Body/fender gap
 

I’m getting ready to install welting.
There is a 1/2” gap on both side in the area between fender and cowl as show below. There is an open hole in the cowl on both sides. The fender is not drilled for a bolt in that area.
Welting will cover part of the gap, but is this correct/normal for the car?

Orange photo is of another 38 cs that does not have the gap..,.

Re: Body/fender gap
 

A few questions.


1. What year and standard/deluxe is the body?
2. Are the fenders original to the body? if not what year and standard/deluxe are they?
3. Were the fenders test fitted after bodywork but before paint?


Additional information please.
Photo of the cowl without fenders being installed.
Photos of the fender outside, and hood side not installed to the car.

Re: Body/fender gap
 

Oh, oh. It appears as if the fenders were worked on and painted prior to fitting them to the body.

Re: Body/fender gap
 

Yes…fenders were mounted in and condition seen in photos when I purchased car.

Is adjustment possible by loosening all mounting bolts and perhaps utilizing the hole in cowl as an additional fender mounting bolt…possibly drawing fender closer to cowl and closing the gap?

Fenders are from a 38 Deluxe parts car according to previous owner…

Re: Body/fender gap
 

I'd be fearful of cracking paint / underlying filler, etc. when applying that much stress to the sheet metal.

Re: Body/fender gap
 

Kube is (as usual) 100% correct about the possibility of cracking paint.


However, as the gap is imho unacceptable you will have to accept that stripping the paint on the fenders and re-do on the body work is almost inevitable. That said, you might get lucky.


Take it all apart. Fit the hood top to the grille and cowl. Then (finger tight) bolt the fenders to the grille and cowl. Inner fenders LAST, as holes can be opened up if there is bolt interference. Then tighten everything up. If something cracks or it looks like you are going to bend something, STOP! Re-do paint and body work time.



There are some "gotcha's" about how 1937 cowl sides carried over to 1938 standard and were modified for 1938 deluxe and 1939 standards, and how the fenders interface and mount... please post pix per above.

Re: Body/fender gap
 

Thanks guys…. will do and post updates…