I recently took some fender damage to my GLHS Charger (as below). Opinions on repairs? Can this be sytraightened out, or should I be looking for another fender?
I recently took some fender damage to my GLHS Charger (as below). Opinions on repairs? Can this be sytraightened out, or should I be looking for another fender?
It could be fixed. Another fender would be easier.
That deep crease along the back edge probably puts it beyond the economical repair value vs starting with a clean fender and refinishing if your paying out of pocket.
Any good bodyman could fix that fender.
I'd fix it by taking it off and working at it from the back... would still need filler prollably... do my best with a rubber mallet and sack of kitty litter... never know though, might just ping back if you yank it just right with a suction cup or something, but you'd still need to work at the crease after...
Anyhoo, anywhere that knows a dolly from a hole in the ground should be able to fix it... if they're talking ordering "new" metal, take it somewhere else, or get an original part from a southern wrecker.
DD1: '02 T&C Ltd, 3.8 AWD. DD2: '15 Versa Note SV, replacing.. DDx: '14 Versa Note SV << freshly killded :( ....... Projects: '88 Voyager 3.0, Auto with shift kit, timing advance, walker sound FX muffler on 15" pumpers wrapped in 215/65/R15 H rated Nexens.... and a '95 phord escort wagon PnP head << Both may need to go :( ..... I like 3.0s ... so??? ... stop looking at me like I've got two heads!
If you go with a new fender ( new as in good used fender, as no one makes any new sheetmetal for the L-bodies), you will need an '84-87 fender. 79-83 are different.
I was under the impression that there was some awful quality panels available from one of the body suppliers, that don't fit well and look like crap. i.e. if you gave a high school shop student a rough sketch and a sheet of metal it'd come closer to fitting..
DD1: '02 T&C Ltd, 3.8 AWD. DD2: '15 Versa Note SV, replacing.. DDx: '14 Versa Note SV << freshly killded :( ....... Projects: '88 Voyager 3.0, Auto with shift kit, timing advance, walker sound FX muffler on 15" pumpers wrapped in 215/65/R15 H rated Nexens.... and a '95 phord escort wagon PnP head << Both may need to go :( ..... I like 3.0s ... so??? ... stop looking at me like I've got two heads!
Thanks for all the input. Going to bite the bullet tomorrow and take it to a body shop and see what they have to say that doesn't involve putting gobs of body filler on with a spatula-- I think I found a local guy that does good work on older cars. I know that front bumper cover is a bear to release from the fender.
I did notice that one of this site's official vendors lists a RH fender (wrong side) for $34, so I imagine it's just the outer skin, and have heard some similar stories about ill-fitting aftermarket panels.
I would avoid afermarket body panels.
Someone here on the forum has to have a decent used fender for sale.
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