Front Fender Repair Advice

[70_440-6Cuda]

I had another thread going but cant find it so starting over -

I have 2 original front fenders in really good condition with the 2 small exceptions - both fenders have a small section cut off that were used as donor parts - which makes no sense since both left and right fender are in excellent condition - would have made more sense to just swap them.

In any case, I picked up a few other originals in rough shape but with the patches I need in tact.  My plan was to just repair each fender individually off the car with the patch panels and call it good.

Talking to a fabricator friend of mine he said not a good idea - better to mock up every panel, and patch them once everything is aligned with proper gaps etc. BEFORE patching.

Any experienced metal workers have any thoughts?  I was hoping to get the fenders ready to go, but seems maybe I should wait until I have everything on the car and lined up?

Last 2 photos are my donor fenders...

[mtull]

fabricator friend of mine he said not a good idea

If you have time, watch a few of these videos: SYLVESTERS CUSTOMS, He goes into a lot of detail and his advise seems to mimic your friends advice. 
 

[70_440-6Cuda]

@mtull thank you sir - great stuff!  I think i am going to strip the paint, mock it up and then get the fenders patched

[torredcuda]

It is always nice to fit up parts before final welding in areas that need to match to adjacent panels but if you have  good fender you can take accurate measurements and duplicate them on the other one. I would have no issue doing those areas now off the car - measure, measure, measure, cut, weld, grind.

[70_440-6Cuda]

It is always nice to fit up parts before final welding in areas that need to match to adjacent panels but if you have  good fender you can take accurate measurements and duplicate them on the other one. I would have no issue doing those areas now off the car - measure, measure, measure, cut, weld, grind.

That was my thought as well, the fenders I have are really solid, and the patch pieces as well so I would think lining everything up should be straight forward, but I am no metal fabricator

[RUNCHARGER]

On and off the car. You'll want to carefully fit the pieces, spot weld them on the bench, fit  them on the car and mount the grille and valance to make sure they fit then finish weld off the car. Then test fit them yet again to make sure everything including the bumper fits. I thought I had bought good, original fenders for my HemiCuda but the fit of the grille wasn't perfect and the bumper was tight on one side as well. Cudas are very finicky for fit and the original parts weren't stamped to tight tolerences either.
On my car one of the fenders was bulged out a smidge affecting the clearance to where the bumper came up on the side, One side the headlight door profile did not match the headlight door properly, heck even the front valance insert didn't fit right.
Lots of patience needed, it won't come together properly in just an hour or two.