I am in the process of repairing my 51 F1's front fenders - repairing the usual rust. I noticed that my passenger side fender has a inspection plate on the underside of the front of the fender above the headlight.

The driver's side fender does not have the plate. LMC Truck and Sacramento Vintage Ford show two gaskets required - one for a plate on each fender.

I know that my truck was in an accident some time in the last 65 years and the driver's fender was replaced (don't know when.)

Did Ford (or an aftermarket supplier) sell replacement fenders with out the inspection plate? There are other signs that tell me the fender is not the same as the original (pass side), such as wrinkled metal on the bottom edge of the fender that looks like poor stamping.

The fender has been on there a long time and is rusted through in the same places as the pass fender. The driver's fender has a hole in the top of the fender where someone may have installed a turn signal lamp. The passenger side does not.

So my assumption is that a P.O. may have installed a used fender that was not a Ford original.

I measured the wheel opening and compared it to the pass side. It appears to be a F1 fender but different than the original.

Anybody seen this before?

Any thoughts? Just curious why it's different. I plan on using the fender regardless.

Thanks

Dan

 

That's the air inlet for the MagicAir heater

 

Thanks, Ross
So, if I understand correctly, 51, 52 F1's only have the plate plate on the passenger fender because of the Magic Air Heater. Therefore, no plate on the driver's side because it's not needed.

That sounds reasonable, but why to the venders sell the gaskets in a set of two?

 

Must be one gasket between fender and screen, and one on top of the screen for the duct?

 

Ross

I think you hit the.nail on the head, thank you.

I learn something from the guys on FTE every day.

I appreciate the help.

Thanks

Dan

 

No gasket between screen & duct . The screen is tacked to the intake duct . Both gaskets go between the duct & fender . The original gasket for '48-'52 trucks is wedge shaped . !/8 " thick on the narrow (outside ) & 9/16 " thick on the larger opening ( inside ). This is to allow the long mid tube to rotate for fender clearance . The 3 pc. fresh air tube is tight under the RF fender w/ the fender supports . Have a mold made for them but need to have it reproduced in aluminum to pour the rubber in . A 2018 objective along w/ the e-brake cable boots .

 

This is a good picture that Denny (firstrider) posted that shows the external heater duct.

 

Pete,
Thanks for posting that great picture of Denny's truck!
It answers a ton of questions for me as a bunch of my stuff was missing when I got it...

Doc

 

Yes, I thought it was a great picture when he posted it. I would send him a PM of what you need. He has a lot of heater parts. He reconditions them and the ones that I have gotten from him have been great. I only have one more piece that I need - the tube between the Ford heater and the side cowl vent. Square on one end and round on the other.