A update on the progress of the fenders. I've got most of the metal patches welded in, still a few more to go.

 

Really nice Bob,your work is amazing

 

I got some done on the '52 clip this weekend. I got the bottoms of the fenders repaired, made and installed the backing braces for the area where the top and bottom fenders meet and the area where the running board bolts to the bottom of the fenders:





Found this rot spot on the back side of the right fender:

 

No shrinker/stretcher Bob? That patch would have been much easier to make flat in 1 piece then shrunk along the flange to curve it. Nice work tho.

 

Bob,
I'm constantly amazed at what you are able to accomplish with basic hand tools and some determination. I appreciate you sharing the pics with us as well. I know it inspires me and I'm sure it does the same for others.


I know its easy to get bogged down in the "I don't have the right tools, or I don't have a shop" mentality. Watching your progress brings us back to reality and help us realize that all these things can be accomplished. Sure they might take a little more time and some creative thinking, but it can be done, and done well.


thanks
Bobby

 

Nicely put bobby I agree

 

nice work. good to see those fenders saved.

 

Great job! While I enjoy watching the hot rod shows on TV, everyone of them has a shop full of equipment the average guy can't afford. Lets take this over to the pullmax and then finish it on the english wheel. I think it leads some to believe you must have those tools to accomplish simple tasks. I have a friend who didn't make his own brake lines because he saw one of the shows using a $200 dollar eastwood flare tool and thought that's what you needed to do the job. Before the restoration hobby became big business, guys would make all the patch panels they needed with simple tools. It seems that we've forgot what a guy can do with basic tools and some ingenuity.
It's amazing what you can do when you don't know you can't. Keep it up, Bob!

 

What did Henry Ford say about that? He said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."

 

What did Henry Ford say about that? He said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."

Sorry about the double post! I guess I can't!

 

I would like a shop full of specialty tools, if I did this work for living I suppose I would invest in them. I believe in using the correct tool for the job but doing this as a hobby I can't justify the cost. I also like to how I can work the metal with simple tools.

 

Finally got the fenders to the point where I can hand them off to Jim to do the finish work. These parts were in really bad shape, I think most, if not everyone else, would have pasted on them. Took a lot more than what I thought it would take to make them whole again.






As of last night. It needs a few scratches and nicks filled and a little block sanding but should be ready to mount on the truck.

 

That front clip instantly made your forklift triple in value. A monkey face, on the other hand, would devalue the forklift.

 

I suppose you could call it a "Fordlift" now.

 

Bob,
I saw you question about the lower valance. I have no clue, but, it got me thinking again about something I've wondered about. When doing bodywork on individual parts how do you know you have the right shape? For example, when one of our fenders is off of the truck its pretty wimbly-wambly. Do you bolt the thing to a had surface? install some kind of bracing? How do you do it?

Bobby