Fender Removal Question

[olds70supreme]

I am removing the accident-damaged right fender from my '75 Starfire and have all of the bolts out except for the upper-front ones. Is it necessary to remove the front nose to get at these? I don't see any obvious way to get at them. Thanks for the help.

[gerbsinmd]

no, its not necessary to remove the nose to remove those bolts. If I remember right the same bolts hold the nose on too.

[olds70supreme]

So do you access those bolts from the bottom or the top? I guess I'll have to look harder at access from the bottom, since I got a good look at the top and didn't see any way to get them.

[gerbsinmd]

I remove the inner fender liner and get them from there. If you remove the tire its even easier since you can practically crawl in the wheel well.

[Bob Gumm]

If I recall correctly you'll find that they are double-ended fasteners with a flange in the middle. The fender end is a bolt tip with a flanged-nut, the nose end is a combination between a bolt and a screw with a unique twist for screwing into the polyurethane nose. Don't be surprised if you have to spray some Liquid Wrench or WD40 on the nut and let is soak a little before you remove it. Otherwise it'll just back out of the nose and the flange will prevent it from being able to pull through the front support which will mean you'll have to remove the nose to get at it with some Vice-Grips.

Good Luck,

[marco_1978_spyder]

Use a long 7/16ths socket and 2 long extension pieces from inside the fender well.

Use your hand to get the socket on the top most one, the socket wrench will be near the opening with plenty of room.

There's 3 of them.

There connected to the front nose and a piece of the front frame, thats why they have to come off.