Quiz Time - Topic: Passenger Front Fender

[Gregski]

How well do you know your Square Body?

How many bolts/screws do you have to remove in order to remove the passenger side front fender (by itself, nothing else hanging off of it) from a square body truck (73-87 third gen C/K I think) the screws that hold the badge do not count, etc.

A. 15

B. 20

C. 25

D. 30

Extra Credit: Let us know where the bolts are located that you would be removing

I hope I counted right, LOL

[Keith Seymore]

As a game changer be advised that the factory installed the fender with the wheelhouse already on it (the fender).

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

As a game changer be advised that the factory installed the fender with the wheelhouse already on it (the fender).

noted, but it can be removed without the wheelhousing

[86c20]

i am going to guess 15. A final answer lol 5 on the back 2 for hood 2 at the top of core suport 3 in head light trim and 3 in the bottom fille and brace. and that is with not cheating and going out to look. to damn cold lol

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 86c20

i am going to guess 15. A final answer lol 5 on the back 2 for hood 2 at the top of core suport 3 in head light trim and 3 in the bottom fille and brace. and that is with not cheating and going out to look. to damn cold lol

not a bad start, the answer is more (5 on the back? not sure what you mean by those)

[86c20]

by the door. one in the a piller then 2 in the firewall and two at the bottom.

that is just a guess and that is with no inner fender or anything of the like.

i think if you add in the inner fender annd the plastic at the bottom and the batt try got to be over 25

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Gregski

noted, but it can be removed without the wheelhousing

I installed about 1.8 million squarebody fenders (900,000 per side; or one per minute per side over a six year period) so I don't think it would be fair for me to participate in your quiz...

[Gregski]

I believe it is 25, Keith correct me if I am wrong

here they are in no particular order

fist the big ones

3 - 9/16ths attach to the hood hinge bracket

1 - 9/16ths above the top door hinge

1 - 9/16ths under the truck door sort of

1 - 9/16ths on top behind hood hinges

then the smaller ones

7 - 1/2 inchers attach to the inner fender

5 - 1/2" attach to the radiator support on the inside

2 - 1/2" bolt on the side of the battery tray

2 - 1/2" above the headlight inside that cavity

1 - 1/2" left of the parking light inside that cavity

then the tinny ones

2 - philips screws hold the light bezel to the front of the fender

[Jaysonb]

I found a front clip on craigslist the other day. I pulled it apart laying in the dirt and snow, there was at least 50 rusty bolts on each side, and they all had to be at least 3 feet long!! Can't wait to ditch my poor fitting aftermarket junk though.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

I found a front clip on craigslist the other day. I pulled it apart laying in the dirt and snow, there was at least 50 rusty bolts on each side, and they all had to be at least 3 feet long!! Can't wait to ditch my poor fitting aftermarket junk though.

LOL, awesome, so worth it though, thanks for sharing

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Gregski

I believe it is 25, Keith correct me if I am wrong

here they are in no particular order

fist the big ones

3 - 9/16ths attach to the hood hinge bracket

1 - 9/16ths above the top door hinge

1 - 9/16ths under the truck door sort of

1 - 9/16ths on top behind hood hinges

then the smaller ones

7 - 1/2 inchers attach to the inner fender

5 - 1/2" attach to the radiator support on the inside

2 - 1/2" bolt on the side of the battery tray

2 - 1/2" above the headlight inside that cavity

1 - 1/2" left of the parking light inside that cavity

then the tinny ones

2 - philips screws hold the light bezel to the front of the fender

Yep - I think you've got it.

(I would have forgotten to count the phillips screws - lol).

Those small 1/2" bolts are the ones I am talking about when I tell my favorite "bolt substitution" story:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Me too! Makes me crazy, especially when they argue about the finish on a bolt.

The attachment of the front fender "nose bolts" to the rad support was especially difficult, because it is blind and awkward access. As a result we would cross thread the bolts often or (worse) break the weld nuts loose. Major repair.

We found out that there were two suppliers for a bolt that same size: One from Lang Fasteners and one from Ferndale Fasteners. The Langs would crossthread like crazy but the Ferndales wouldn't (for some unknown reason). The Langs (part number 3846202, btw!) were black but the Ferndales were silver.

What we ended up doing was stealing a box of the silver bolts from Line 2 and run them all night with no issues, and then lock them up in our locker, (set out a box of black bolts on the job) and then go home.

We did that for several years. First shift could never figure out why we didn't crossthread and why they had a mess on their hands every day.

K

[Axle]

And if you have a fender mounted antenna you'll need to add one additional nut to remove the cable. Three phillips screws if you have the factory am/fm/cb antenna.

Alex.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I installed about 1.8 million squarebody fenders (900,000 per side; or one per minute per side over a six year period) so I don't think it would be fair for me to participate in your quiz...

You kill me. 1.8 million fenders.

Keith "I'll match your fender install, and raise you 1,799,999 fenders" Seymore.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

...
(I would have forgotten to count the phillips screws - lol)...

stick with me Keith and I'll teach ya a thing or two, I must have removed not one but two of these bad boys already in my life time, soon to remove a third, JK

what about that 1/2" bolt substitution story? lemme get a beer

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

You kill me. 1.8 million fenders.

Keith "I'll match your fender install, and raise you 1,799,999 fenders" Seymore.

I love you, man....

(lol)

Seriously though, if one were to do the math: 1 per minute = 60 per hour x 8 hours per day = 480 per day.

480 a day x 285 working days per year x 6 years = 820,800 fenders

x2 (one on each side) = 1,641,600.

...Assuming no overtime....



Plus: tightening the box down, hanging the spare, installing the M20 shifters and cab running lights, putting the battery tray(s) in and underhood wiring. And putting the SPID labels in the glovebox.

All in a day's work.

K