Fender help

[FordTudor1931]

The front fenders of my 31 Tudor needs some help. The fenders are fiberglass and the paint is not good. I have been trying to figure out what to do and came up with three options (#1 really not what I want to do).

#1. Repair as best as I can with spot painting and polishing
#2. Try to find steel fenders and paint professionally
#3. Sand the glass fenders and have them professionally painted

The back fenders are also glass, but they are in great shape and need no help.

Are there other options? How should I proceed?

I am listening and thanking you all in advance!

[JDupuis]

I'd go with option #1. You can blend the paint after a month or so by wet sanding.
(Allow the fresh paint to cure for a month) Good luck. Jeff

[glenn in camino]

Go with option 2. Spend the money on original or repo steel fenders Steel is always better than fiberglass.

[Big hammer]

I've heard repo 31 front fenders don't fit well, locate originals

[Mike V. Florida]

#3 if the paint is really bad.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Well, that settles it, go with 1, 2, or 3.

I'd touch them up and blend in the paint.
Finding good original fenders can be costly.

[Frank Miller]

Are you satisfied with fiberglass fenders? It is hard to give advice when we do not know exactly what the paint problem is. Get them looked at by a professional so you can tell us whether it is just a paint issue or much deeper. If it shows hazing and cracking it will be approached differently than if you just have some chips and maybe paint polished through. Steel will look better and originals will be expensive or need a lot of work which is the same thing. The decision is what you want your car to be to you. You're the only one who needs to enjoy it.

[Mikeinnj]

A photo would help.

[FordTudor1931]

I apologize for not giving you needed background information. So here we go: The car is a driver appearing in local shows and parades and a yearly visit to Gilmore. Fiberglass fenders are OK, even if steel would be better.

The quality of the fenders is good, meaning no cracks or structural weaknesses. There are half a dozen places on one fender with fairly deep scratches and a few, small places where the paint has disappeared. The most annoying is a V shaped scratch at the very crown of the fender, always visible. I am reluctant to start sanding down the entire fender, but it may be what is needed....

[J Franklin]

Fiberglass is easily repaired and painted. get a bid from a paint shop and maybe some backyard painters from Craigslist and get them refinished. You can then always keep your eyes open for steel while enjoying your car with glass fenders. I would strongly advise having the undersides shot with thick rubberized undercoating as rock chips from the road are the biggest destroyer of fiberglass fenders.

[aford193031]

#3 is the way I would go if I had the same choice, especially with my budget.

[JohnLaVoy]

Repro steel work very well. We've used all the years and they all fit with minimal adjustments.

[Licensed to kill]

I would go with option #3 but I would remove them to have them done. There really is no good reason to go to steel IMO. I have 4 model A's, two with steel (one original steel and one with repop steel) and two with 'glass. If impressing people by saying "it's all steel" is important to you, then go with steel. If you are not interested in impressing others, no reason not to leave the 'glass ones on. You will be the only one that will know if no-one touches your car, taps on the fender of feels the edge for a bead, and if they do that, they are just looking for something to debase your baby and they can go pound sand. JMO

[FordTudor1931]

Thank you for giving the input I was looking for. The decision is to remove the fenders from the car (done!), sand and have professionally painted. The newly painted fenders will be returned to the car for the 2018 driving season, while I continue to look for steel fender replacement.

[aford193031]

Post some pics when yo get them back on the car. I know everyone would love to see your car with the "new fenders".

[Big hammer]

A pair of 30-31 front fenders in the swap meet site look pretty good 350$ for the pair !

[FordTudor1931]

Thanks Big hammer for the heads up. The fenders do look good, but unfortunately I need the left fender welled.

[flatford39]

Originally Posted by FordTudor1931

Thanks Big hammer for the heads up. The fenders do look good, but unfortunately I need the left fender welled.

You can cut one in. All the vendors sell the wells

[Terry, NJ]

It's hard to say! Myself I would probably sand and fix up the fbglass for a time until I can get some really nice 31s. How does one fix them you ask. Well I guess Bondo or some other filler. Just plop it on and sand it off. When the contours match the rest of the fender, stop sanding and Prime it. For what you are doing (Temporary) use Rustoleum or black Implement paint from TSC. To spray it, use a Harbor freight "Purple" Gun (Cost about $10-15 depending what time of the month) These "Purple guns" are one of the best things things that HF sells. There are many youtube videos about them. Get a gallon of the cheapest lacquer thinner they sell (Not paint thinner) for clean up. Tell us if this is what you are going to do so people here can guide you.
Terry