The Ford Barn

Sheds1926 · 04-17-2016, 08:26 PM

Hi, I am fairly new to the hobby, I grew up around A's, and now have my own car, it was my grandfathers, it is an original 1930 Model A town car. I noticed today when working on the car one of the front fenders has developed a crack. It is about an inch in length and runs vertically along the lip on the outside of the fender about directly above the hub cap. I have a few questions regarding this, first, is this common? It is something I may have done wrong to cause stress on the fender? Will it get worse or would it best to get it fixed? Like I said it is an original car so I hate to make too many major modifications or changes to the car but would hate for the crack to get worse. We drive and tour our cars so I want to make sure I don't cause any further issues with the fender. I appreciate any advise and information regarding the matter. Thank you in advance!

wmws · 04-17-2016, 08:37 PM

Cracks in fenders are fairly common. I'm no body and fender man but I would think it will get bigger. Someone else on this forum could tell you the best way to fix it.

Pete · 04-17-2016, 08:41 PM

Your answers in order.

1- Yes, it is common.
2- It is nothing you did wrong.
3- Yes, it will get worse.
4- It is best to get it fixed.

Do not let anyone fix it with a MIG welder and bondo or you will be looking to get it fixed again.

Find a shop that can hammer weld it with a torch.
This should require NO bondo.

C26Pinelake · 04-17-2016, 09:13 PM

Welcome to the Fordbarn. It is good to see you are looking to keep grandpa's car original. Yes it will get worse and many of us have experienced the same thing. Follow Pete's suggestion for a proper fix. Grandpa would indeed be proud of you. Wayne

Tom Wesenberg · 04-17-2016, 09:16 PM

Where are you located?
Brent Terry and Flop are two guys that would know how to fix it properly.

Dave Mellor NJ · 04-17-2016, 10:52 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The wire bead always breaks in that one place (at the brace). There's the difficulty. The bead must be repaired first and then the fender.

Mike V. Florida · 04-17-2016, 11:14 PM

Welcome to the hobby and the Barn.

We can get you additional help if you were to add your location (does not have to be exact) to your information. Do you have a Town car (a car with a separate driver location) or a Town Sedan (a fancy Fordor).

The specific car makes no difference and Pete hit it on the head.

How handy are you? Do you want to fix it yourself (we can help with instructions)? Do you have the equipment needed?

1929 · 04-17-2016, 11:19 PM

Had the same common problem, had it fixed it right away before it spread.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 04-18-2016, 01:57 PM

Just weld a 6" piece of 1/8" rod under the bead. Weld up the crack & finish it off. NOBODY will notice it, & who cares if THEY DO!!!
Bill W.

jg61hawk · 04-19-2016, 08:17 AM

To simply stop a crack just drill a hole above it. It can't pass the hole. Worked on the Liberty bell for 200 years now.

Sheds1926 · 04-20-2016, 09:32 AM

Thanks everyone for the responses, to answer a few of your questions above. I don't consider myself to be handy when it comes to body work and I would like it done right, so I would be looking for someone who can do a nice job with it. I can do the basic stuff but when it comes to this sort of thing, but I think it's best to leave to someone who has done it before

. I am located near Lafayette, Indiana, which is between Chicago and Indianapolis. To answer Mike V it is a Town Sedan, not a Town car, sorry for the mix-up there. Thanks again everyone, and if you know someone close to me that would be interested in helping me out that would be great!

Terry, NJ · 04-20-2016, 06:28 PM

If you had an original Mod. A fender that wasn't cracked (About 3/4 to 7/8 the way up the fender) Cherish the memory! I've only seen one on some NOS (New, Old Stock) fenders that were for sale at Hershey. It comes partially for to low an Idle speed. The body starts to oscillate and creates a moment. (Thinks physics, not time) I once watched a first class restoration idling, from the front it looked like dumbo the elephant wiggling his ears. No offense intended but it was almost funny to watch. You could see where those cracks come from. It occurred to me that if he just speeded it up a hundred or so RPM, it wouldn't have shook so much.
Terry

Sunnybrook Farm · 04-20-2016, 06:38 PM

I had an old guy weld mine like they used to do it with bailing wire (a real steel coat hanger will work). It works good with the fender steel, he said it was better than regular welding material. This is where the old saying that you could fix them with bailing wire came from, they were welding with it. The repair was back in the 70s and no problems.

