sethteef

Well on my firebird there is some damage from a previous owner on one of the front fenders, i took it to a shop and asked if it was worth fixing or if I should get a new one. Well he said I should get a new one and put it on myself... well I havent taken a body piece off before.

Motopsyco

Shouldnt be too hard, I havent taken one off my firebird yet, but have on other cars and usually not very involved using basic tools, you'll have your bolts on the top under the hood, usually one or two in the door jamb, and one maybe two at the bottom before the door, then Im not sure but there should be a couple that bolt it to the front bumper cover, probably get to those from under the car, you shouldnt have to take the front bumper cover off to remove the fender.

92Firebug

I too am a novice...i just took off my drivers side front fender (first time working on my car) and it took me about 8 hours. there are 4 bolts hooking the fender to the bumper (worst part) and there are 2 bolts holding it to the ground effects next to your door. i had to take the splash guard in the wheel well out so i could work on it

90_firebird

The bolts from the fender to the bumper are a pain in the a$$ but if you remove your whole headlight you can get at them really easy then theres 2 bolts on the bottom and that last 8 on top...Good luck

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

Pick yourself up a Haynes or Chiltons manual. Great books for beginners and even for the know all mechanics. I know guys that have been working on cars for 20+ years that will still go back to the manuals every once and a while. Check them out, good for wiring diagrams as well.

I find easiest way to learn how to work on a car is to remove and label everything, the process of writing something down (labeling parts and where they go) will help comprehend what you are and will do.

I learned my lesson with this now that half my motor is apart and I am figuring out where all these bolts, screws and wires go.

-Take care

sethteef

Well I should be getting the fender in this week or next. I ended up buying new rims and tires first.

MarionCobretti

Dang. I wish I would have known about removing the headlight assembly a year ago!

But, yeah, to the OP, it's actually a piece of cake other than those bolts at the front. There are actually studs sticking through the bumper, and through the front of the fender. They go on with some flimsy speed nut type fasteners that it seems like GM bought for 10 cents a ton. They're a pain. If you have any kids I'd have them stay inside for that part. You will most likely end up using some words you don't want them repeating.

sethteef

Well I bought the fender today. Do you have to remove the headlight motors to be able to take off the headlight assembly?

Steve86TA

iTrader: (57)

No.. there are two 10mm bolts on the top and two 10mm bolts on the underside , a headlight plug and headlight motor plug

sam24th

iTrader: (1)

Its actually quite easy. I changed the fender out on my car twice already and took fenders off a camaro aswell. So that makes 3 times. On the firebird theres one big bolt under the driver door/fender that holds the fender to the body. Theres I wanna say 10 bolts ontop of the fender under the hood. And then theres 4 bolts holding the fender to the bumper. Also like someone stated removing the headlight assembly makes life a lot easier. There should be 2 bolts under it and 2 bolts on top and 2 plugs holding the headlight assembly in. Also you may need a crow bar, a lot of people put jacks or jackstands under the the first bolt I mentioned thinking it is a lift point when its not. The PO of my car put a jackstand there and made my life hell trying to bent the metal back nough to get a wrench on it.

sethteef

Well thanks for the info. Those are really good instructions for me. Hopefully I will get the fender soon and with the info it should be much easier.
I am really glad you guys game good info, makes life a lot easier. Thanks.

sam24th

iTrader: (1)

Oh yea I also forgot to mention you will also need to remove the inner fender (the black plastic piece inside the fender area.) Its held to the fender youing lil plastic push pins and held to the actual car with 3 or 4 small metal screws with a phillips end. Id suggest you unscrew the 3-4 metal screws and remove it along with the fender your are replacing. I found it easier removing it that way than taking the plastic pins out and putting them back in.

sethteef

Well all was well until this

this after an hour. fml. Any tips?

burns_2k

Mine was the same. I clamped some mole grips around it and bent it back into place.

sethteef

alright thanks. I had two put it pack together a bit for work so hopefully tomorrow.

sam24th

iTrader: (1)

Yah see, thats the part I was talking about. You might need a crowbar and a hammer. A lot of people put a jack or jackstands on that area.

sethteef

My crow bar is MIA and the screwdriver/hammer job didnt do much. The picture was after an hour of beating the hell out of it.

sethteef

It s alot better than before. Only took another hour of beating that a spot with a hammer/pry bar.

88birdttop

Where did u get that fender I have the same problemand I've heard that the eBay feners that are 45 bucks just don't fit right but if they do I think 45 is a great price

sethteef

I got mine off ebay and it fits pretty well but not quite perfect. I did ebay because I am doing a budget rebuild and it was cheap. It fits well enough that I wont care ... you wouldnt be able to tell if you didnt ispect but sides. This one was 136 shipped. I got it three days after buying. So overall I am happy with it. Saved alot of money doing it myself too.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I've done this myself. It was a HUGE pain in the ***.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

Certifit.... 35.00 www.certifit.com

92Firebug

they dont seem to be very cheap on prices...

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

holy crap, camaro fenders through them cost half that, i wonder why they charge more for the firebird fenders

Camaros4Life

Lol Similar what i did. I needed to buy a new rear hatch, but instead i brought rims and tires like an idiot lol. the guy sold the hatch the day i was suppose to buy it.

Camaros4Life

You can find so many more wrecked camaros then firebirds and i always see parts for camaros. Just more of them i guess, i wonder about that too because originally i was gonna do an 84 firebird, but instead i brought a camaro.

92Firebug

i know the exact reason. there were more camaros produced than firebirds overall. i see more cams too than birds, so i believe that firebirds are slightly more unseen than cams.

sethteef

I know! I was looking for parts for a while before I bought new parts for my firebird. Like now I am going to buy a new cowl hood and I found zero local. However I found a bunch for camaros in driving range.