VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Special Deluxe Fender Nuts

Some advice is needed:

When I took the rear fenders off the cabriolet, some of the bolts wrung off in the fender nuts. Some didn't. Question: Should I go to the trouble of replacing them all or just the ones that wrong off. It's about half and half.

Second question: I haven't got into where the nuts are located. Is it much of a problem to replace them?

Thanks,
Charlie

Hi Charlie, New fender nuts are available from Chevy of the 40s. I have a 41 parts car that I have been cleaning up for resale!!! I had about 8 fender bolts that had broken off bolts in them. I was able to salvage all but one. I have a sand blast cabinet so cleaned them up and put them back on. I think they are surprisingly durable if you are careful prying them off. Of course the ones behind your interior back side windows you can not get to unless you take the interior out. I found a very easy way to rebend them into place when you install them. Take a fender bolt and put a washer and some oversized bolts on it. As you tighten the bolt up it will spread the two fingers on the fender nut until they are 95% tight. Finish things off with a light tap with a brass hammer. If you didn't paint them before installing them then atleast put some anti seize grease on the threads?

Because I hate to throw anything out I spent hours with a torch heating the broken bolt parts. Used a small dremel tool to put a slot in the end of the broken bolt that stuck out the most, then with everything red hot used a screwdriver to turn the remaining bolt part out. "Simple minds find pleasure in such mundane challenges?" One I even used an "easy out" on. Good luck, Mike

P.S. Could send you a picture if that would help?

Mike,
That would be great. My email is charleshill1934@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Charlie

Charlie....Being you are having all that snow and cold weather down there lately, just set them bolts outside overnight,In the morning you will find the the nut's have been frozen off them.

That's cold Ed, but very funny!!!

Charlie, After checking on my installation technique I realized I had not used a washer to spread the two fingers, but instead had used a brass hammer with the bolt combination in the picture. It was easy and made a complicated process very manageable. Mike



P.S. The oversized nut next to the fastner should be pointed in the opposite direction