VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Front fender mounting bolts

I got a 38 business coupe in pieces. Wonder what the (2) 3/8 bolts in the front fenders are fore? They are fixed in the grill support. Appear to be for some kind of fender support bracket.

Thanks

I'm trying to picture what you're referring to. Do you have a photo?

I don't remember what size the bolts were, but the rear part of the fender had the largest bolts & washers, and the front part was mostly the smaller 1/4" and maybe 1 or 2 slightly larger ones....

Which holes are you referring to?

thanks green427.
In your picture of the radiator support, starting at the front, between your 3rd and 4th red circle are two indentations. My car at those points have (2) 3/8 bolts sticking into the fender well. The head of the bolt is inside near the radiator. Could be something someone has added. Appreciate all the pictures. Nice to know how it should be. I don't know how to add pictures yet.

Thanks

Those are rivets holding the headlight wiring junction box. Here's a pic of the inside, all original, to give you an idea.




Up close view:

I don't see how you'd get a 3/8" bolt though the junction block without ruining it. The rivets are WAY smaller than that. Are you sure you don't mean the two hole just ahead & behind those rivets? Those are what look to be 5/16" bolts with cage nuts on the inside of the core support. It's possible the cage nuts were somehow removed and the previous owner replaced them with bolts??? Beats me but I just can't see large bolts holding the junction block.

Those junction blocks are not exactly that strong and corrode easily, wouldn't surprise me if someone "MacGyver'ed" something to replace the block.

The 37 front on mine has a pair of 3/8 bolts captured through the radiator mounting frame that holds a support bracket for the outer edge of the front fenders. I dont know if the 38 had the same bracket.
Tony

My 38 front fenders have the tab with a hole under the outer "roll" of the fender at the top of the fender but never had a brace on it….but the 37/38 fenders are the same…maybe 37 had brace and 38 didn't…Billu38

The two shown here on either side of the junction block are the bolts I was referring to. The one closer to the radiator may be a 3/8". The one aft of the block looks more to be a 5/16" but I could be wrong. I took this picture of my '38 when the engine was out being rebuilt. (For the curious folks I got the radiator leak fixed.)

Larger image.

Tiny, That was s nice of you to remove your engine to take the picture.

The bolts I was referring to are beside the radiator and would not be visible in Tiny's photo.
Tony

I wonder if I have a 37 grill/radiator support with the (2) 3/8 bolts that tonyw has? I don't have the terminal wiring strip others have mentioned for the headlight wiring. My support is in bad condition, are there any repoped or where would you look for a used one for sale?

Thanks all.

Ebay has gotten so trashy with all of the non '38 Chevy parts being allowed to show up in a '38 Chevy search that I've not been on Ebay for some time BUT I used to see core supports listed regularly. The downside to that is the shipping cost would huge. The picture I showed above is the passenger side of the core support. Does yours look anything like that?

The 37 and 38 grille/radiator supports are vastly different. I suspect mine has had a damaging encounter prior to my acquiring it and as a result some enterprising panel beater used what parts would fit, he also replaced 1 front spring with 1 out of a 36.
Tony

My support doesn't look exactly like the ones pictured. What is the difference between a 37 and a 38? Anyone have a picture? My fenders bolt up fine with the 5/16" bolts. Can't see any use for the 3/8" bolts. Guess I'll have a look at ebay>

Many thanks all.