Can 2wd aprons be used in a 4x4 ? I've heard they are different, but are they way different or can minor modifications take care of it ?

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are 2-3 different types of inner fenders. Not sure what makes them different, but I did have one made in Canada sitting next to one made in the USA and they were VERY different. Bolt holes were all the same, in the same location, but the bends and shape were not.

I personally have fit my 2WD inner fenders (actually the entire front clip) from a 2WD truck onto my (now) 4WD truck. The overall dimensions are the same and they fit just as the original 4WD inner fenders did.

I was originally going to just swap a single inner fender from the 2WD truck to the 4WD truck, but once I had them all bolted up, I noticed some pretty major differences between the old and new. Something just didn't look right between the left (2WD) and right (4WD). They both fit, but were very different in appearance. So instead, I just bolted an entire front clip on.

 

Interesting. if you look at the repops the RH side shows to be for a 2wd only, the LH is for either 2wd or 4x4. it's possible the difference is minor if you made it work.

I'm sure the fenders are the same. maybe you had a repop or something.

 

My left side inner fender came from a '78 2wd and I had to do some cutting to get it to fit around the steering box in my '79 3/4 ton 4x4.

 

The LH being different would make more sense. not what LMC lists but with repop stuff who knows.

I'd be putting them on a high boy with a Benchworks steering conversion so maybe I wouldn't have to cut much. in any case if that's the only difference I can deal with that.

 

D9TZ-16054-A (replaced D3TZ-16054-A) .. Right Fender Inner Apron / Obsolete

1973/79 F100/350 2WD/4WD & Bronco.
--------------------------------------------
D9TZ-16055-A (replaced D3TZ-16055-A) .. Left Fender Inner Apron / Obsolete

1973/79 F100/350 4WD & 1978/79 Bronco.
-------------------------------------------------
D9TZ-16055-B (replaced D3TZ-16055-B) .. Left Fender Inner Apron / Obsolete

1973/79 F100/350 2WD

 

So it is the left that's different, and that makes sense.

I compared them the best I can on the vehicle and the difference must be pretty minor I can't see anything obvious. I guess I'll find out when I go to put it on.

 

So far I've seen at least two dents on FTE that had fabricated/modified the inner fender apron in order to present a smoother appearance. Here is one example:



I could not tell whether this truck also used the plastic inner fender wells that attach to the fender lip.

 

Far as I remember it is the left that is different because of the different steering/power steering setups, the way the hoses/lines are bent/run are different, if you've been around these trucks then you know there are many different power steering hoses from pump to frame box which causes interference with inner fenders, as well as the frame mounted steering boxes causing intereference with left inner fender, as well as different brake line routings from M/C to proportioning valve and different placing of valve either in frame or beside inner fender under M/C but brake lines shouldn't interfere with inner fender - just makes installation of other components more difficult. AFAIK any left inner fender will work if you want to trim it around the steering obstacles.

 

That's pretty much what it looks like after more research. I have the Benchworks high boy steering conversion so I may have to modify it anyway. though I didn't have to on the original apron.