Correcting fender gap

[facelessnumber]

My truck has apparently had one or both fenders replaced at some point, and as a result I've got excessive gap on both sides between the fenders and the hood. It bugs the hell out of me. I know there's got to be a simple way to correct this. What bolts do I need to loosen in order to move those fenders in a bit tighter?

 

[84k20]

I have the same Problem as well figured i would get around to fixing it when I finally paint the truck but wouldnt Hurt to know how to do it now

 

[chengny]

This might help:

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION


Front Fender

See Figures 1 and 2

1.Raise and support the hood.
2.Remove the headlamp bezel.
3.Remove the right or left radiator grille molding nuts.
4.Remove the upper and lower molding clip nuts.
5.Remove the radiator grille molding.
6.Remove the lower radiator grille to fender bolts.
7.Remove the cowl vent grille.
8.Remove the hood spring assembly.
9.Remove the radiator support to fender bolts.
10.Remove the wheelhouse panel to shield bolts.
11.Remove the shield to underbody retainers.
12.Remove the shield.
13.Remove the wheelhouse panel to fender bolts.
14.Remove the lower door pillar to fender bolt and shim.
15.Remove the fender to cowl bolt and shim.
16.Open the front door.
17.Remove the upper fender to door pillar bolt and shim.
18.Remove the fender from the vehicle.
19.Remove the insulator from the fender.


To install:

20.Attach the insulator to the fender.
21.Attach the fender to the vehicle.
22.Loosely attach the upper fender to the door pillar and shim as required.
23.Loosely fasten the cowl bolt and shim as required.
24.Loosely attach the lower door pillar to the fender bolt and shim as required.
25.Reattach the radiator support to fender bolts. Tighten all bolts to 13 ft. lbs. (17 Nm).
26.Attach wheelhouse to fender bolts and tighten to 13 ft. lbs. (17 Nm).
27.Tighten the lower door pillar to fender bolt to 31 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
28.Attach the shield to the vehicle.
29.Attach the wheelhouse panel to shield bolts.
30.Tighten the fender to cowl bolt and the upper fender to door pillar to 31 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
31.Reattach the hood spring assembly.
32.Install the cowl vent grille.
33.Attach the lower radiator grille to fender bolts.
34.Install the grille molding.
35.Install the upper and lower grille molding clip nuts.
36.Install the upper and lower grille molding nuts.
37.Install the headlamp.
38.Install the headlamp bezel.

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[bucket]

The best method is determined by a couple other things. Is the gap wide, but even the whole length? Wider gap towards the front? Fenders sticking out a little past the surface of the front doors?

 

[facelessnumber]

The best method is determined by a couple other things. Is the gap wide, but even the whole length? Wider gap towards the front? Fenders sticking out a little past the surface of the front doors?

That gap is about right with the door, and with the hood toward the cowl. It gets wider toward the front of the hood, on both sides.

 

[bucket]

There's not a whole lot that can be done in that case, unless somebody has added shims up there for some reason. Usually aftermarket fenders are the cause of large gaps at the front, and the fix for it often involves minor body damage. That's why fenders are supposed to be fitted to the vehicle before they are painted. Unfortunately, whoever put it together did not do that.

 

[facelessnumber]

Lame. Yes I'm pretty sure this truck does have at least one aftermarket fender. I was hoping the answer would be "slot some holes in the core support" or something like that. Oh well. I will continue thinking about it, and staring at it, since it's the only thing I see when I look at it, until I come up with some (hopefully not too drastic) means of dealing with it. It's pretty minor but man it bugs me. Thanks for the info, y'all.

 

[bucket]

The problem is that the fender bolts flat to the ends of the core support, the fender can't be adjusted in by the bolt holes because it's already right up against the core support.

There's a chance it could be fixed without damaging any part of the fender that is noticeable, but it would require the fender be completely removed.

 

[dogbone80]

Get some thick washers and shim it...done

 

[bucket]

Get some thick washers and shim it...done

The goal is to close up the gaps some... not make them wider.

 

[bucket]

Get some thick washers and shim it...done

Haha, this coming from the guy that can't figure out how to close his hood.

 

[RetroC10Sport]