How hard to remove / replace fender on Caprice?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Caprice85 - 18 Sep 2007 18:54 GMT

Hi,

I'm thinking of removing the front right fender on my 85 Chevy
Caprice to get at the underside of some rust holes, to spray them with
rust treatment and tape them up . Can I just remove some nuts and
bolts to get the fender off ? Will it go back on in the same
alignment without much hassle ?

Thanks

Reply to this Message

Mike Romain - 18 Sep 2007 20:13 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks

I would recommend you drill some 1/8" holes in two places on the
vertical joint and two places in the horizontal joint before you start
and to use a good penetrating oil on everything for a couple days first.

The holes are for lining it back up. You just stick the drill bit or
nails back into the holes to line the panels back up.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Reply to this Message

ray - 18 Sep 2007 22:44 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks

I like Mike's idea of the holes to line up the fender.

Count the shims and tape them together if you're reinstalling the same
fender.

However... I have bad news for you. If you're taking the fender off to
fix rust, you're probably going to need new fender hardware after the
old stuff snaps off. You're also probably going to find the condition
of the fender is a lot worse that you think. Rust is EVIL.

I suggest starting to source a replacement fender - you can probably get
repro fenders from a place like Year One or Goodmark for about $100,
which is probably what you'll spend on bondo...

Ray

Reply to this Message

Tegger - 19 Sep 2007 01:22 GMT

> You're also probably going to find the condition
> of the fender is a lot worse that you think. Rust is EVIL.

Rust is the devil himself.

Whatever you can actually SEE, multiply that by a factor of four to
estimate the amount of actual rust. If the rust is in an enclosed area,
such as the cowl, multiply it by ten.

Signature

Tegger

Reply to this Message

ray - 19 Sep 2007 04:23 GMT

>> You're also probably going to find the condition
>> of the fender is a lot worse that you think. Rust is EVIL.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> estimate the amount of actual rust. If the rust is in an enclosed area,
> such as the cowl, multiply it by ten.

When I prepped my old Buick for a demo derby, I peeled off the rocker
trim to discover a hole in the fender. The fender was about 2/3 full of
"mulch"... sopping wet leaves and rotting goo. It's no wonder cars rust
out from the inside.

Ray

Reply to this Message

Caprice85 - 20 Sep 2007 18:12 GMT

> > You're also probably going to find the condition
> > of the fender is a lot worse that you think. Rust is EVIL.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> --
> Tegger

Hey guys thanks for the info. This engine / trans is lasting forever
(knock on wood). What a pain the rust is. !! Been spraying it with
Permatex antirust treatment, but it's not slowing it down too much.

Reply to this Message

scott21230@gmail.com - 20 Sep 2007 20:51 GMT

If it weren't for the rusty attachement hardware problem, this would
be relatively easy. If it were mine, I'd remove the fender, bring it
into my basement and fix it there over a number of days. You can
drive the car without the fender just fine (I've done it). When
reinstalling use stainless steel replacement stuff wherever you can.

Reply to this Message

ray - 20 Sep 2007 21:13 GMT

>>>You're also probably going to find the condition
>>>of the fender is a lot worse that you think. Rust is EVIL.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> (knock on wood). What a pain the rust is. !! Been spraying it with
> Permatex antirust treatment, but it's not slowing it down too much.

A co-worker has an 89 Caprice, and loves it. He replaced his 85 Caprice
after it got totalled. He's got the same problem as you do - small
spots of rust all over the car, and he's having about the same amount of
success (little) trying to sand and paint them from the outside.

The drivelines in those cars last forever. The bodies don't.

Ray

Reply to this Message