Fender Removal

[skokie]

How do you remove the fron fender from a 68? (noob question LOL)

Thanks

[1969k10stepside]

just outer fender or inner fender+outer?

[pjmoreland]

1) Remove the bumper.

2) Remove the cowl.

3) Remove the three bolts that attach the hood hinge to the fender and let the hood hinge sit on the inner fender.

4) Disconnect power from the battery, and remove the terminal and ground wire from the inside of the fender. Remove the battery.

5) Remove the four bolts that attach the grille to the inside of the fender (two upper and two lower). A long socket extension comes in handy.

6) Remove the two bolts that attach the radiator support to the front of the fender (screw in from the back of the radiator support).

7) Remove the two screws that attach the radiator support gusset (triangular piece) to the inside of the fender.

8) Remove all the bolts that attach the inner fender to the outer fender. There are a bunch along the edge, two a few inches in from the edge up at the top, and one way down at the bottom in the back facing down.

9) Remove the bolt that attaches the bottom rear of the fender to the cab. It threads in from behind the fender.

10) Remove the two bolts that attach the top rear of the fender to the cab in the cowl area.

[matthufham]

to remove the cowl, you have to remove the windshield wipers aswell. you might have to remove a washer jar

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by matthufham

to remove the cowl, you have to remove the windshield wipers aswell. you might have to remove a washer jar

Good point. I just replaced my passenger side fender this weekend, so I have passenger side going through my head right now. No need to mess with the battery connections if you're removing the driver side fender. You would have to deal with the headlight harness though that's routed inside the fender, and clipped to it in a couple spots. I think the washer bottle is on the radiator support on a '68, right? It was on my '67 anyway.

[Rich72C10]

So any deviations with a '72?

While I need to take both off, I will do one at a time starting with the driver's side I think (so washer bottle comes off). It is safe/okay to disconnect one side of the hood hinge? I assume since I don't want to muck up my inner fender's paint I should have it lay on something soft or rubber?

I've read take the hood off and the hinges. Seems if you do one at a time, with proper marking/taping of the hinge you remove, you'll have a better time with the hood being back where it was. Also, seems to lead me to believe it could be a "one man job" too.

Edit
Looks like this YouTube, How to remove a fender panel and door on a 1971 Chevy C10 pretty much follows your list @pjmoreland. Though he disassembled his whole headlight to get to some bolts. Then don't forget about the marker light - which in my case is now a complete LED replacement and likely a bit more of a hassle for me.

Cool to just see the hood stay in place with it disconnected and totally shows how he did it himself. Though I think I'll completely remove my bumper - I don't want to be bumping the fender on it at all.

[Rich72C10]

Could you remove the hood from the hinges and leave the hood hinge on the fender? Or would keeping the hinges on keep from removing the fender?

[pjmoreland]

Here's how I have removed a single hood hinge (remove cowl first). Use a 2x4 to prop up the front of the hood on that side. Then place a 1x4 vertically in the little shelf that is at the top edge of the firewall. This will prevent the rear edge of the hood from sliding backwards. Set another 1x4 horizontally with the end hooked into the opening where the wiper linkage resides. This provides a platform to hold up the rear edge of the hood. You can then completely remove the hood hinge. Sorry, I don't have a photo that shows this arrangement. I only have the photo below that shows the front of the hood propped up.

[pjmoreland]

Actually here is a photo of the hood being supported in the rear by two 1x4s, but it is difficult to see them because I had them padded with an old pillow case.

[Rich72C10]

Thank your for you photos, answers a LOT of questions in my head.

My brother wants to pull the hood, well first he wanted to pull the full clip (vetoed that firmly). He has already pulled my hood when he took out my engine for rebuild. Him and his shop/painter guys pulls this stuff all the time.

I just was wondering if we did pulled the hood, would that mess me up getting the fenders off with the hinges still on.

[raggedjim]

Nope, I have pulled fenders with the hinges on, no problem.

Good luck, Rg

[Rich72C10]

Thanks so much, just nice to know before you go down the road and then find out you f*cked yourself with your "idea" to make things easier LOL

[pjmoreland]

Here are some photos to throw fuel on the fire

[dmjlambert]

I like that idea quite a lot.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I like that idea quite a lot.

Thank you. It made it so I was able to remove the hood by myself. I installed three screw eyes in the ceiling.

[CKfan]

Subscribed!

[PbFut]

Why worry about removing hood. It is not hard to do and eliminates being in the way or loosing control and bending a hinge or worse. Make sure you keep track of the shims used in the area of the cowl. The nut clips, not sure of correct name, used to attach inner fender can be a ***** to unbolt if rusted. You can buy a front end bolt kit that helps make things go easier on install or lots of wire wheel work to clean threads. Just take your time. It's actually pretty easy if you don't rush.

[Rich72C10]

Things make so much sense and seem easy after you do them. Though my brother made me do the passenger side first. I wanted to do the driver side first because it would be easier. He is nope, do the hard side 1st... ba$t@rd! LOL

Note for 72 (71?) with the charcoal canister, that has to come off. Two bolts off the fender and then I pull it out and put on the battery tray area.

The only problem I had was one J-nut that was closed to the front/bottom that slipped off. I'm lucky as I was able to get a skinny / long screw driver up in between the inner fender and outer fender to hold it down. Oh, I missed two bolts right above the tire that is kind of in the middle of the inner fender.

1/4 done!

[raggedjim]

Nice work, Rg

[Rich72C10]

All back together, a bit surprised I got it done in two days! Granted I had a bit of help. Getting the hood back on was a snap, as we were putting it back on my brother's friend stop by so there were three of us.

[CKfan]

Sharp!

[custom10nut]

Sub’dfor future reference

[Rich72C10]

Oh I guess this might be a good tip. Leave one side fender loose in the front to get the grill back on.

I had everything tighten down and when I went to put the grill back on there I couldn't get it flush. So I loosen the driver's side front bolts around the headlight, then I put grill on.