Front fender seals
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 44
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From: Spring Lake, Mi.
Front fender seals
I'm ready to install the front fenders on my '50 F1. I bought some rubber seals from Midwest Early Ford that install between the fender rear edge and the cowl. I have acouple of questions. In a street rod application, does anyone use them? If so, are they glued to the fender before installation, and if so, does anyone know the orientation??? They are not symmetrical and could be installed either way.
Thanks, olguy
Thanks, olguy
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 261
From: East KY
If it's an F-1 (regardless of whether it's bone stock or highly customized), you'll need em. Otherwise, you will have a huge gap between the fender and cowl that will catch wind, dirt, water, and everything else that flies up under that fender, regardless if it's a street rod or whatever. They fit best if you put the deeper edge against the fender. As far as gluing them in place, it's been my experience that depends on high tight the gap is. If it's really wide, you'll need some weatherstrip glue. If it's tight, they're going anywhere. A little soap and water goes a long way if it's a tight fit. I would install them after you have the fender mounted.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 221
Likes: 2
From: Wildwood, Mo
Fender seals
I'm ready to install the front fenders on my '50 F1. I bought some rubber seals from Midwest Early Ford that install between the fender rear edge and the cowl. I have acouple of questions. In a street rod application, does anyone use them? If so, are they glued to the fender before installation, and if so, does anyone know the orientation??? They are not symmetrical and could be installed either way.
Thanks, olguy
Thanks, olguy
Also the flat part of the seal lays with the fender not the cab. So it appears like an extension of the fender and they but up against the cab. Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you want a picture or two. Patrick
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 221
Likes: 2
From: Wildwood, Mo
Front Fender Seals
I took 3 pics. The seal is sorta H shaped and the longest leg goes on top of the outside of the fender. Also, you'll want to use a thick fabric that comes in a roll between the fender and inner fender and also between the front of the fender and grill and body parts above and bellow the grill. Sorry, I am having trouble posting the pictures and I can't remember the name of the fabric maybe welting. It is about 1/16th inch thick as I remember. Using home made staples in the original holes, you will need to fasten the seal before installing the fender. The seal goes all the way to the bottom of the fender and gets clamped between fender and small extension of fender below the cab and disappears below the running board. If I had your email, I could send you the 3 pictures. Patrick
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 221
Likes: 2
From: Wildwood, Mo
Pics of fender seal
view under fender, see staple that attaches seal to rear of fender.
view straight up under rear edge of fender. See seal end with longer leg on outer surface of fender. The seal is U shape just to left center of picture.<br/>
Fender seal at rear of fender<br/>
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
When I replaced mine, I put them the other way, with the long side of the rubber against the cab. Most of the restorations I've seen have them installed as shown in the pictures above, but the originals on my '52 were the other way. The short end of the rubber wouldn't cover the rub marks in the paint where the originals had ridden. If you think about it, there is very little movement of the fender in and out in relation to the cab, and normal movement with the frame flexing, etc. would be for the fender to move up, down, fore, and aft in relation to the cab. I've owned (2) '52's and both had the seals installed as I've described. I often wonder if all of the assembly plants installed them exactly the same way. I think mine are installed correctly.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,594
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From: North Central Arkansas
52 4X4, My '49 F4, a '51 F2 Parts truck that I have and a '48 F4 that is here locally, were all assembled at Kansas City. None of these trucks had the foam rubber fender to cowl seals from the factory. They all had a "T" shaped rubber seal, like windshield seal rubber, stapled to the flange of the fender. I don't know if this was done just at KC or if it is what was used on trucks larger than F1.
Mark
Mark
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 221
Likes: 2
From: Wildwood, Mo
When I replaced mine, I put them the other way, with the long side of the rubber against the cab. Most of the restorations I've seen have them installed as shown in the pictures above, but the originals on my '52 were the other way. The short end of the rubber wouldn't cover the rub marks in the paint where the originals had ridden. If you think about it, there is very little movement of the fender in and out in relation to the cab, and normal movement with the frame flexing, etc. would be for the fender to move up, down, fore, and aft in relation to the cab. I've owned (2) '52's and both had the seals installed as I've described. I often wonder if all of the assembly plants installed them exactly the same way. I think mine are installed correctly.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
48-50 and 51-52 use different seals (48-50 are wider). Mine look just like 4150's. I don't see how you could make the long side be against the cowl? The seals (on 51-52 at least) are shaped to snap over the fender flange, I just don't see how they could be reversed?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
Ross - Mine are "H" shaped just like 4150's. Look at his last picture and just imagine the seal flipped top to bottom. It looks about the same installed, except the wider edge is against the cab. My originals were about rotted out and pieces starting falling off - then I'd glue them back on with the yellow 3M adhesive. Eventually I got the new ones from Bob Drake, but they could have been made by Dennis Carpenter. I'll see if I still have the slip - I think it was in the 80's sometime. My F1 was made in Chicago. I sold the '52 F2 last year - will have to look up the VIN to see where it was made. - Bob
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
After reading Mark's posts on the Early Ford V8 forum, there must be some truth to what Ross posted as far as the original equipment seals were concerned, but by the time my 1954 Parts Book was printed, the 7C-16068 seals were shown as correct for all '48-'52 trucks with conventional cabs. You would think if this was an updated part number it would be something like 1C-16068 rather than a new part with the old number. I checked on the '52 F2 that I sold last year, and it was built in Richmond - had the seals with the long side toward the cab. I wasn't able to find the receipt for the seals I installed on the F1. I put them on so they go straight down below the running boards at the bottom like 4150 did his. It's odd how the parts books show them with a molded-in 90 degree angle at the bottom - maybe the originals were like that, not sure. - Bob
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
I have used every trick I can think of to find the old thread where this was discussed on here. (I don't see the discussion on EFV8's forums? can you provide a link?) I remember BobbyT's truck was over here around the time I fitted my fenders, and it was striking how much wider the gap was compared to mine. I just looked at mine more closely, and I can see how the seal I have would fill a wider gap if it were flipped over, so maybe the seal design just happens to work for both 48-50 and 51-52, just oriented opposite ways?