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front fender bracket

1K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  35terraplane 
#1 ·
g'day all, i am a new member , i have been building a 28 essex pickup for to long now i am at the stage of mounting the front fenders my problem is i have widend the fenders by 2 inchs and the original bracket that holds the fender up off the wheel has to be widend to suit the fenders, lenghning it is not a problem but i would like to know how some of yous hide the bolts & or rivet's that hold the fender to the bracket i would like to hear & see how you guys have got around this problem, thanks all
 
#2 ·
Never thought to hide them, but would be easy enough to weld a short stud onto the under side of the fender. Don't make it too long because it can become difficult to install the brace since they normally are near the "wedge in" fit.

Some pics of the rare Essex pickup would be nice.

Trees
 
#5 ·
That looks like a glass fender, if it is here is what I did with mine. I did not want any bolts showing on the outsides of my fenders. I cut a piece of 3/16" plate steel about 1.5" wide and about 1.5" long. I drilled the center and tapped it for a 5/16" bolt. Threaded a 5/16" bolt into it then with my MIG welder welded it securely to the backside of the plate then ground it flush. I roughed up a section on the inside of my fender where the fender support would hit. The roughed up section was big enough so I could glass enough mat and cloth to hold the bolt/plate in place. I had misgivings about how this would work out. I didn't know if it would pull loose from vibration over time but it has held securely to date.

Vince
 
#6 ·
Dang, Vince, you know how to hurt :pain: !! That rear fender is steel (Albrecht). The fronts are 'glass (Wescott) :D :D

NEW FRT FENDER PHOTO:


NEW REAR PHOTO:


Your method of attaching sounds good on 'glass and Trees on the steelies. And yes, there could be a problem putting the assembly with the bracket together unless everything was loose then all parts put in place then tightened up.

My reason for showing the bolts - the car is more of a resto rod theme instead of being fully smoothed.

Dave W
 
#7 ·
front fender

302 Z28 said:
That looks like a glass fender, if it is here is what I did with mine. I did not want any bolts showing on the outsides of my fenders. I cut a piece of 3/16" plate steel about 1.5" wide and about 1.5" long. I drilled the center and tapped it for a 5/16" bolt. Threaded a 5/16" bolt into it then with my MIG welder welded it securely to the backside of the plate then ground it flush. I roughed up a section on the inside of my fender where the fender support would hit. The roughed up section was big enough so I could glass enough mat and cloth to hold the bolt/plate in place. I had misgivings about how this would work out. I didn't know if it would pull loose from vibration over time but it has held securely to date.

Vince
Vince I hate to tell you this, but that metal will work loose. metal will not hold between fiberglass, it will start working its way loose, sliding around between the glass. I have some stuff made for GM to adhere metal to fiberglass, it was made for vettes, I used it on my 33 to bond metal to the glass, this stuff is strong. You grind it with 36 paper and you get sparks. If you or anyone else reading this wants the name I will run out to the shop and get the name of it. It is so strong they have put it on the glass where it touches the roll bar in vettes race cars and it doesn't break loose in a wreck.

Bob
 
#8 ·
That is exactly what I initially bonded the metal with, Vette Bond by Evercoat. Then layered glass cloth and resin over it all. I also drilled a bunch of 1/8" holes in the bracket for the Vette Bond to grab to. It's been about five years now and still holding strong.

Dave I wan't talking about your fenders. :D

Vince
 
#9 ·
bonding glass

302 Z28 said:
That is exactly what I initially bonded the metal with, Vette Bond by Evercoat. Then layered glass cloth and resin over it all. I also drilled a bunch of 1/8" holes in the bracket for the Vette Bond to grab to. It's been about five years now and still holding strong.

Dave I wan't talking about your fenders. :D

Vince
That's not what I got but they might have changed the name or maker.
mine was Epolite (spelling?) with some Number. I know mine was not made by Evercoat. Is yours a two part epoxy mixed 1to1? Whatever I'm sure you won't have problems with what you have, all I know is you can't put metal between fiberglass and have it hold.

Bob
 
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