fit latter ,I know some repoped fenders do not line up down the edge of the RB .When you say messes up the alignment ,Were ? .The brace that should be there runs from the front cross member up through the HL wiring hole to the under side of the main fender braise. Ted

Jim in Wisconsin · 03-28-2015, 05:40 PM

I can get the running board part to fit, but when I pull the inner fenders up against the grill it pulls the inner fenders too far to the inside, making a large gap between them and the fender. I guess I can pull it all together with the bolts, twisting the inner fenders some.
Do you have a radiator bracket in that bottom hole? It would be using the same hole that the inner fender uses. I have a top and middle bracket but no bottom one even though there are holes in the radiator side for one.

FlatheadTed · 03-28-2015, 07:23 PM

see if this helps ,should be two brackets each side

JSeery · 03-28-2015, 07:24 PM

Some photos would be nice.

Corn Fed · 03-28-2015, 08:46 PM

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The front edge of the inner fenders need to touch the grille all the way down. If they don't, your hood won't fit. Since you said your fenders are cracked at the bead and don't fit at the running boards, I'd say the fenders are the issue. Try putting the grille/inner fenders/hood together without the fenders on and see how it all fits. If it fits good, make the fenders fit them. Getting the hood to fit on a 33-34 is a nightmare itself.

FlatheadTed · 03-29-2015, 01:55 AM

You need a top bracket and a hood catch that fits in the key hole just above inner panel to grill .The height of the radiator is all important for bonnet alignment better shorter ,than higher .Ted

Jim in Wisconsin · 03-29-2015, 07:29 AM

Thanks guys, that picture does help. I do have the two brackets, and I see that car has the holes for a bottom one but they aren't used, and the inner fenders are tight against the grill.
My car had been together that way for a long time, but missing some of the bolts and not really fitting real great. The hood was hard to catch, and there was sort of big gaps between the grill and hood.
The reason the fenders didn't fit the running boards was that they had been rusted away at the mounting flange and welded, but not accuratly. I have fixed that and have welded the cracks in the beads. I want to get everything fitting right, and then take the fenders back off and paint them.

Steve Staysko · 03-29-2015, 08:57 AM

Here are 2 links to my website with a few photos of the inner fender that may help you and i also have some photos of the fender fit to the inner fender but i need to go look for them.

http://www.the34fordroadster.com/fro...-inner-fender/

http://www.the34fordroadster.com/fro...-inner-fender/

FlatheadTed · 03-29-2015, 07:44 PM

Good to see the up dated photos Steve .Ted

Jim in Wisconsin · 03-29-2015, 07:54 PM

Thanks Steve, your grill is prettier than mine is! I didn't work on it today, but I just was thinking - I didn't loosen the bolts holding those big headlight/fender brackets and they might be down too low, which would let the fender hang away from the inner pieces. The small support brackets for them would help position them, but they're not on either.
I'll work on it tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be better then.

03-28-2015, 04:23 PM	#1
Jim in Wisconsin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 247	inner fender to grill attachment I'm working on fixing up the front fenders on my 33 2 door sedan - cracks in the beads, don't fit right against the running boards, etc. In the course of trial fitting I have re-attached the inner fenders to the frame, leaving the bolts a little loose. It seems lilke the inner fenders can't be pulled tight against the grill, they need to be away from it by about a half an inch on each side. This is on the upper part of the inner fenders, right up at the front. There are holes there that line up as though there should be a screw in there, but pulling them together messes up the fitting of the fenders. Maybe a spacer is supposed to be in there? Also is there supposed to be a third bracket (in the lowest postition) on the radiator side sheet metal holding the grill? I hope I'm explaining this well enough to be understandable - I'm not good enough with digital cameras and computers to ever figure out how to put a picture on here. Thanks Jim S.

03-28-2015, 05:14 PM	#2
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,707	Re: inner fender to grill attachment There is a screw that attaches the grill to the inner fender no spacer required .Maybe you can unattached it of the running board and get it fitting around the grill then deal the RB fit latter ,I know some repoped fenders do not line up down the edge of the RB .When you say messes up the alignment ,Were ? .The brace that should be there runs from the front cross member up through the HL wiring hole to the under side of the main fender braise. Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

03-28-2015, 05:40 PM	#3
Jim in Wisconsin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 247	Re: inner fender to grill attachment I can get the running board part to fit, but when I pull the inner fenders up against the grill it pulls the inner fenders too far to the inside, making a large gap between them and the fender. I guess I can pull it all together with the bolts, twisting the inner fenders some. Do you have a radiator bracket in that bottom hole? It would be using the same hole that the inner fender uses. I have a top and middle bracket but no bottom one even though there are holes in the radiator side for one.

03-28-2015, 07:24 PM	#5
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Some photos would be nice.

03-28-2015, 08:46 PM	#6
Corn Fed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: State Center IA Posts: 166	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The front edge of the inner fenders need to touch the grille all the way down. If they don't, your hood won't fit. Since you said your fenders are cracked at the bead and don't fit at the running boards, I'd say the fenders are the issue. Try putting the grille/inner fenders/hood together without the fenders on and see how it all fits. If it fits good, make the fenders fit them. Getting the hood to fit on a 33-34 is a nightmare itself.

03-29-2015, 01:55 AM	#7
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,707	Re: inner fender to grill attachment You need a top bracket and a hood catch that fits in the key hole just above inner panel to grill .The height of the radiator is all important for bonnet alignment better shorter ,than higher .Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

03-29-2015, 07:29 AM	#8
Jim in Wisconsin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 247	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Thanks guys, that picture does help. I do have the two brackets, and I see that car has the holes for a bottom one but they aren't used, and the inner fenders are tight against the grill. My car had been together that way for a long time, but missing some of the bolts and not really fitting real great. The hood was hard to catch, and there was sort of big gaps between the grill and hood. The reason the fenders didn't fit the running boards was that they had been rusted away at the mounting flange and welded, but not accuratly. I have fixed that and have welded the cracks in the beads. I want to get everything fitting right, and then take the fenders back off and paint them.

03-29-2015, 08:57 AM	#9
Steve Staysko Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dewinton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 463	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Here are 2 links to my website with a few photos of the inner fender that may help you and i also have some photos of the fender fit to the inner fender but i need to go look for them. http://www.the34fordroadster.com/fro...-inner-fender/ http://www.the34fordroadster.com/fro...-inner-fender/ Last edited by Steve Staysko; 03-29-2015 at 09:04 AM.

03-29-2015, 07:44 PM	#10
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,707	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Good to see the up dated photos Steve .Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

03-29-2015, 07:54 PM	#11
Jim in Wisconsin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 247	Re: inner fender to grill attachment Thanks Steve, your grill is prettier than mine is! I didn't work on it today, but I just was thinking - I didn't loosen the bolts holding those big headlight/fender brackets and they might be down too low, which would let the fender hang away from the inner pieces. The small support brackets for them would help position them, but they're not on either. I'll work on it tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be better then.