Fender Shims
#1
Fender Shims
I'm getting ready to replace the front fenders on my '80 F100 and noticed that the two bolts into the bracket off of the firewall at the cowl (between the cowl and the hood spring) have some type of (deteriorating) shims. Does anyone know what this material and/or what would be a good substitute? Would it need to compress a little to get the fender aligned?
#2
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#5
I got this shim/spacer at the JY this morning. It's hard to tell what it is made of, maybe resin impregnated laminated paper. My Ford dealer says they are not available. Their parts printout lists the part as #16D162 in Section P25106 Fenders and Related Parts. Would using washers (vinyl-coated or stainless) work? Is the original part suppose to reduce any possible metal-to-metal contact squeaking noise?
#6
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That's exactly what that's for. To keep the fenders from metal to metal contact and squeaking.
That is not a body shim.
Body shims are metal and are used to bring into alighnment the body lines of the seperate parts. Most all trucks have them from the factory. Used on radiator supports, fenders, front bumpers etc...
I'd just re-use that one.
That is not a body shim.
Body shims are metal and are used to bring into alighnment the body lines of the seperate parts. Most all trucks have them from the factory. Used on radiator supports, fenders, front bumpers etc...
I'd just re-use that one.
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#8
#9
If I remember, those things are actually kinda thick and I'm having a hard time thinking up of common household items that could be adapted.
For example, I think of bathtub mats, or rubber Welcome mats, or Rubbermaid stuff that goes over the center section of a two-well kitchen sink.
Obviously, I'm thinking some sort of rubber-like material.
I think the factory used something that seems paper-like, prolly cuz it's cheaper (important when you're building bazillions of the things).
For example, I think of bathtub mats, or rubber Welcome mats, or Rubbermaid stuff that goes over the center section of a two-well kitchen sink.
Obviously, I'm thinking some sort of rubber-like material.
I think the factory used something that seems paper-like, prolly cuz it's cheaper (important when you're building bazillions of the things).
#12
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#14
Original Shims Were Pressed Cardboard
I know I am a little late, by a few years, but you can make them out of pressed cardboard paper. Thats what the original shims were made of.
Gets some elmers glue. About 5-6 sheets of cardboard paper. They are between a 1/16-1/8 in thick. It looks similar to the piece of cardboard paper in the back of a legal writing pad or notebook. I bought them at Michaels. It's a crafts store. Mix the glue with some water. About a 50-50 solution is good. Lay a piece on your work bench. Brush the top of that piece with the mixture. Let it soak in. Only takes a few minutes. Do it again, then place a new sheet on top of it. Soak the top of that one, and so on, until you've done 5 pieces. Finally, brush the mixture onto the top of the 5th piece, letting it soak in, then doing it again. Then do the bottom piece in the same manner as the others. I laid it out onto the top of a gallon size plastic freezer bag. I put another freezer bag on top of it. I put my 1984 Ford F150 Manual on top and a 25 lb weight on top of that. I waited about a week for them to thoroughly dry.
I used the old ones to create new stencils to use on the new pressed cardboard I created. I cut them with a jigsaw. Worked great. I used a drill bit to start on some of the stencils. Some of the paper got messed up on the backside, but it turned out okay. I used a palm sander on all 6 sides. Then I made some more glue mixture and brushed them a final time, letting it soak into all 6 sides.
I think they came out really nice. Very sturdy. Im sure they will be great shims. I think there were three on each side. I'm doing a ground up on my 1984 Ford F150 2WD. Trying to keep as much as possible original. I'll be putting those fenders on pretty soon.
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