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What to do with inner fender?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 94Blue302GT
  • Start date Start date Nov 28, 2009

94Blue302GT

Member
Oct 20, 2003
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Chicago
Nov 28, 2009
#1
  • Nov 28, 2009
  • #1
Ok, i've gotten dimensions previously from this website, and all the corners seem to be lined up pretty well in the engine bay, BUT, the guy did a bit of a hacked up job.
I'll show you the pictures. What do you recommend? Looks like he bought a front inner fender patch panel. I was thinking of buying the rear patch panel and a radiator support piece and putting those in so it's straight.
Help me with suggestions!
pictures are attatched i believe
 

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JonK

Member
Jun 6, 2007
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Nashville (Smyrna), TN
Nov 28, 2009
#2
  • Nov 28, 2009
  • #2
Hard to tell from the pics but it looks like he welded a piece on top of the upper apron above the shock tower area? It looks like it sticks up higher and may make your hood bulge there? If so I'd figure out how to cut/gring that off and weld a stock size piece in at the same level and fill as needed to get level. That's a common area where water/rust gets trapped in the center of ~5 crimp welds from the factory and a rust bubble hump develops, had to cut/grind mine out (golfball sized hole) and had a filler piece welded in to be flush.
Jon
 

94Blue302GT

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Nov 28, 2009
#3
  • Nov 28, 2009
  • #3
The piece on the right (front) is a new piece
The piece to the left (back) is the original, but all bent up and welded to the new piece.
 
2

2+2GT

10 Year Member
Apr 25, 2009
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Nov 28, 2009
#4
  • Nov 28, 2009
  • #4
I've seen worse. if the welds are sound, leave it. If not, improve them. Now for the important question. Where's the VIN?
 

94Blue302GT

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Oct 20, 2003
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Nov 30, 2009
#5
  • Nov 30, 2009
  • #5
welds are ok
ill get vin when i get home
im at hospital with a new baby boy at the moment waiting to go home probbly tomorrow

why does vin matter?
car is original 289 and 4 speed but everything else is in need of help. body is fairly straight other than front end.
 
2

2+2GT

10 Year Member
Apr 25, 2009
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#6
  • Nov 30, 2009
  • #6
94Blue302GT said:
why does vin matter?
car is original 289 and 4 speed but everything else is in need of help. body is fairly straight other than front end.
Click to expand...

Because the only visible legal VIN on your car is supposed to be on the top of that fender apron. If you don't have one there, you have a legal problem.
 

zookeeper

Founding Member
Aug 25, 2001
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Rogue River, Oregon
Nov 30, 2009
#7
  • Nov 30, 2009
  • #7
I thought the legal vin is the one on the dash. So many of these cars have suffered front end damage and needed to have the aprons replaced, I seriously doubt anyone could seriously consider it "the only" legal vin on a 40 year old car.
 

jcp123

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Tyler, TX
Nov 30, 2009
#8
  • Nov 30, 2009
  • #8
AFAIK, there is no VIN plate on the dash on these...I don't have one on mine, just the fender VIN. The dash plate's something that came along later.
 
G

GNGREN

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144
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Carroll Valley, PA
Dec 1, 2009
#9
  • Dec 1, 2009
  • #9
Dash plate came into effect in 68. Before that the vin is stampped into the inner fender at the left front. There should also be one stampped so the the fender covers it when bolted up on the right side. Although my car did not have one on the right side. I replaced the innerfenders and core support back in 1989-90 been a long freakin time....but there was no additional vin number on the right side.
 
2

2+2GT

10 Year Member
Apr 25, 2009
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#10
  • Dec 1, 2009
  • #10
zookeeper said:
I thought the legal vin is the one on the dash. So many of these cars have suffered front end damage and needed to have the aprons replaced, I seriously doubt anyone could seriously consider it "the only" legal vin on a 40 year old car.
Click to expand...

Easy. 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967 had no dash VIN. Therefore, the apron VIN is the only legal VIN on the car. The door tag sure doesn't qualify, and it says so right on it.

 

94Blue302GT

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Chicago
Dec 3, 2009
#11
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #11
It's early, and I just had a baby boy, so i just looked really quick before i had to run to work here....

There is no plate with a VIN, but, it appears there is a number stamped into the steel. It is on the top rail, on the back half. It's a little mangled from the guy beating it into place a bit, so if you think that's it, i'll take some good time and rework it.
 
2

2+2GT

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#12
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #12
94Blue302GT said:
It's early, and I just had a baby boy, so i just looked really quick before i had to run to work here....

There is no plate with a VIN, but, it appears there is a number stamped into the steel. It is on the top rail, on the back half. It's a little mangled from the guy beating it into place a bit, so if you think that's it, i'll take some good time and rework it.
Click to expand...

Between the shock and hood hinge? That establishes the car's bona fides, but that's the hidden VIN. The one you'll need is between the shock and the LH headlight. There is a notch in the fender to expose that one. Without it, you may have a problem with the DMV.

The VIN shown here is a restamp:

 
K

Kman

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Dec 3, 2009
#13
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #13
There are many early model Mustangs here in Connecticut that I see at shows and cruises with what are obviously replacement inner fenders without a VIN stamped on them - they are just blank. I believe that it is illegal to stamp your own VIN is it not?
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
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Victoria, BC, Canada
Dec 3, 2009
#14
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #14
By the way, congrats on the baby boy deal

If it was me I would do something about the way that's welded, it may be fine structurally but it sure doesn't look right. Cut it up and butt weld it so it looks like the one piece it should be
 
2

2+2GT

10 Year Member
Apr 25, 2009
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#15
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #15
Kman said:
There are many early model Mustangs here in Connecticut that I see at shows and cruises with what are obviously replacement inner fenders without a VIN stamped on them - they are just blank. I believe that it is illegal to stamp your own VIN is it not?
Click to expand...

Depends on local laws. Stamping your own is probably a heck of a lot less illegal than having a car with no VIN at all. Having no VIN can get you impounded real quick.
 

94Blue302GT

Member
Oct 20, 2003
704
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Chicago
Dec 3, 2009
#16
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #16
yeah, all i have is the "hidden" one.
so is it illegal to stamp it then? i'm in indiana.
i was thinking of making a plate of aluminum and stamp it
 
2

2+2GT

10 Year Member
Apr 25, 2009
3,333
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79
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Dec 3, 2009
#17
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • #17
94Blue302GT said:
yeah, all i have is the "hidden" one.
so is it illegal to stamp it then? i'm in indiana.
i was thinking of making a plate of aluminum and stamp it
Click to expand...

If you can stamp an aluminum plate, you can stamp the apron where the number belongs.
 

94Blue302GT

Member
Oct 20, 2003
704
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Chicago
Dec 4, 2009
#18
  • Dec 4, 2009
  • #18
2+2GT said:
If you can stamp an aluminum plate, you can stamp the apron where the number belongs.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, I just thought a polished aluminum plate would look pretty slick when i'm all done. I probably should just go the legal route and stamp the metal though. There will be a time for bling.... I don't think at this stage it's ready for it.
 
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