70 dart fender extensions

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marksmopars

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I am at the point where I am reassembling my project and the front fender extension studs are bad. Has anyone here ever repaired these and if so could you please give me a hint of how that was accomplished? I have looked for replacements and haven't had any luck, now looking for FABO to save me one more time!
 
70 dart units have screw in studs into fiberglass. the 71-72 are pot metal and rusty nuts and corrosion tend to snap them.
I have real 70 with studs in many colors
 
70 dart units have screw in studs into fiberglass. the 71-72 are pot metal and rusty nuts and corrosion tend to snap them.
I have real 70 with studs in many colors

News to me, learn something everyday I guess as the ones I have are exactly as you describe, crap. Are you saying you have a pair of fiberglass ones with functional studs you would be willing to part with? If yes please let me know, PM if you like.

Thanks
 
I am at the point where I am reassembling my project and the front fender extension studs are bad. Has anyone here ever repaired these and if so could you please give me a hint of how that was accomplished? I have looked for replacements and haven't had any luck, now looking for FABO to save me one more time!

I JB welded new studs in the holes
 
The units I have are pot metal and the studs are in need of repair. I was hoping that someone hear might have repaired some and be willing to say how it was done. Instead I have people tell me they have lots of fiberglass ones with studs which are correct but nothing more. Just a bit disappointed here, there are no holes to jb weld studs into, anyone have a set of fiberglass units they would part with? I am ok with fixing damaged fiberglass, just don't know how to repair pot metal!
 
I will attempt to give it a try. (And this is what I would do, some I am sure would argue). 1. If the stud is broken off where you can grab it with vise grips, I would soak the stud with a good penetrant like PB Blaster for an hour or more. Then I would mildly heat the fender extension with a plumbers torch. It is pot metal so take care not to get it "Red Hot" You are trying to expand the threaded hole to where you can work the stud loose with your vise grip pliers. With patience, you should be able to get the stud moving. Start by going back and forth, you need to "grind away" any loaded up gunk on the threads by moving it back and forth. Once moving, you can spray more PB Blaster on it. The Penetrant helps break down the corrosion on the threads. You may also have to heat some more, but I would try not to use heat after you get the stud moving. 2. If the stud is broken flush, spray with PB Blaster, center punch the drill into the stud. If you have Left hand drill bits use them, if not use regular drill bits. Start out with a small drill bit and step up. You want to try and keep the bit Plumb or straight while drilling. Going in an angle will go through the side of the threaded hole and possibly ruin the threads. Once you have a hole drilled in the broken stud, use a screw extractor or "Easy Out" as they are sometimes called. You still will have to use heat to get the stud moving, again once you get it moving, back off the heat and use the penetrating oil. If you attempt this, keep in mind that it is a process that requires patience as you can ruin the threads et. in the fender extension. However with luck, finesse and patience it may work for you. Do not use an Acetyline torch as they get too hot.Also keep in mind that the threads if damaged can be re tapped, or you could JB weld the studs into the Pot metal just as you could the Fiberglass. The piece is already unusable so it is worth a try to save it. You have nothing to lose. Hope this gives you an Idea or approach to the problem.
 
I will attempt to give it a try. (And this is what I would do, some I am sure would argue). 1. If the stud is broken off where you can grab it with vise grips, I would soak the stud with a good penetrant like PB Blaster for an hour or more. Then I would mildly heat the fender extension with a plumbers torch. It is pot metal so take care not to get it "Red Hot" You are trying to expand the threaded hole to where you can work the stud loose with your vise grip pliers. With patience, you should be able to get the stud moving. Start by going back and forth, you need to "grind away" any loaded up gunk on the threads by moving it back and forth. Once moving, you can spray more PB Blaster on it. The Penetrant helps break down the corrosion on the threads. You may also have to heat some more, but I would try not to use heat after you get the stud moving. 2. If the stud is broken flush, spray with PB Blaster, center punch the drill into the stud. If you have Left hand drill bits use them, if not use regular drill bits. Start out with a small drill bit and step up. You want to try and keep the bit Plumb or straight while drilling. Going in an angle will go through the side of the threaded hole and possibly ruin the threads. Once you have a hole drilled in the broken stud, use a screw extractor or "Easy Out" as they are sometimes called. You still will have to use heat to get the stud moving, again once you get it moving, back off the heat and use the penetrating oil. If you attempt this, keep in mind that it is a process that requires patience as you can ruin the threads et. in the fender extension. However with luck, finesse and patience it may work for you. Do not use an Acetyline torch as they get too hot.Also keep in mind that the threads if damaged can be re tapped, or you could JB weld the studs into the Pot metal just as you could the Fiberglass. The piece is already unusable so it is worth a try to save it. You have nothing to lose. Hope this gives you an Idea or approach to the problem.

Thanks, I understand what you are saying. However the extensions I have the"studs" are not studs at all but are actually cast as part of the fender extension. Repair would require that the existing material somehow be "built up" to allow re-threading, something I hear has been done but am not understanding how.
 
when you originally made this post, j061093409 in the second post, said he had plenty of fiberglass ones that he would sell, I pm'd him and bought a set from him, they showed up in two days and they are in excellent shape, I would suggest you just get them from him and be done with it.
 
when you originally made this post, j061093409 in the second post, said he had plenty of fiberglass ones that he would sell, I pm'd him and bought a set from him, they showed up in two days and they are in excellent shape, I would suggest you just get them from him and be done with it.

I PM'd him, no response, but I agree with your thought. I will try again and thanks!
 
My 70 dart fender extensions are pot metal as well. Just grind off the old stud drill and tap a new hole, screw in a new stud and you are done. Easy peasy.
 
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