04-17-2016, 08:26 PM	#1
Sheds1926 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2	Front Fender Crack Hi, I am fairly new to the hobby, I grew up around A's, and now have my own car, it was my grandfathers, it is an original 1930 Model A town car. I noticed today when working on the car one of the front fenders has developed a crack. It is about an inch in length and runs vertically along the lip on the outside of the fender about directly above the hub cap. I have a few questions regarding this, first, is this common? It is something I may have done wrong to cause stress on the fender? Will it get worse or would it best to get it fixed? Like I said it is an original car so I hate to make too many major modifications or changes to the car but would hate for the crack to get worse. We drive and tour our cars so I want to make sure I don't cause any further issues with the fender. I appreciate any advise and information regarding the matter. Thank you in advance!

04-17-2016, 08:37 PM	#2
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Front Fender Crack Cracks in fenders are fairly common. I'm no body and fender man but I would think it will get bigger. Someone else on this forum could tell you the best way to fix it.

04-17-2016, 08:41 PM	#3
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,409	Re: Front Fender Crack Your answers in order. 1- Yes, it is common. 2- It is nothing you did wrong. 3- Yes, it will get worse. 4- It is best to get it fixed. Do not let anyone fix it with a MIG welder and bondo or you will be looking to get it fixed again. Find a shop that can hammer weld it with a torch. This should require NO bondo.

04-17-2016, 09:13 PM	#4
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Front Fender Crack Welcome to the Fordbarn. It is good to see you are looking to keep grandpa's car original. Yes it will get worse and many of us have experienced the same thing. Follow Pete's suggestion for a proper fix. Grandpa would indeed be proud of you. Wayne

04-17-2016, 09:16 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Front Fender Crack Where are you located? Brent Terry and Flop are two guys that would know how to fix it properly.

04-17-2016, 10:52 PM	#6
Dave Mellor NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 781	Re: Front Fender Crack Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The wire bead always breaks in that one place (at the brace). There's the difficulty. The bead must be repaired first and then the fender.

04-17-2016, 11:14 PM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Front Fender Crack Welcome to the hobby and the Barn. We can get you additional help if you were to add your location (does not have to be exact) to your information. Do you have a Town car (a car with a separate driver location) or a Town Sedan (a fancy Fordor). The specific car makes no difference and Pete hit it on the head. How handy are you? Do you want to fix it yourself (we can help with instructions)? Do you have the equipment needed? __________________ 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

04-17-2016, 11:19 PM	#8
1929 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New York Posts: 943	Re: Front Fender Crack Had the same common problem, had it fixed it right away before it spread.

04-18-2016, 01:57 PM	#9
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Front Fender Crack Just weld a 6" piece of 1/8" rod under the bead. Weld up the crack & finish it off. NOBODY will notice it, & who cares if THEY DO!!! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

04-19-2016, 08:17 AM	#10
jg61hawk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 407	Re: Front Fender Crack To simply stop a crack just drill a hole above it. It can't pass the hole. Worked on the Liberty bell for 200 years now.

04-20-2016, 09:32 AM	#11
Sheds1926 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2	Re: Front Fender Crack Thanks everyone for the responses, to answer a few of your questions above. I don't consider myself to be handy when it comes to body work and I would like it done right, so I would be looking for someone who can do a nice job with it. I can do the basic stuff but when it comes to this sort of thing, but I think it's best to leave to someone who has done it before . I am located near Lafayette, Indiana, which is between Chicago and Indianapolis. To answer Mike V it is a Town Sedan, not a Town car, sorry for the mix-up there. Thanks again everyone, and if you know someone close to me that would be interested in helping me out that would be great!

04-20-2016, 06:28 PM	#12
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: Front Fender Crack If you had an original Mod. A fender that wasn't cracked (About 3/4 to 7/8 the way up the fender) Cherish the memory! I've only seen one on some NOS (New, Old Stock) fenders that were for sale at Hershey. It comes partially for to low an Idle speed. The body starts to oscillate and creates a moment. (Thinks physics, not time) I once watched a first class restoration idling, from the front it looked like dumbo the elephant wiggling his ears. No offense intended but it was almost funny to watch. You could see where those cracks come from. It occurred to me that if he just speeded it up a hundred or so RPM, it wouldn't have shook so much. Terry

04-20-2016, 06:38 PM	#13
Sunnybrook Farm Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 409	Re: Front Fender Crack I had an old guy weld mine like they used to do it with bailing wire (a real steel coat hanger will work). It works good with the fender steel, he said it was better than regular welding material. This is where the old saying that you could fix them with bailing wire came from, they were welding with it. The repair was back in the 70s and no problems.