2000 ram fenders
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
2000 ram fenders
i recently picked up a rusty beater 2000 ram sport short box 4X4 with 360 auto 80K miles.
it was rusty an hell, some hack attempted to weld hand made repair patches and failed in epic proportions. why they did that was beyond my imagination when proper repair panels are reasonably priced..
when i got the truck it came with aftermarket fenders.
being a certified body man/ painter with 30+ years of experience. i have never worked on one but looking at the parts i figured fender replacement would be a couple hour job. being slow at work i figured to knock it out quick and leave work early for the day.
my estimate was WRONG BEYOND BELIEF..
after removing the fender i found the inner wheelhouse is welded on to the fender with about 20 spot welds.i had to drill them out, separate the panels with a air chisel, and re-weld the panels together. the panels barely have any adjustment and fit like dog doo.
all i can say is it was a i wouldn't go out of my way to do again. especially having to do the job in 1 day because i had to drive the truck home from work. it took my 6 hours to do both fenders and i only painted the inner jamb area. i still have to paint the outside of the fender. when i painted the inner fender i cheated a bit and painted them with fast drying base coat modified to a single stage paint that's really fast drying. if i had used the proper paint it would have added a hour or so to the job and would have scratched the hell out of it putting it on..
OK rant off.
it was rusty an hell, some hack attempted to weld hand made repair patches and failed in epic proportions. why they did that was beyond my imagination when proper repair panels are reasonably priced..
when i got the truck it came with aftermarket fenders.
being a certified body man/ painter with 30+ years of experience. i have never worked on one but looking at the parts i figured fender replacement would be a couple hour job. being slow at work i figured to knock it out quick and leave work early for the day.
my estimate was WRONG BEYOND BELIEF..
after removing the fender i found the inner wheelhouse is welded on to the fender with about 20 spot welds.i had to drill them out, separate the panels with a air chisel, and re-weld the panels together. the panels barely have any adjustment and fit like dog doo.
all i can say is it was a i wouldn't go out of my way to do again. especially having to do the job in 1 day because i had to drive the truck home from work. it took my 6 hours to do both fenders and i only painted the inner jamb area. i still have to paint the outside of the fender. when i painted the inner fender i cheated a bit and painted them with fast drying base coat modified to a single stage paint that's really fast drying. if i had used the proper paint it would have added a hour or so to the job and would have scratched the hell out of it putting it on..
OK rant off.
Last edited by mrt2you; Oct 12, 2019 at 07:41 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,395
Likes: 4,213
From: Clayton MI
Yeah, some of the aftermarket panels really suck. You are almost better off getting some good used parts from non-rust-belt areas, cleaning them up, painting them the correct color, and then installing them.....
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
i bought the truck cheap. the fenders came with the truck purchase. they had tang yang stamps on the edges. they look just like the pics of the fenders you buy from LMC. of course they all look the same in the pics. my biggest complaint is drilling out spot welds and re-welding. from my small amount of research it looks like all aftermarket fenders are this way.
if i ever have to do another fender replacement for me, it will be with rust free OEM fenders. if i have to use aftermarket ones the job will definitely not be a 1 day job.
if i ever have to do another fender replacement for me, it will be with rust free OEM fenders. if i have to use aftermarket ones the job will definitely not be a 1 day job.
Last edited by mrt2you; Oct 12, 2019 at 08:17 AM.
All my years doing body work, I've never seen an aftermarket panel for without having to tweak it, or hog out the mounting holes. We started test fitting the panel before paint, made it for like it belonged, and then prepped it, and shot it. Always doing the inside and the jambs first. I have aftermarket panels, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. I got an 05 needs a driver side rocker, and cab corner. I'm not sure how they fit, so I'm a little gun shy. Not exactly a part you can get at a junk yard without allot of fussing around.
Trending Topics
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
All my years doing body work, I've never seen an aftermarket panel for without having to tweak it, or hog out the mounting holes. We started test fitting the panel before paint, made it for like it belonged, and then prepped it, and shot it. Always doing the inside and the jambs first. I have aftermarket panels, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. I got an 05 needs a driver side rocker, and cab corner. I'm not sure how they fit, so I'm a little gun shy. Not exactly a part you can get at a junk yard without allot of fussing around.