monte70z20 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Can't seem to find any posts on the topic. Please direct me if this information is already out there...greatly appreciated. I was considering replacing my plastic fenders for metal ones. Does anybody make these for a 70 Monte? If not are the Chevelle ones hard to convert? I've heard this has been done before. If anybody has done this, what mods does the conversion take to complete? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boots Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 from what I have read ( and I have a set of metal ones yet to be installed) some holes may ne to be elongated and that's pretty much it..... ref: http://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7122-inner-fender-wells/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Yes, a few holes will need to be elongated. Also, you'll need to cut a hole for the turn signal wiring in each one and you'll need another hole to bolt to the long, inner fender brace that comes up from the lower part of the firewall. The rubber seals that go above the upper control arms are different, too. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 One question: Why would you do that? I replaced the cracked original plastic inner fenders on my 4-speed '70 with a new Monte-specific plastic set from the Parts Place. Love 'em - easy to install and keep clean and shiney. My '70 SS came to me with steel (Chevelle) inner fenders. Hate 'em - very hard to reinstall once removed and hard to keep them shined up even after freshly repainted. JMO, but I see no need or benefit to steel inner fenders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 You asked. ☺ The plastic cracks and some of us would rather not deal with that. I've found my metal ones are very easy to put in and take out with the fender in place. I just installed the passenger side a minute ago to mark a hole to drill. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Mine has metal and have had zero issues with them. Mine are clean and shiny and I have never cleaned them in 4 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70z20 Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 I installed the plastic ones in a Monte I had years ago and all I remember was I over tightened them and cracked them right from the get go. For this reason I want to try the metal option. Thanks for all the replies and opinions, very helpful as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I have replacement plastic that are about 26 years old that need to be replaced again. Since my 71 is very stock, I will probably go with plastic. Everyone is different. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Like Bruce said, "Everyone is different". It all comes down to personal preference. Also like Bruce, my car is totally totally stock so I went with the plastic inner fenders. I have been extremely happy with them. I have had them on the car now for 15 years and they look today the same as they did the day I installed them. No cracks, no scratches and no problems at all. No they don't shine up like painted metal but that is fine because the look stock. rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 That's good to hear about the plastic not cracking. I remember someone here had a pair crack after just a couple years. I like the looks of the plastic better, mainly because of the stock look. I bought my metal ones several years ago. If at that time I had been confident I could get 15 trouble free years out of the plastic inners, I would have gone that route. Thanks for the info.☺ Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7tonemonte Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 I used a set of plastic ones from The Parts Place, about 10 years now, no issues at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leghome Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 I bought a set of used plastic inners 4 years ago and they are of a softer plastic than the factory installed ones and are working great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLASSIK1 Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 the metal inner fenders add great strength to the front end , i prefer over plastic , the metal are more part of the alignment of the car and should be installed with the entire front of the car loose , as part of the front end sheet metal alignment , they simply stiffen the entire car up front , we have used both , the plastic ones from the parts place are just simply plastic , they are not that original and add no real value to originality , we have installed many pairs of steel and if you go about it right they are not a big deal to install , just remember there is more variation in your fenders hood core support and body than the fender wells , so they will fit each 1/4 inch Monte different and it does take some amount of skill to install , where as the plastic can be twisted and stressed to fit , as the car is driven and moves most plastic will crack or split somewhere over time Leo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsorg Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I also installed the steel one s,over the plastic they seem more rigid and stronger than the plastic ones, Ace hardware has the black plastic push plugs in various sizes to plug the additional holes that came with the steel inner fenders for that added touch, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawk Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 How is the battery location/fitment with the Chevelle inner fenders, does it line the tray up to the radiator support like stock or does it sit farther back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 How is the battery location/fitment with the Chevelle inner fenders, does it line the tray up to the radiator support like stock or does it sit farther back? My '70 SS has steel Chevelle inner fenders and the battery is positioned exactly as shown in the photo below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 The battery tray bolts to the radiator support, so it mounts in the same place, no matter which inner fenders you use. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawk Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Perfect, thanks guys! Somebody local has a set of inner fenders from a 1969 that look decent, we'll see what it has for rust at the battery tray mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 The battery tray bolts to the radiator support, so it mounts in the same place, no matter which inner fenders you use. Dan If I am not mistaken, my 70 battery tray is not only attached to the radiator support but also has an additional support that goes down and attaches to either the inner fenders or the inner well filler platerob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Yes. I didn't mean it attaches only to the radiator support. There's only one bolt to that. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Yes. I didn't mean it attaches only to the radiator support. There's only one bolt to that. Dan Sorry Dan, I misunderstood your response. rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 No worries. I could have been more clear. We're good. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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