Outer wheel well flange?

[65Rob]

I've been busy with other things but I'm back to the Stang again. There's a flange on the outer wheel housing that mirrors the wheel well flange on the qtr panel. Are the two supposed to be spot welded together? As it sits now with the replacement there's a bit of a gap that I would like to pinch and weld if that is correct

Thanks

 

[PoppyMod]

I've been busy with other things but I'm back to the Stang again. There's a flange on the outer wheel housing that mirrors the wheel well flange on the qtr panel. Are the two supposed to be spot welded together? As it sits now with the replacement there's a bit of a gap that I would like to pinch and weld if that is correct

Thanks

Hi Rob,

I replaced th left rear qtr. and outer wheel house in my cvt.. I don't not recall the wheel house edge being spot welded to the inner fender lip. I can understand there being a gap, as most of the hard parts are not stamped true. There being a 1/2" gap, with everything else lined up after "dry-fittting", if you pull (pinch) and spot weld, you run the risk of pulling it too much and create a gap somewhere else.
I seamed sealed the areal and have never had a problem for the past 8 years, or so. But, I don't remember a gap that large either.

Good Luck!

 

[65Rob]

Thanks for the reply, it certainly isn't a big gap, about 1/8" for the most part, the two flanges have a slightly different angle of bend so the back part is flush and the front has a bit of a gap. Like this sideways "V" below if you can imagine it, doesn't look right and will feel pretty thick seam sealed

back side < front side

 

[PoppyMod]

Thanks for the reply, it certainly isn't a big gap, about 1/8" for the most part, the two flanges have a slightly different angle of bend so the back part is flush and the front has a bit of a gap. Like this sideways "V" below if you can imagine it, doesn't look right and will feel pretty thick seam sealed

back side < front side

Hi,
I just remember when peeling off the fender it "dropped away" from this W/H area. Obviously, there was a lot of crud and rust having been captured for 40+ years, but, I saw no signs of welds.
Hmmm?

 

[mr-fixit]

The outer wheelhouse and quarter panel flanges are spot welded together. there should be ten or more spotwelds. This is what helps give the unibody strength. "massage" the parts so they fit tight together then weld. This often takes time with repo parts.

 

[65Rob]

Hi,
I just remember when peeling off the fender it "dropped away" from this W/H area. Obviously, there was a lot of crud and rust having been captured for 40+ years, but, I saw no signs of welds.
Hmmm?

Yeah that's pretty much it for mine as well, most of the W/H is rot so any welds that were there are long gone. Got any pics of your car, I'm also building a 65 vert (mild) restomod

The outer wheelhouse and quarter panel flanges are spot welded together. there should be ten or more spotwelds. This is what helps give the unibody strength. "massage" the parts so they fit tight together then weld. This often takes time with repo parts.

Excellent, that's what I was hoping for