front fender install help - bumper on first or after?

911finally · 06-09-2025, 01:22 PM

hi all getting ready to put fenders back on front of 85 Carrera coupe, have new install kits from host

I have found a few disassembly videos but not a lot of installation help other than this one on an earlier car https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcZfuXIiRK8

In that vid he has the front bumper on already and I am wondering if I should do that first before the fenders? Any opinions on this? Does it help with alignment to have the bumper on? The doors and hood are on the car.

Will take pics, maybe even a vid once I start (after many many false starts that went into other rabbit holes of the 'while I'm in here' guise

I may even have asked about this before elsewhere but can't find it if I did

)

jimtweet · jimtweet's Garage

I always go
1. hood and align
2. fenders and align
3. bumper smile
4. bumper

some guys i see will put front valance on before bumper, they say its a little easier to access the side bolts.

AG81 · AG81's Garage

I follow what Jim has stated. I may have temporarily hung the fenders on my 72 and played with the hood....... but on my 88 in the order Jim stated.

911finally · 06-09-2025, 02:45 PM

thank you Jim and AG

when you say 'align hood' you mean a close seal around edges and front? The hood was installed by the painter not me. So is there a guide I should be checking alignment to?

jimtweet · jimtweet's Garage

Hood needs to be aligned to the cowl. And also centered on cowl. Might need slight adjustment on front latch after fenders are on. Some cars. Actually most I’ve had, have a large spacer/washer at the last fender bolt located in front by cowl. That will effect fender to door gap.

911finally · 06-09-2025, 03:10 PM

thanks Jim great IG pics btw!

so once the fender is mounted via the seals and couple screws should the door be closed and gap adjusted from that front cowl bolt? I imagine its a iterative process as you tighten the screws going to start when I have plenty of time and energy :-)

WMichelsen · 06-09-2025, 06:34 PM

I appreciate this topic as I'm close to reassembling my front end also.

The fenders also use butyl tape sealing putty along the mounting flanges. Is there any guidance or advice about applying that and tightening down? I just haven't done it before.

Then, after the fenders are installed and everything is aligned, do you reapply the thick caulking along the rear baffle seam? I had to partially cut mine away to free it up for removal.

WMichelsen · 09-26-2025, 04:32 PM

I purchased some genuine Porsche sealing tape (000.043.129.00). I applied it as in this pic below. As others mentioned, although PET says it's 25mm x 2mm, in reality it is only 20mm x 1mm. It does not cover the full mating surface.

Is my application sufficient? Should I add more?
Honestly, I've already put the fenders on. Is it worth removing and adding? Am I overly concerned for noob-naive reasons?