My drivers side bracket was cracked and then we kind of fixed it. My passenger side one is fine, except for the paint that has been scratched off by the frame rail (I have some chassis flexing going on when I race). I am curious on how the rubber mount comes out.

hotrod48

 

At lunch I went and cruised the aisles of the local hardware store (I use the term loosely) to see if I could come up with some kind of rubber isolater. What I had in mind originally was maybe an engine mount for a small engine powered piece of equipment but while cruising I stumbled upon the plumbing section and found some rubber cone washers. The ones I chose have a 3/8" ID and a 3/4"OD and are approx 7/16" thick. The best part is that I spent less than $2.00 for 4 of the washers.
I think that if I take the lower inner fender mounting hole and drill it out to approx 5/8" and then install a cone washer on the mounting stud I migth be in good shape. Or maybe sandwdich the inner fender between two of the rubber cone washers.

Any thoughts????

Bobby

 

Bobby, what's that smaller hole in the inner fender for? That's real close to where my lower bolt is. Maybe you can just omit the frame connection?

 

Ross,
I don't know. I'll take a look at it and see where it lines up to the cab mount strut. That might be an even easier solution.

Bobby

 

I have got that same hole (That just doesn't sound right). It is only on the driver's side inner fender. There is no hole on the cab mount strut, so I don't know why it is there. Any suggestions?

hotrod48

 

Does it line up with the cab mount strut? If so I think I'll use it as a mounting point and drill one int he passenger side to match and not worry about the lower mounts at the frame.

Bobby

 

I'm too lazy to hoof it out to the garage to look at mine, but there are several places on the front, lower part of the inners where they put rubber bumpers to keep the inners from rattling against the frame. It looks a little too big for that, but it might be one of those.

I was taking apart a '51 grille this weekend, and discovered some more trivial differences among the years. First of all, the '51 used all split-nuts for assembly. (These are the kind that are sort of like castle nuts but with very thin slices, to make them lock I guess) The nice thing about them is they allow penetrating oil to get right down in there. Also, all three grille "teats" on the '51 are bolted on, while on the '52 the center one is bolted on, the outer ones were spot-welded. I always wondered how people were chroming theirs, figured they must be drilling out the welds.

 

Aww, man, reading through this really gets me. After all that time out in some guy's field, cutting the lower part of a 49 F-1's driver's inner panel off with tin snips and hacksaw, and then getting it home and grafting on to my 51's busted lower inner fender mount, I find out all that work was to fix it back to the original design flaw?!

 

I think that this falls into the "one step back" category of "two steps forward and one step back"

Ross,
I was too lazy this morning to look at that mounting hole also. Hopefully tonight I can get a look at it and make some kind of decision.
One of these days I'm going to get off my lazy rear and get over to your place to look at that gorgeous truck of yours

Bobby

 

I had a chance to look at the inne fender and the cab mount strut a little more closely last night. The inner fender overlaps the cab mount strut by 3/4" to 1" from the upper mounting tab all the way down to the cab mount bolt. There is even provisions for a couple of rubber bumbers (ie, the 2 small holes).

I think the easiest and best solution here is to completely do away with the lower inner fender mounting tab that attaches to the frame and put a couple of bolts through the overlapping area of the inner fender and the cab mount strut.

That would allow the entire front clip assy to ride on rubber and eliminate those pesky stress crack on the inner fenders.

Thanks everyone
Bobby

 

ive been researching this topic. does that man it doesnt matter what inner fenders i use as long as idont hard bolt to the frame? i have a 51 and need both inner fenders, we installed a mII crossmember and when we went to install the front clip, my "help" saw sazzed the interfrering parts right off. now im looking for repalcements.