A while back, I replaced the neutral switch with one I found in a junkyard. (The neutral switch keeps you from starting the car with the transmission in “Drive.”) I had to remove a very rusty air-vent to gain better access to the switch. Guess what I found underneath the air-vent: more rust! I removed one part after another, only to reveal more rust. Before long, I had the entire front fender assembly torn apart. I decided to de-rust what I could myself (via brush, sand paper, HCl) and have the rest professionally sand-blasted. And, of course, I would prime and paint each piece.

The fenders also use about 50 5/16 – 24 bolts with nuts, washers and lock washers. (Note that I also used washers on certain sheet metal screws.) In the pages which follow, I’ll show how the fenders go together.

Rather than use the old rusty screws to reassemble the restored fenders, I found shiny new ones in two different lengths. These are ¼ inch sheet metal screws, ¾ and 1 inch long. You need about 50 each of these. If you replace the screws, make sure you get the variety with a recessed head, as this was the original style. (These are not easy to find in stores—you may need to order them.)