Fender repair?

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65MagnumFish

65MagnumFish

65MagnumFish
Joined
Jun 3, 2018
Messages
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Location
Zeeland, MI
Hey everyone, wondered if I should repair the lower part of my 65’barracuda fenders with laysons patch panel or go with a used full fender? Thought the price between the two are comparable. Also time I’m sure for labor would be a factor.
 
Looks like you are rather new on this forum, so I am going to be nice. When you ask for help, you REALLY need to give us enough information to allow us to be ABLE to help you. For instance, how bad is the damage (PICTURES)? There is a BIG difference between a few small rust spots and serious cancer that includes the inner braces. Next, do you have the skills and equipment necessary to do your own work, or will you be paying someone else to do the work? Pictures are VERY important when asking questions like this. We see this all the time, and we can't help with incomplete information.
That being said, If you CAN do it yourself, and if the damage is NOT to severe, I would definitely repair your current fenders. If you have to pay someone else, the used fenders might be a good choice. However, if you do decide to buy used fenders, either insist on lots of pictures, or go look at them.
 
If good used fenders are an option, no rust repair needed then it might be a little less labour. Bodywork would be the about the same,if its a complete paint job then paint is no difference. Welding in a patch and repairing internals will warrant fender removal.
Tough decision.
Could always sell the old fenders to recoup some money.
 
Tooljunkie said:
If good used fenders are an option, no rust repair needed then it might be a little less labour. Bodywork would be the about the same,if its a complete paint job then paint is no difference. Welding in a patch and repairing internals will warrant fender removal.
Tough decision.
Could always sell the old fenders to recoup some money.
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Depends on if you can even find "no rust" fenders to start with, and what they are priced at.
I didn`t want to pay $600 or more for a fender that needed work. I bought a lower rear patch panel for the pass. side front fender on my 68 barracuda, off ebay. I had to do some work on it to make it perfect for my body man , it turned out very well ! Only cost me $68 ----
 
I'd fix them. This is what I did on mine and it cost almost nothing but time .

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valiantwagonguy said:
I'd fix them. This is what I did on mine and it cost almost nothing but time .

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Nice job; really nice. I kinda had to laugh a bit, because you showed us the ugly "before dressing the weld" pictures. People who don't do this kind of work themselves have no idea how much effort is involved. I do like the primer picture. I DO know a lot of work was needed to get from the first picture to the next one. Here is a before and after picture of my right front fender. Very gratifying work.

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harrisonm said:
Nice job; really nice. I kinda had to laugh a bit, because you showed us the ugly "before dressing the weld" pictures. People who don't do this kind of work themselves have no idea how much effort is involved. I do like the primer picture. I DO know a lot of work was needed to get from the first picture to the next one. Here is a before and after picture of my right front fender. Very gratifying work.

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Thanks, that was my first attempt at real body work . Yours is real sweet ! Nice welds .You know,you just have to jump in and do it. I had a friend who told me that no matter how bad you screw it up you can always fix it so just do it. Since that day 25 years ago I can't count how much rust repair I did . It's not easy but it's not really all that hard either . Same goes for painting .Had to learn that to and I did.For a guy like me there was no getting a nice car by having some resto shop do it.My pockets just weren't deep enough so I learned and I encourage others to do the same when ever I can.
 
A reasonable amount of tools and a second hand welder isnt all that expensive, lots of great videos on the youtube will get you started.
 
valiantwagonguy said:
Thanks, that was my first attempt at real body work . Yours is real sweet ! Nice welds .You know,you just have to jump in and do it. I had a friend who told me that no matter how bad you screw it up you can always fix it so just do it. Since that day 25 years ago I can't count how much rust repair I did . It's not easy but it's not really all that hard either . Same goes for painting .Had to learn that to and I did.For a guy like me there was no getting a nice car by having some resto shop do it.My pockets just weren't deep enough so I learned and I encourage others to do the same when ever I can.
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AMAZING work for your first attempt. You should be proud!
 
