Anybody got a good way to straighten the fender bolt tab under the car at the rocker panel firewall. It seems like every third gen I seen someone has either used a floor jack or lift on these and bends them over.

 

Good Question, local shop bent mine to hell and then tryed to say it was like that- now the fender is slightly out...drives me nutts. Was going to try to heat and pull, but maybe someone else got better route

 

I used a large dolly and a hammer to beat it back straight. Mine was really bad on the right side, which made it a tight fit to get the dolly back there with the exhaust in the way. I got it straight, now the fender seems to fit a little better.

 

Yeah its important to fix this. I think that is how the rust starts on them. Mine was very rusty and separated when I took the fender off. I ended up cutting one from a donor car and welding it in place. When you bend it back make sure you sand it down and repaint any uncovered areas with a rust preventative or rust oleum paint. I think that is why mine rusted. My passenger side is bent so I am going to straighten it. Can you loosen the fender and then slowly bend it back with a large pair of channel locks? That is what I am going to try.

Kevin

 

Unfortunately for me, both of mine are bent in the same direction. My guess is it was on a lift and then it shifted to the driverside as the collasped. I don't think channel locks are the way to go. I was thinking Visegrips with a 2 to 3 inch flatbill area to keep the pressure even across the tab pluse a little heat.

 

I use a big cresent wrench. Dont bother heating it, youll weaken the metal even further and risk breaking it off. Then youll have a big mess to deal with

 

Yeah I think those would be a better way to go than channel locks. I would not use heat either and just go slow.

Kevin

 

Hummm, well I could go both ways, I got the doner car- although its actually pretty nice to cut up, but hey one has to live and one has to die. I need it for the floor, would it be better to use the doner car's

I looked to day and- mine is fresh bend, so no real rust.
yet


I will try it bending by hand weekend and post the out come

 

Chances are all the seams are leaking now, this is the result on mine,...all from bent/mangled tabs:





So if you fix this, remove the inner fender and inspect these areas.