Fender bolt tab bent
#1
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Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350/5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Unkown at this time
Fender bolt tab bent
Anybody got a good way to straighten the fender bolt tab under the car at the rocker panel firewall. It seems like every third gen I seen someone has either used a floor jack or lift on these and bends them over.
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Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Posi 3:42
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
Good Question, local shop bent mine to hell and then tryed to say it was like that- now the fender is slightly out...drives me nutts. Was going to try to heat and pull, but maybe someone else got better route
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Car: 1986 IROC
Engine: 355 Tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.27
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
I used a large dolly and a hammer to beat it back straight. Mine was really bad on the right side, which made it a tight fit to get the dolly back there with the exhaust in the way. I got it straight, now the fender seems to fit a little better.
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Car: 89 RS
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: Auto
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
Yeah its important to fix this. I think that is how the rust starts on them. Mine was very rusty and separated when I took the fender off. I ended up cutting one from a donor car and welding it in place. When you bend it back make sure you sand it down and repaint any uncovered areas with a rust preventative or rust oleum paint. I think that is why mine rusted. My passenger side is bent so I am going to straighten it. Can you loosen the fender and then slowly bend it back with a large pair of channel locks? That is what I am going to try.
Kevin
Kevin
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Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350/5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Unkown at this time
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
Unfortunately for me, both of mine are bent in the same direction. My guess is it was on a lift and then it shifted to the driverside as the collasped. I don't think channel locks are the way to go. I was thinking Visegrips with a 2 to 3 inch flatbill area to keep the pressure even across the tab pluse a little heat.
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Car: 91 Trans Am
Engine: LSA
Transmission: T56 AWD
Axle/Gears: 8.8 4.10
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
I use a big cresent wrench. Dont bother heating it, youll weaken the metal even further and risk breaking it off. Then youll have a big mess to deal with
#7
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Car: 89 RS
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Transmission: Auto
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
Unfortunately for me, both of mine are bent in the same direction. My guess is it was on a lift and then it shifted to the driverside as the collasped. I don't think channel locks are the way to go. I was thinking Visegrips with a 2 to 3 inch flatbill area to keep the pressure even across the tab pluse a little heat.
Kevin
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#8
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Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Posi 3:42
Re: Fender bolt tab bent
Hummm, well I could go both ways, I got the doner car- although its actually pretty nice to cut up, but hey one has to live and one has to die. I need it for the floor, would it be better to use the doner car's
I looked to day and- mine is fresh bend, so no real rust.
yet
I will try it bending by hand weekend and post the out come
I looked to day and- mine is fresh bend, so no real rust.
yet
I will try it bending by hand weekend and post the out come
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