Tooljunkie said:
A reasonable amount of tools and a second hand welder isnt all that expensive, lots of great videos on the youtube will get you started.
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Very true. I bought my Hobart (made by Miller) MIG welder bout 12 years ago, I watched 20 minute video on setup and welding, and then started welding. Lots of practice on scrap metal at first. lots more training videos available now.
PLUS, I'd be willing to bet that if a FABO member said, "Is there a member near me that could help me get started with welding?". I bet someone would respond. I know I would.
 
If you do your own bodywork, I say repair your rust, use a repop patch or better yet, buy an 18 ga sheet for what $50-60, and make your own. If you have to take said car to bodyman, bring him the absolute best fenders, etc that you can, it will save you $ in the long run.
 
As these guys have already said...I'd sooner get yourself set up with a couple hundred dollars worth of tools than spend it on a body panel that's gonna require work anyway. Once you have the basics you can expand from there. You need a small brake (or duckbill vice grips), sand bag and hammers, dollys, a way to make smooth cuts, and a way to weld it together. A shrinker/stretcher, and a cheap engish wheel are things I can't live without too. Rusted windshield channel, cancer fender that they don't make anymore, no problem. Build it! Also don't overlook modifying sheet metal from other cars. Use a contour gauge and go hunting for something close.

Can't find an early a fender? These are 72 legs grafted onto 66 fenders.
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And if you are restoring a Swiss cheese 64-65 Chevelle...a mid 80's Ford pickup is the best "parts car" you can buy.
 
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About 20 or so years ago I got this wagon.It was a basket case but I took pity on it and decided to save it. I had a set of used quarters for a 65 Barracuda so me and a friend cut them down to fit the 4 door wagon and fitted them to the car. That was back in the late 90's now it's today.I got 20 years out of that car that should have been crushed and now it's time to do it again so I will ! You cut out what is shot and you either make new or use something from a parts car. I looked for these quarters for a few years here on A bodies and one day out of the blue a guy emailed me and I had a set. Got them last summer and now I'm ready to attack my wagon again. I have a nice front clip I have been sitting on for the past 20 years , you know , rust free fenders , hood , and front valance .The doors were from another guy here who I traded some parts with. Just do it and it will happen

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I love "ying " to watch the car shows where guys are actally fabbing their panels and pieces. Problem is most of these shows do not show much actual work being done, just enough to give an idea. I guess I should hunt stuff on U Tube.
Best cheap projects to buy? The ones that need some metal work and the guy can't begin to do any of it or pay to have it done..OR the one the guy took the whole car apart, scattered everywhere and he has NO desire or idea or $ to continue on.
Just don't deal with the CL guy that says " it has almost no rust, easy resto, and it will bring $200,000 at BJ when done!!!! ha
 
Rob,
Patch panels for quarters and lower fenders are your best bet. Im no body man but have had good luck installing panels. Doors your on your creative own. As some have suggested you will need sheet metal for this either rfom old hood etc or new metal.This site and google are your friend. Good luck with your project.
Tim
 
barbee6043 said:
I love "ying " to watch the car shows where guys are actally fabbing their panels and pieces. Problem is most of these shows do not show much actual work being done, just enough to give an idea. I guess I should hunt stuff on U Tube.
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I sometimes run into something where I'm scratching my head on how I'm gonna do it. Then I remember the Eastwood video library. They have tons of videos on metal fabrication. Many times I've watched a video and learned that the tools I already have can do much more than I thought. Sometimes it's just thinking outside the box, or the order of operations that gets me messed up.
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Both of my lower rear quarters were rusted out. Had to cut about 6 inches up from the bottoms. Just a little up into the wheel arch. Left the bottom channel for reference of the contour. Used sheet metal from old appiances being scrapped. Exact same guage. Got a cheap flux welder for $89 on Amazon. After some practice still made a mess of the welds. Took a grinder to it to smooth it out. Still wasnt perfect skimmed a light layer of bondo on it. Sanded primered and rattle canned it. Turned out awesome!!
 
Funny you should mention appliance metal. Not the real old stuff with the baked enamel finish though.
The metal is same gauge yet seems easily formed into body panels.
 
Sheet meat? Find a welding shop and ask for the name his supplier or he might just be a nice guy and order you sheet of 18 ga. flat , should be around $60. Not that fee washer machine sheet steel is not a good thing!!
 
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