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If you're trying to restore the truck back to original, what is the correct fastener to use to hold the rear fender to the bracket? Also, what should the finish be? It looks like the person who restored the truck pictured below used a carriage bolt and painted it body color but I think I've seen several that were chrome. One of the bed side bolts used to fasten the rear fender to the bed looks like it would work but it would have a flat head rather than the domed head of a carriage bolt. Would that be correct?
The original equipment fasteners were 5/16" fine thread carriage bolts that fit into a square hole in the fender. I don't have my parts book handy with the original length, but they were probably 3/4" to 1" long. I would guess that the finish of the original fasteners was plain steel because they were originally painted body color just like on the truck in the picture. I'm not even sure if you can find a fine thread carriage bolt any more. One of the restoration supply houses may carry them or you could also check McMaster Carr. The ones that you've seen that looked like they had a chrome finish were very likely part of a polished stainless steel bolt kit and not original equipment.
