Fender Bolts

[Bruce of MN]

I am taking my left side fenders off ('31 Coupe) and intend to replace the nuts and bolts. The set of nine for the front seem to all have different combinations of flat and lock washers. None of my references say what is stock. I would guess flat washers on either side plus a lock washer.

Any recommendations?

 

[nkaminar]

The flat washers go on first, then the lock washer, then the nut. You may have been given extra hardware to avoid supplying a kit that is short of hardware.

 

[Bruce of MN]

The flat washers go on first, then the lock washer, then the nut. You may have been given extra hardware to avoid supplying a kit that is short of hardware.

So a flat washer on each side of the sheet metal flanges and then the lock washer and nut?

 

[old ugly]

So a flat washer on each side of the sheet metal flanges and then the lock washer and nut?

i don't know how they came stock from the factory but that is the way i would put them on.

 

[Bruce of MN]

More questions!

The nut for this bolt (circled in all three views) looks very hard to get at with my task of removing the front fender. Its mate further forward just spins when I turn the nut and this one probably will, too, if I get a wrench on the nut. With the front one, I can grip the bolt shank and turn the nut. But, that looks impossible with the one in the photos.

Any suggestions?

 

[Bruce of MN]

Do I need to remove the front apron for access? To do that, do I need to remove the radiator shell? I got my car assembled, so no experience there.

 

[JayJay]

More questions!

The nut for this bolt (circled in all three views) looks very hard to get at with my task of removing the front fender. Its mate further forward just spins when I turn the nut and this one probably will, too, if I get a wrench on the nut. With the front one, I can grip the bolt shank and turn the nut. But, that looks impossible with the one in the photos.

Any suggestions?

I think those are supposed to be oval head screws with a taper on the bottom to fit to the dimple in the fender. There should be a slot on the screw for you to put a screwdriver in.

 

[Bruce of MN]

I think those are supposed to be oval head screws with a taper on the bottom to fit to the dimple in the fender. There should be a slot on the screw for you to put a screwdriver in.

Unfortunately not, all four are smooth headed carriage bolts.

From the drawing in the Ford Price List, the Apron is fastened by the four round head bolts and the front-most carriage bolts. That makes it within a possibility of taking it off for access. I'll really want to be sure before I start with that, though. I've emailed a couple experienced A men in our club about all this, fingers crossed!

 

[JayJay]

Unfortunately not, all four are smooth headed carriage bolts.

From the drawing in the Ford Price List, the Apron is fastened by the four round head bolts and the front-most carriage bolts. That makes it within a possibility of taking it off for access. I'll really want to be sure before I start with that, though. I've emailed a couple experienced A men in our club about all this, fingers crossed!

I think you have the wrong screws. Or maybe the slots are filled with paint or filler. Both of those front two that pick up the front apron should be the slotted, oval head screws. You can use a Dremel or a cutting wheel to cut slots in the head.

My recollection is that the 29 may not have those dimples and would use carriage bolts in that location. But the fenders with the dimples use those slotted oval head screws.

 

[Bruce of MN]

Well, how about that!

I plan to slot what I have and see what is available to replace them with.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Bruce of MN]

FWIW, the Judging Standards call for oval head bolts, so I have ordered those. I got the front apron off and the nut for carriage bolt with bad access came off as easy as if it was brand new. I didn’t have to slot the carriage bolt, the square shank held.