is there a patch panel available to remove the spare tire indentation on the lh rear fender?

 

I've never seen one, just purchase another fender, I got one from Ford in Michagan years ago don't knoe if they are still available there however, there are several vendors that have them i.e., Mid-Fifty, Blue Oval, Dennis Carpenter, plus several others. Look at the sponsors listed on the left of the page.

 

I would offer it as a trade in the swap meet section here.https://www.ford-trucks.com/classifi...dex.php/cat/19
I think there are a few who want the spare side mounted, and would trade you for that fender.

 

I'll echo the thought of offering up a trade, I know there have been people who want the spare tire mount fender.

Another though however, is that quite often people made these indentations themselves by cutting out the piece in a normal fender, flipping the cutout over and rewelding the piece in to make an indent. I'd have to see your particular fender to see if it had been done that way, because if it was, you could possibly just do the reverse process to restore it to original

 

When I first saw the header for this post I thought about the posts about people looking for a fender with the spare tire indent and thought this was another, just the opposite. I agree with the swap idea.

 

Definately go for the swap. People trashed the spare tire fenders for years. Now they are looking for them (and even making their own). The tire mount (reproductions) are going for a hefty price now and they used to be scrapped.

I am really glad mine has one (and the mount). I like it being up there.

 

They all came that way from what I've seen, w/ what the Ford Truck Shop Manual, along w/ the Parts & Accessories Books show & no one that I've ever found makes a patch panel to get rid of it, as it's there for a reason.

As it's been stated in the past, PLEASE List what YEAR truck you are discussing in your posts Header, as it really helps to know w/o having to search your Info for it to find out, greatly appreciated.

 

Of course if you wait long enough Julie will come by and offer some off the wall alternative - and here it is.

On my 51 I actually wanted to install the bedside spare carrier-and on the drivers side, because it's a real pain to crawl under the truck in a skirt and heels to get at the spare. And In California, you don't want it on the road side you will be killed!

I couldn't find a fender with the indent (they did not make F1 fenders with indents - true!) so I made one. I used the top front corner of the junk rear fender on the opposite side, and turned it front to back and inside out. Beat it with a hammer to square out the back seam some. I brazed it in and smoothed it out. It turned out really great!

But one of the things I did just to be a little snooty, was I kept the piece I cut out of the fender to put in the indent, and I put a couple pins in it so I could make a removeable cover for that hole when I'm not mounting the spare. I call it the "Cadillac Cover" Looks great on.

Here's a couple of pictures of my work on it!







See the cut out piece sitting up on the fender? There are two small holes in the vertical back wall of the indent and on in the lower "bowl" I have three 1/4 inch pins brazed on that cover that fit in these holes that are slightly mis centered to cause tension and hold the cover on good and snug - even at 75 mph!







This looks very sharp with the "Continental Kit" installed. When I get the ring back from the chrome shop, I'll post some more pictures.

So, long story short, if you can, why not build a "Cadilac Cover" for the hole that is removeable, have it look nice without the spare on or still functional with it on!!!!!!!!

Cool?????!!!!

Have fun,
J!
PS....I heard you could just cut out the piece and flip it over to make the indent. Maybe someone has done it, but from my experience, that's not really going to work unless you can cut EXACTLY and EQUALLY from the pivotal tangent of the corner of the fender. Even then the back edge (from th evertical plate) is rounded and the cut out has to be VERY large to accomodate any tire. You list a 55 F-100, 1956 was the first year Ford offered that indent on the 1/2 ton truck. (and I'm sure we will have lots of debate about that - ok)