body man help needed.Whats the difference between the fenders??

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Bentstang

New Member

Sep 23, 2004

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Oct 4, 2004

#1

• Oct 4, 2004

• #1

I have a 91 gt convert that has 89 fenders on it. I have been told by a body supply house that the fenders are different between 87-90 and 91-93 but they had no idea what the difference is. I checked into it a little further and found out that it is true that they are different but nobody I have spoken to knows the difference. Does any body kout there know the difference? I have a half inch gap between the two side effects on the gt and figured the fenders were causing it so I bought some specific to the 91 mustang. It didn't fix the problem and the fenders looked the same to me. Can anybody out there shed some light on my problem. Help me that half inch gap looks like crap!!

 

trbkrb

Founding Member

Jun 4, 2001

1,976

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39

Houston, TX

Oct 4, 2004

#2

• Oct 4, 2004

• #2

The fernders are basically interchangeable. The only difference I know of is with the lower front part of the ground effects below the center body side trim. Ford shortened the fender and the ground effects on the GT and the fender extension on the LX to allow for more clearance with the 16" pony wheels in 91. The pre 91 fenders are pretty much straight down from the center moldings while the 91-93 are cut back towards the front, continuing the curve of the fender opening. There is about a 1.5" difference in the fender extensions and GT ground effects between the years.

The 91+ GT ground effects will not fit a 90 down fender without cutting the fender itself.

If yours is off anyplace on the fender, then most likely it is not a result of having the "wrong" fenders, but just a bad fitting fender. Is it a Ford fender or an aftermarket one?

 

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Bentstang

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Sep 23, 2004

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Oct 5, 2004

#3

• Oct 5, 2004

• #3

They are after market fenders. I measured them and the left is almost exactly the same as the 89 oe fender and the right is a 1/4 shorter. I'll think I'll try to find some used oe fenders to see if they are a closer fit. This thing is trashed I'm just trying to get all the right parts for it so it goes back together nicely. Almost everything on it is from a 89 hood, fenders, trunk, steering column, dash, seats and seat belts.
I've had the gt for a month and have been picking up most of the right stuff on ebay. It's hard knowing what was original for it because it was a theft recovery so it had no vin on the dash or Id tag on the door. There is the correct vin tags under the fenders and some kind of Id tag on the front radiator support but I haven't been able to see what info it holds.
Thanks for the info. I figured that was the difference so I tried those cheap fenders thinking it would solve my problem, boy was I wrong!
The 89 fenders are in good shape so I might try to modify them before I go hunting for 91-93 fenders.

 

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Matts89LX5.0

Founding Member

Nov 1, 2002

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Long Island, NY

Oct 5, 2004

#4

• Oct 5, 2004

• #4

i got some 87-90 fenders and some 91-93 fenders for sale. just let me know btw located on long island and trbkrb is correct about the fender information

 

Legendary

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2002

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City of Angels

Oct 5, 2004

#5

• Oct 5, 2004

• #5

I just put so 17" cobra R's on the car and now I have a rubbing problem with the front fender when I corner hard. Will getting the 91-93 fenders help or am I better off just modding the ones I have?

 

PACETTR

Member

May 9, 2003

53

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6

Mustang, OK

Oct 5, 2004

#6

• Oct 5, 2004

• #6

My understanding was that the 91-3 fenders are a bit "wider" thus allowing greater tire clearance...
Anyone know for sure

 

Legendary

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2002

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City of Angels

Oct 5, 2004

#7

• Oct 5, 2004

• #7

Well I don't have an issue with the tires rubbing front and back. It's mainly the top of the tire getting cut into by the bottom of the fender. I too don't really understand what is wider on the 91 fenders and if they would help my situation out.

 

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Bentstang

New Member

Sep 23, 2004

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Oct 5, 2004

#8

• Oct 5, 2004

• #8

From what I have been told so far it sounds like the back of the fender is shorter by about a half inch and the front is a little less than that. Maybe matts89lx5.0 could tell us for sure since he has both style of fenders
I have another set of after markets on order but wont see them until the 20th. They are a different brand than the first set I got and are supposed to fix like oe. I know for sure that the oe 87-90 fenders pull my gt ground effect forward a half inch and looks like crap!

 

racer_inboston

Founding Member

Feb 2, 2002

310

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boston, ma

Dec 12, 2005

#9

• Dec 12, 2005

• #9

OOOPs, I just bought vis z3 style fenders (fiberglass) and didn't take this into consideration. I have a 1992 gt vert

dam

 

bobcatv8

Member

Aug 25, 2004

141

1

16

Ocala,FL

Dec 13, 2005

#10

• Dec 13, 2005

• #10

Nothing fits as good as a genuine Ford fender.
Been there, done that! Good used OEMs shouldn't be that hard to find!

 

Black1987Stang

Active Member

Aug 22, 2004

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37

Jersey Shore

Dec 14, 2005

#11

• Dec 14, 2005

• #11

If ur talking about between the door and the fender, my fender sticks out a little from the door. on each side too, i heard it was from jacking it up at the wrong spots

 

jammer84_03

New Member

Nov 30, 2003

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Dec 14, 2005

#12

• Dec 14, 2005

• #12

the 90 and later fenders are wider and allow a bigger tire to be placed in the fenderwell without modification. the pre-89 are just a little smaller.

"All cars prior to 1990 have a more narrow lower front wheel opening. Consequently, it is more difficult to use fat series of tires on these cars without modifying the fenders" - mustang performance handbook 2 (the bible of fox mustang setup)