I am still struggling to get all my front end sheet metal to align and the hood to work properly before I move onto painting my 53 F-100. Dumb question: Does the hood locking panel (aka Upper Radiator Valance) fit over the fenders or do the fenders fit over that panel?

 

They (fenders) go under the panel. They are sandwiched between it and the inner fender.

 

EffieTrucker, thanks for the reply. I thought the positioning was as you say, but I just wanted to check. My question tells a lot about how long it's been since I had this truck back together in one piece.