Inner fender replace or patch?

[rrockchrger]

Hello all. My left inner fender is rusted and pitted only on the front end where I've circled in white, where the battery was I believe. The rest is ok.  I'm wondering if I can just cut out the bad part outlined in red and use a new fender to make a patch?  Or would it weaken the shocktower too much?


  It would be easier for me to do this then remove the whole thing with all the spot welds and deal with the shock tower and trying to line it up right.   

[69*F5*SE]

I have sort of the same problem area and I believe I'm going to just patch the area's that need it instead of taking off and replacing the whole inner fender.  It looks of though you can just fix the small patch areas also rather than the whole outlined area in red. 

[tan top]

  if thats the only rust through  !  i would cut it out & patch it      . take you time & but weld the plates will look invisable  ..............................

[Nacho-RT74]

honestly... if I'm able to find an inner fender, would replace the complete piece, but just If I have an easy access to one.

[rrockchrger]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm still a few weeks off from attempting it but I'll let you know how it goes. 

[69*F5*SE]

Post a few detailed closer pics of these areas.

[suntech]

I would replace it completly. AMD has them. The price is good, and i think honestly it will be better and nicer. Patching is somthing i would try to avoid.

[Nacho-RT74]

I would replace it completly. AMD has them. The price is good, and i think honestly it will be better and nicer. Patching is somthing i would try to avoid.

that's why I say what I did... IF I'M ABLE to get them easilly would make a complete replacement like on earlier years or modern cars

also depends of your resto grade or intentions

[Charger-Bodie]

I would replace it completly. AMD has them. The price is good, and i think honestly it will be better and nicer. Patching is somthing i would try to avoid.

I agree , It may seem more intimidating to you but its actually easier , if the parts are nice.

[mikepmcs]

I have to agree in this instance of replacing the whole inner considering it looks like nothing is in the engine bay so you can get to everything relatively easily.  Lots of spot drilling and welding(don't forget seam sealer I imagine) but you know you have a nice piece when it's done.  I'm assuming money isn't an issue because you mentioned chopping a new inner to make the patches.  It won't be hard to line back up at all.  I don't know the current condition and what length you are going as far as restoration and time constraints go, so that is all I got.  Actually I'm just chiming in cause I want to stay in the loop on this thread and see more pics and progress cause this is my favorite part of body and collision work.

v/r
Mike

[Rolling_Thunder]

replace the whole panel       I have the same problem on my 69 Road Runner

[rrockchrger]

Thanks fellas.  I just finished stripping the car down and now i'm going to tackle the body work before I send it off to the blaster.  Will probably have to replace or cap that one framerail too.  I don't have any experience with body work but I have the tools and the will and someone I can ask for help when I need it.  If the consensus is it will be easier to replace the whole thing then that's probably what I'll try then..

I couldn't post large pics here so I posted a few on webshots:

http://community.webshots.com/user/pigboy789

[Chatt69chgr]

I'am faced with the same situation, vis-a-vis, the driver inner fender.  I want to replace mine.  Sure would like to see pic's of your progress on this to guide me in my replacement.  Thanks.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'am faced with the same situation, vis-a-vis, the driver inner fender.  I want to replace mine.  Sure would like to see pic's of your progress on this to guide me in my replacement.  Thanks.

replacing the inner fender is actually a pretty strait forward procedure...    drill spot welds...     and remove...     drill holes in the new panel and plug weld...       

[yeahitsgotahemi!]

I patched mine. The only place that was rusted through was the battery tray area, it was a lot like the picture of the road runner above. I cut it out and made a patch and it came out much better than I anticipated. Granted, only the batery tray had rusted through, so it wasn't worth it in my opinion to spend several hundered bucks for a replacement, when a patch was practically free and took me much less time than it would to drill out all the spot welds and replace the whole panel. I advocate patching. Until recently with AMD's new panel, I think that was the only choice. But I guess if your whole panel is wasted then by all means replace it, but if it's just a few places, don't sell yourself short on patching, its a amazing what you can do with a 2x4 and a body hammer.

