Noob ,Front fender question.

Eomak · 08-05-2007, 07:10 PM

Hi, i own a 1980sc 911. I removed the AC hoses under the front fender and found alot of surface rust. How hard is it to take off the whole driver side fender to make things little easier to work on.I asked a body shop and they said there might be some welded areas? The bolts come out that connect to the fender from the body very easy looks like theres 15 or so, but do not want to go to far and cant make it back unless i have to take it to body shop which means to spend $. thxs.

Scott Clarke · Scott Clarke's Garage

I just install my driver's side fender today. It's kind of a pain. There is no welding involved, but there is putty the forms a seal between body and fender that needs to be replaced, and the cable for the fuel filler lid release is a little tricky to get together. It is also very easy to chip paint on the cowl. door, and fender. I's say that you are best off leaving it on. Surface rust on the inside of the fender sounds a little weird, though. Perhaps you can post a picture?

ghnat · ghnat's Garage

Eomak,

Well, if the SC is like my Carrera it is a pain for the first fender then you know what to do, which makes the second one a little easier. On mine there were no welded areas, just bolts and undercoating.

Let me say I had the entire suspension removed so there was plenty access to the wheel wells and you will need it. I am not sure if the rockers need to be removed, but they were in my case. there may be a screw or 2 going to the front fender. The PITA bolts are the 2 or 3 allen head ones that are revealed when the door is open.

Once all the bolts are removed I scored the undercoating at the seams, then I rescored and repeated. Where the fender meets the hood is the tough place because there is some type of putty that is a b*tch to get to loosen up. A heat gun helps around the seams. I used a putty knife where the fender meets the hood. Pull up the hood weather stripping and you can see where the fender and body meet. Well, that is about all I can remember right now. Maybe some other folks can critique my response... hope this helps.

Eomak · 07:57 PM

hi thanks for reply. The rust is not on the fender but the wheel arch where the AC hoses lay.There was alot of sand and dirt built up over the years , i guess thats what caused for it rust. Could of been front end accdit too. As too near the battery area too. Its runs pretty much from where the AC start at the back front fender to the front bumper area. I was thinking taking sand grinder to it and do what can before i take it to a body shop .

jorian · 08-05-2007, 08:48 PM

Unless I were considering a repaint, I would just remove/move out of the way the hoses/parts, sand and paint the affected area.

GothingNC · 08-06-2007, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eomak

hi thanks for reply. The rust is not on the fender but the wheel arch where the AC hoses lay.There was alot of sand and dirt built up over the years , i guess thats what caused for it rust. Could of been front end accdit too. As too near the battery area too. Its runs pretty much from where the AC start at the back front fender to the front bumper area. I was thinking taking sand grinder to it and do what can before i take it to a body shop .

I just pulled the A/C lines and washed tank & AC receiver from my fender well along with 3 lbs of dirt/sand

No signs of rust at least.

KFC911 · 08-06-2007, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GothingNC

I just pulled the A/C lines and washed tank & AC receiver from my fender well along with 3 lbs of dirt/sand

No signs of rust at least.

It's amazing how much crap can accumulate in there (even on a "garage queen")! One other place to check, is in the rear wheel wells, in front of the torsion bar covers, where the cavities extend forward (up around the rocker area). I didn't realize how much crap had built up in mine (gravel, rocks, road tar, dirt, etc.) until I cleaned it out. Save those rocker panels, and look there too. Another problem area (at least on my car) was in front of where the windshield washer reseviour USED to be

.

GothingNC · 08-06-2007, 06:09 AM

Keith,

Thanks for the info on the other areas that trap the dirt, salt, tar etc.

My neighbors think I'm nuts when they see me lying on my back under the car in a swim suit everytime I wash the car.

I pulled out a handful of cruid when I hosed out the inside of the rear bumpers.

Free weight savings

ossiblue · 08-06-2007, 07:08 AM

Eomak,

I say, like some others, leave the fender on and move/remove just the hoses and AC parts that are in the way. You can most likely deal with the surface rust under the wheel well although it will be awkward. In the long run, I don't think you want to break the seal of the fender to body mount. That putty is in there for a reason--to keep moisture out--and even though the parts are now galvanized, rust will happen if water gets between the panels.

Eomak · 08-06-2007, 08:46 AM

Thxs, for replys again. I decided to leave it on and get dirty. I started working on it and removed the washing fuild tank thingy{never used it anyways] and hose's and found some more dirt build up and rust. Iam taking a screw driver to it and chiseling away the rust.Its just flaking off like chips. Oh boy looks bad but finally got to the bare metal. Then i noticed i can punch a hole threw the inner fender where the battery is just above it.Its about a 1-2inch hole after i scrapped all the rust out.Something this small can i just grind it down,clean up good and use a fiberglass kit to patch it up?I get some images up to u can c.

Eomak · 09:53 AM

How bad does this rust look? Rest of the car good shape. Just this side bad. This normal for this year?

GothingNC · 08-06-2007, 11:46 AM

Looks like typical battery corrosion - inside to out.

I would cut out the rusted metal and use naval jelly on the rest and weld in or bond a new patch.

Was there any undercoating in the wheel wells?