Ordering Dart fenders, need advise.

[Jocigar]

Hi all,

I'm getting ready to order some fenders for my daughters 1967 GT vert.

AMD only makes 68 or 69, so I will need to patch where the turn signal cutout is.

Would you order 68 and fill in the small circle for indicator that is on upper body crease line
or order 69 which has larger square cutout but is lower and not on body creases?

I'm thinking 69 so not to be on body line even if circle cutout is much smaller patch   ...agree ?

[anlauto]

Yea, I agree with your logic there

[RUNCHARGER]

68: Smaller hole, straight cutout with no flange so you just buttweld in the patch. That crease can be made in 3 seconds on a vice jaw or other crisp edge. The 69 would require a larger patch and overlap it over the flange or cut the flange off the fender first. More chance for warpage IMO.

[anlauto]

I agree with that logic too   At first I was thinking you would just cut a patch that lays in the rectangle, weld her up, but now that I think about it, that would look like crap on the inside...still seeing the 69 light area.

[mccannix]

A friend of mine has NOS 1967 Dart fenders and NOS 67 Dart hardtop quarters.

He has been on here occasionally but not in a while.

I can check with him and get you his contact info if you like.....

He is in Ontario Canada, so probably it would be cost prohibitive with shipping,

customs, and of course the border closure and all.

[Jocigar]

Thus my predicament and why I decided to post for advise.

I wonder if the hole is nominal size, might prove difficult to make a correct size filler disc.   unless I turn it down on lathe but that would require a center hole to turn them.   welding and grinding on body line scares me i'll admit.

With lower patch I may have better access to grind inside flush after welding, i don't think it would be noticeable.   

   

[RUNCHARGER]

Don't know what tools you own. I would trace the hole outline onto a piece of cardboard, trace that onto a piece of metal. Cut it near to size with tin snips, fine tune it by grinding with a grinder. I would use a magnet on the back to hold the piece for the first few tackwelds. You can cut a larger piece to fit the 69 fender, lay it on top of the flange, pull it tight (Large magnet, clecos or even screws) and weld it from the outside. When done, grind the flange off from the back. I feel the less grinding and shorter welds I can do the less chance of warpage though. 20 stitches is better than 60 stitches for me.

[FE5CUDA]

Don't know what tools you own. I would trace the hole outline onto a piece of cardboard, trace that onto a piece of metal. Cut it near to size with tin snips, fine tune it by grinding with a grinder. I would use a magnet on the back to hold the piece for the first few tackwelds. You can cut a larger piece to fit the 69 fender, lay it on top of the flange, pull it tight (Large magnet, clecos or even screws) and weld it from the outside. When done, grind the flange off from the back. I feel the less grinding and shorter welds I can do the less chance of warpage though. 20 stitches is better than 60 stitches for me.

I agree 100%  Weld it up with a plug and metal finish it on the inside.

[Burdar]

The only thing I will add is that according to the "Bitchin' Rides" host, you get a much better finished product if you weld in a round patch verse a square one.  Each corner of a square patch will want to raise above the surface as you weld it in place.

If you still have your old junk fenders, you can cut a patch out of those.  Your patch will then have the correct convex shape to it already.

[Jocigar]

thanks all, I was leaning to a square patch and slowly getting persuaded to round plug. 

mccannix thanks for the offer.  I am ordering the fenders because I have to get a cuda roof skin and the shipping can be combined for savings.  If not for that, oem would have been great.   

I am also ordering quarter skins as well.   They are on super closeout sale and since its a vert I will go that route, 'long stitching' will be something to master even after fender dilemma is addressed   

[anlauto]

.

If you still have your old junk fenders, you can cut a patch out of those.  Your patch will then have the correct convex shape to it already.

Hey that's a good idea