[69hemi]

Just did the one on the GTX with an original cut from a rust free car and it was a snap.  Make sure you weld a brace between the rad support and the firewall before you cut out the old one.

Check it out in the GTX section of www.69hemi.com under restoration, sheet metal then underhood.

[Chatt69chgr]

Thanks for the link to the GTX drivers inner fender replacement.  Very informative pictures.  Just what I was looking for.

[BRS]

Patch it. It's a lot easier fix than replacing the inner fender.

[69hemi]

Patch it. It's a lot easier fix than replacing the inner fender.

Why?

[BRS]

Patch it. It's a lot easier fix than replacing the inner fender.

Why?

Why? Look at the pic of his inner fender. He only has a few small holes. Grind, drill and plug. No big deal (unless your not use to doing metal work and you what to waste good money). Not to metion that you take away from the original integrity of the car. This is a simple fix!

[69hemi]

The picture is not too clear but after doing many of these (so I am used to metal work) if there are a few small holes by the time you cut out all the bad, make the patches, weld & grind them smooth you end up with more time in the project than replacement.  As far as the drill and plug weld method I will bet the metal is pretty thin and you would end up making patches to fix this problem. 

The other thing that is hard to see but it looks like the panel is pooching out at the seams which means that there is crust built up between the panel and the rad support and frame rail.  If this crust is not removed then more holes & problems will pop up later.  I like to fix all the problems at once so I don't have to go back and fix something later that I could have repaired all at once. 

As far as ruining the integrity of the car, if you use an original panel or even a quality repop, and you are used to doing metal work, the repair will be invisible.  Since these are available now why not make it right the first time?

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[suntech]

Why? Look at the pic of his inner fender. He only has a few small holes. Grind, drill and plug. No big deal (unless your not use to doing metal work and you what to waste good money). Not to metion that you take away from the original integrity of the car. This is a simple fix!

A few small holes, means that there are big areas of thin metal, even if it is not rusted through yet, and i dont think 250 bucks for a new inner fender is a lot of money. The inner fender is helping to hold the shock tower in position, so it is also about safety and structure strength. As far as integrity, if the car looses its soul, personallity and orginality by getting a fresh inner fender, it must have a fragile soul!!!
Sorry..... i am not in to simple fixes!! i like good fixes!!

[69hemi]

Why? Look at the pic of his inner fender. He only has a few small holes. Grind, drill and plug. No big deal (unless your not use to doing metal work and you what to waste good money). Not to metion that you take away from the original integrity of the car. This is a simple fix!

A few small holes, means that there are big areas of thin metal, even if it is not rusted through yet, and i dont think 250 bucks for a new inner fender is a lot of money. The inner fender is helping to hold the shock tower in position, so it is also about safety and structure strength. As far as integrity, if the car looses its soul, personallity and orginality by getting a fresh inner fender, it must have a fragile soul!!!
Sorry..... i am not in to simple fixes!! i like good fixes!!

I couldn't agree more which is evident in the metal work on my website

[suntech]

Yup, checked your website, and that is the way to do things. Now when AMD and Classic Body Designs are coming up with good quality replacement parts, i see NO reason to patch at all!!
Since i live in Europe, shipping is a big expence, so i have ordered pretty much everything AMD has for my 68, to ship toether with the car.
BTW like your slogun!!! 611 Hemi, is that big enaugh??

[BRS]

I've been working on these cars for a very long time. A simple fix does not mean it's not a quality fix. And why would to grind the metal to the point of being too thin. If you knew how to repair it that's not necessary. When I do a repair you can't even see it! I guess we agree to disagree. Prior to these panels being made I made them myself, still have the cars and never had a problem. The bottom line is you do what your most comfortable with. If you have the skills use them, if not use a re-pop. And I should add that anytime you remove a panel you could take away from the structural integrity. Personally I like original sheetmetal and like to save as much of it as possible.