Bolt for fender. How do I access it

Phil · Post by **Phil** » July 22, 2007, 10:22 pm

My fender is loose at the bottom due to rust issues.
At the top is that bracket just under the hinge. The bolt was backed out some and the fender dropped down
It was so rusty I couldn't tighten it up. I sprayed it with PBlaster for 2 weeks daily. I turned it today but I think I messed up whever it screws into.
Can anyone explain how this hooks together? How do I get to the the threaded insert/nut or whatever it screws into?

Ford4jack · Post by **Ford4jack** » July 22, 2007, 10:58 pm

Heavyhauler

Don't remember if its a weld nut or a clip nut but you might be able to wedge a long screw driver between the fender and body to get it in tension and try loosening the bolt.

If you do get it to turn you might try tighting it up some and spraying more lube on it.

Or if your going to take the fender off just tighten it up until you break the head off the bolt (hopefully).

If all else fails take the fender loose and try to work a prybar up to the bolt and tear the sheet metal mounting tab.

Or get it in tension and burn it out with an air wrench.

good luck

61 Merc · Post by **61 Merc** » July 23, 2007, 12:02 am

I had the same problem when I was removing my fenders, it has a clip in nut the the clip breaks off and the nut turns. The way I got mine off is to get a small amount of space between the fender and body and use a saws-all with a long metal cutting blade to cut the bolt. There really isn't any other easy way, you can't get a torch in there, and you can't get visegrips onto the nut due to the contours of the support.

I had battled with mine for days before I thought of a saws-all.

This saves your fender and body with only a few scratches under the wheel well, and a bolt is easy enough to replace.

CMenard · Post by **CMenard** » July 23, 2007, 11:04 am

I had to use a few small cut off wheels and ground the head off from inside the cab to get them off my parts truck. Just have to be careful not to grind the body.

YukonCor55 · Post by **YukonCor55** » July 23, 2007, 11:08 am

I think they used the same nut plates as on the front fender to valance connection. All of mine had rusted to the point where the plate just snapped and the "nut" turned freely. I had to drill the heads off of all of them. It's unpleasant but not impossible. Just don't get impatient, it's easy to bend good shetmetal when your emotions run high...yeah, I learned that the hard way!!

Weezer65 · Post by **Weezer65** » July 23, 2007, 1:56 pm

HeavyHauler,
Glad you asked this question...both of my fenders are the same. Let us know if you found a different way! Thanks also for all the responses.
Weezer65
Dodge City, Kansas

It's not the end of the world...but you can see it from here!

Post by **Greg D** » July 23, 2007, 5:09 pm

They just have a standard U nut in the inside of the fender brace, 7/16 if I remember right. There is also another fender bolt-U nut under a 2"x3" or so cover on the inside of the cowl panel right under the edge of the dash. I reassembled mine with new U nuts, anti seize and stainless bolts. To get the old one off you are probably going to have to figure out a way to cut it. Alot of times the U nut just breaks so you have to replace it anyway. All this stuff should be available at your local hardware store.