Squashed,...getting fixed!

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wetminkey
Patron 2018
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Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Squashed,...getting fixed!

Postby wetminkey » Sun Mar 25, 2018 12:41 pm

Gosh, riverdadd,...that IS Safelite's quote.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe

pantera928
Posts: 14
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2018 4:20 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: Squashed,...getting fixed!

Postby pantera928 » Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:04 pm

Fender piece looks good.
Originally, the front of the fender was brazed on half way around the headlight hole and of course at the bottom where you see the seam. I have used the factory seam at the bottom and then cut about 1" behind the headlight hole and then down to some arbitrary point below it. The important thing is not to cut too much off of the front of the car that you do not have an overlap.
I was going to attach a photo but cannot figure out why I cannot do so with this website.
Obviously you succeeded.

Measure twice and cut once as they say.

I flanged mine so that I had an overlap of about 1/2" to work with. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck

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wetminkey
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Squashed,...getting fixed!

Postby wetminkey » Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:18 pm

Yeah, I've checked out the original seams while I've had ALL this time to study the present state of my front end metal. Because of the damage to the pass. outer headlight area (AND the significant price savings!), I opted for the 'half a fender' route. As always, salvaged fender is cheap,...NOS Fender Connector is not.
I can tell that you've been at this before, pantera928.
I do a lot of smaller stuff. But I've got a professional bodyman/company that I can work with. Now that the piece is here, he'll visit to re-assess before having me trailer it into the shop. Brady's specialty is frame straightening,...company does start to finish.
I've guessed that a cut should start just aft of the beginning of the fender's upper flange that is covered by the right side hood seal. The cut should continue across the top of the fender (and as you state), just behind the headlight area, forward of the turn signal, and then pretty much straight down.
I'll let Brady decide (after discussion). Brady's guys will flange and MIG. They do great work and I hope to be there for most of it.
I get to do the finals,...I'm thinking of body soldering with tin.
Sometimes I even measure three times, so that I only have to cut once, and don't ruin anything!
Oh, BTW. Pics need to be uploaded to a hosting service of your choice, and then the "Forums" address from each pic copy/pasted into your message,...then you'll be able to post pics.
Muchly appreciated, pantera928!
This thread is getting kinda stale, so I'll start a fresh one as my Spider goes to bodyshop. I hope that some of the info in this one will be of help to our members.
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe

User avatar
wetminkey
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Squashed,...getting fixed!

Postby wetminkey » Mon Mar 26, 2018 6:55 pm

Called my bodyman this AM. He called back a couple of hours later, wanting to come visit and review the situation.
As he was getting ready to leave, he asked when I could have it to him! Holy smokes!
We're off to see the wizard, tomorrow 0900!
New thread to follow,...I've called it "Off to see the Wizard". Re-named "Squashed, nearly fixed,...".
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe


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