Patch Panel For Front Fender Well's

G

Gnico

Member
Does anyone know if there are any patch panels that can be used to fill the spare tire wells on 1930 front fenders? I have a 30' pickup with wells on both fenders and I would like to close then off.
 
Better to sell off the fender with and use the money to buy one without. Fenders with provisions for spares sell for a lot more money then plain fenders.

As for filler panels, no I have not heard of any commercially available for the reasons above.
 
There is not a commercially manufactured patch panel available however one can be made by shops who have sheetmetal shaping skills.

The way we do it is use Pullmax with a doming die to get the curvature fore & aft, then use a pneumatic Planishing hammer with an urethane die over a boomerang lower die to stretch the reverse curve in it. You will need a radius gauge to check the progress.

I am guessing that we would have a full day involved in removing the well, bracing the fender, fabricating the patch and TIG welding the patch in hammer shrinking as you go. For most people, this is more than they want to do which is why the recommendation to find a replacement is a good one. Unfortunately, there are quite a few nice fenders out there which have had the well installed by a Butcher using a hatchet! The level of work is worth the effort for the right fender IMO.
 
I agree with Mike, sell the welled fenders and purchase good used originals. Making nice patches with the correct crown/shape and welding them in place is not an easy job and have it turn out well.
Rusty Nelson
 
700rpm said:
If you eliminate the wells or welled fenders, where are you going to put your spare?
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On a sedan, roadster, or coupe, mount them on the back. On a pickup, there have been several threads lately on innovative solutions.
 
I didn't read the original post well enough. Since the vehicle is a pickup, you probably should leave one fender with a well (right side if you want to be able to get in and out easier), otherwise there is no easy place to keep a spare other than in the bed.
Rusty Nelson
 
CarlG said:
On a sedan, roadster, or coupe, mount them on the back. On a pickup, there have been several threads lately on innovative solutions.
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I am aware of that. I was just curious what his personal plan was.
 
I called Berts and they have old fenders that they will cut up a patch panel for you at a good price
 
I agree with others it would be much easier to trade your welled fender for a nonwelled fender. It took me a couple of years to find a decent left welled fender for the delivery. While not looking real hard I found one locally and traded my nonwelled fender and $70 cash. Much easier to make the trade than cutting a well in the fender I had. Comparable condition so it was a nobrainer for both of us. Rod
 
Bert's Model "A" Center, Denver CO 800-321-1931 Tues.-Fri. 9:00-4;00 MT: Sat 8:00-Noon MT-----Closed Sun. & Mon.
 
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Since the vehicle is a pickup, you probably should leave one fender with a well (right side if you want to be able to get in and out easier)
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There must be different wells or locations, I've seen some of them allow opening the door all the way, and others that restrict the door opening to about 3/4 of the way.
 
I know a Cambodian fellow that could shape a PERFECT panel, using curved irons & such, a bag of sand & part of an old stump! The Man's a GENIUS!
Bill W.
 
Your car your money. :) Unless it was a bad install job on the wells and after the work seen involved doing a good job installing a set of wells, I would be inclined to sell the welled ones and buy a good set of non welled fenders. Pull the irons off and sell as a package. Would also save the time patching the hole in the apron where they came thru.
 
redmodelt said:
Your car your money. :) Unless it was a bad install job on the wells and after the work seen involved doing a good job installing a set of wells, I would be inclined to sell the welled ones and buy a good set of non welled fenders. Pull the irons off and sell as a package. Would also save the time patching the hole in the apron where they came thru.
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Tom Wesenberg said:
That's what I'd do also. Seems both parties would come out ahead.
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Several others as well gave him that advise. He's pout 80.00 and he could have made some money. Oh well he will get experience in cutting and welding which may be worth more to him then the money.
 
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