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Technical 50's Ford Fender Surgery

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by sparky232, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    Anyone have any insight as to differences in early/mid 50s Ford car fenders? I have a 53 Mainline and getting a fender doesn't seem to be happening less than $600. Seems to me the only difference is the front so I'm thinking I can get a different year and cut and weld. The front of mine luckily is in good shape, its moreso the wheel well and back thats all boogered up.
     
  2. green53ford
    Joined: Mar 4, 2009
    Posts: 206

    green53ford
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    52 and 53 are the same except around the grill area. 54 should work also if you are using just the rear area.
     
    Squablow likes this.
  3. The '54 fender is different, I bought a NOS '53 and found out the expensive way, fortunately I was able to recoup most of my money. HRP
     
  4. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

    Really?!....How different?!
    6sally6
     

  5. The forward grille area on the 54 fender is different and the '54 fender has a slight peek the others don't have. HRP
     
  6. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    Ideally what I would like to do is use entire fender but cut and weld the front grill area. Provided I find a suitable donor that doesn’t cost a mint. Thanks for the info!


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  7. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    What do you mean about a slight peek?


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  8. From the head light back on top of the fender, it will work but body work will be needed to match your '53 Ford. HRP
     
    sparky232 likes this.
  9. 54vicky
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,599

    54vicky
    Member

    actually the crease is on the side of fender it is on the bezel and runs for a short distance back toward the rear. it fades out and the shape of fender resembles the 52-53 the attaching to the inner fender will differ from 52-53 I think because of the flathead vs y block.the canadian 54 may differ on that point as well as we retained the flathead in 54
     
  10. lucas doolin
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 541

    lucas doolin
    Member

    Did you try the H.A.M.B. Classified "Wanted" Section? Or the Ford Barn? Seems like you could do way better than $600.00 for a used fender. Of course I'm stuck in a 40 year old time warp with respect to prices. But still ...
     
  11. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    Yeah I’ve been looking for a few years and the only decent 53s have been in the $600 range. Guess that explains why previous owner filled it with bondo. Thanks for the heads up, I’m going to post in wanted section and check the barn


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  12. lucas doolin
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 541

    lucas doolin
    Member

    Check this out in the H.A.M.B. "Cars for Sale" Classifieds - '53 Ford V-8 with Overdrive
    It would provide the fender you need plus lots more parts including a very rare power steering option. You could sell what you don't need and wind up with a free fender.
     
  13. lucas doolin
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 541

    lucas doolin
    Member

    BTW, ad says it's from Nuevo Mexico so the fender should be rust free!
     
    sparky232 likes this.
  14. fastcar1953
    Joined: Oct 23, 2009
    Posts: 3,567

    fastcar1953
    Member

    how bad is your fender? could it be repaired cheaper than 600?
     
  15. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    It’s pretty rough. That side must have taken a good hit at some point and someone attempted to unmangle the fender and fill it with a gallon of mud.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  16. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    [​IMG]
    Only pic I have at the moment. It doesn’t look too bad here but on the inside there’s a lot of waviness and creases

    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  17. Only seeing that little shot of your damage I can tell you I would just fix it. Now you gotta understand 70 was not my last B-Day and I've been at it for most of my life. Metal work is a skill for sure but if I can learn it so can you. Some times a novice metal man works way to hard to save a section instead just hand building a new one. I have built many a round as well as squared off wheel opening and metal finished then into a quarter or fender. That fender would need to be in bad shape in more places than what we see before I would even up bolt it from the car. That's a fix in place for me.
     
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  18. 1-SHOT
    Joined: Sep 23, 2014
    Posts: 2,693

    1-SHOT
    Member
    from Denton

    IMG_1308.PNG Looks like a fixer to me, been bending tin over 60 years.
    Get the little book the Key to Metal Bumping . Amazon has it so does Jegs and they are on evil bay. They are put out Martin Tool and Forge. They also make great hammers. I have given a copy to all my helpers-trainees.
    I have used Fairmont and Martin hammers and dollies all my life. Frank
     
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  19. sparky232
    Joined: Jun 22, 2010
    Posts: 72

    sparky232
    Member

    Yeah that’s not the only bad spot, it’s just the only one where mud popped out. I’ll get some better pics over the weekend.
    I definitely don’t feel it’s unfixable, but it’s a bit outside of my capabilities. I was looking at a different year donor and some welding as an easier route because it’s a little more in my wheelhouse

    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  20. Post up a few more photos of the complete fender and maybe 1-SHOT and I can encourage you to expand your cut-n-weld talents into saving you some $$$ while discovering a hidden talent.
    The lip on the opening is the least to worry about unless you want a concourse restoration job. That can happen too but maybe not the first time out the gate.
    Check this out. The black line is a piece of 1/2" x 1" rectangle tube that will be the new opening. Note the horizontal line below the tube and above the blue tape. I'm going to move the horizontal line up and above the wheel opening, and it's not that tough.
    Body work 009.jpg Body work 012.jpg Holy Smokes!!.jpg Just welded solid 004.jpg Not bad; 001.jpg With this same basic treatment you can save the wheel opening on your fender. You can do this if you like with a little help. May take a little more bump and grind with a skiff of filler but a bucket full. Shaping the tube is quite easy. What do ya think?
     
  21. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 1,025

    patsurf

    you working on a rambler?
     
  22. Wellll,,,,,, let's just say it's off Topic on this sight but I can still use photos to explain How to do things. That said I must confess it's the Rambler from Hell.
     
  23. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 1,025

    patsurf

    well,it's got the devil to fix it-perfect match-up...it doesn't stand a chance! nice!
     
    Pist-n-Broke likes this.
  24. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Exactly. I've been nudging metal awhile myself, but got the book and learned volumes.
    My wife got into it also, it's very distinct.
    My '54 Ford coupe had front fenders that were rusty in the water traps, luckily my bud Dennis Moomjean had a '54 Customline he gave me for $100. Perfect front 'clip', and many boxes of parts before I junked the bare body.
    Parts car is the answer.
     
    sparky232 likes this.
  25. That project has been in paint and doing Time for a few years now. I just keep some Fab photos around to post up when I think they may help with some visual aids.
     
  26. 52HardTop
    Joined: Jun 21, 2007
    Posts: 1,078

    52HardTop
    Member

    I have a pair of 53 Ford front fenders in my garage. They do have the slight peak along the top of the fender. The peak starts at the headlight and runs the top of the fender. Now you may ask why a guy with a 52 Chevy has a pair of Ford fenders in his garage. I picked them up when I was a little more ambitious. I always admired the way Bob Klessig had flaired front fenders on his Hard Top turned Convertible. I asked Bob what he used and he told me they were 53 Ford fender flairs. So, I picked up a pair and never used them. Are they what you're needing?
     
    sparky232 likes this.
  27. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Love that AMX
     
    Pist-n-Broke likes this.
  28. 1-SHOT
    Joined: Sep 23, 2014
    Posts: 2,693

    1-SHOT
    Member
    from Denton

    Nice work Pist-N-Broke, that looks like a AMX
     
    Pist-n-Broke likes this.
  29. Yes it is 1-SHOT. It's way off topic for here so I only post up construction shots when I think they may help explain things and help out.
     
  30. Wasn’t somebody making the 54 Ford fender opening?? I swear I saw that...look bitchin on Merc’s
     
    Pist-n-Broke likes this.

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