ABS PLASTIC inner fenders

[Michael Boyte]

 I for one am a fan of the metal.    They look amazing !!   I bet these don't crack 😂 

[Canuck]

I’ve seen two different styles of plastic inner fenders so I believe there are two producers.

[Jared Richey]

1 plastic they make are Junk and are made for a chevelle or elcamino again absolute junk. 

The others are monte specific from the parts place. Best ones available. They don't crack like the old GM ones did. 

Steel is nice but shaped for a chevelle no grooves made into them. And they put a bow out or ripple in a fender if not careful.  Better to install, bodywork to them installed before paint. And I leave them in from final block on.

The more previous damage a fender has the worse this issue will be. Metal fatigue 

[70SS396]

On 11/11/2024 at 9:05 PM, Canuck said:

I’ve seen two different styles of plastic inner fenders so I believe there are two producers.

The Parts Place as mentioned before are the best quality and fit. The make them and are not outsourced like other suppliers. 

 

[Canuck]

4 hours ago, Paul D Valle said:

The Parts Place as mentioned before are the best quality and fit. The make them and are not outsourced like other suppliers. 

 

Yes, both my Montes have the plastic inner fenders from TTP. Good quality.

[70SS396]

21 minutes ago, Canuck said:

Yes, both my Montes have the plastic inner fenders from TTP. Good quality.

Only time will tell if they crack on the passenger side at the upper wheel well attachment point.

Rob doesn't care because he is selling his car:)

[Canuck]

1 hour ago, Paul D Valle said:

Only time will tell if they crack on the passenger side at the upper wheel well attachment point.

The ones in my 71 SS are 19 years old and over 20,000 miles driven. Still look new.

[alain boileau]

🙂I have to agree with Paul on my 70 ss 454 and 72 454  restoration used TPP excellent quality

No surprises good quality

Just my experience 

Alain🙂

[70SS396]

4 hours ago, Canuck said:

The ones in my 71 SS are 19 years old and over 20,000 miles driven. Still look new.

My NOS plastic inner fenders lasted 20 yrs before the pass side cracked. That's about right for a car that does crusies and local shows.

Just bought a another NOS pair from a club member to do it again. Probably the last time 🙂

 

[Rob Peters]

1 hour ago, Paul D Valle said:

My NOS plastic inner fenders lasted 20 yrs before the pass side cracked. That's about right for a car that does crusies and local shows.

Just bought a another NOS pair from a club member to do it again. Probably the last time 🙂

 

Paul, if you bought a pair of NOS plastic Inner Fender Wells you will need to keep in mind that they could be close to 50 years old already and may have become brittle, depending upon how they were stored during all of these years.  

rob

[Michael Boyte]

Very good point Rob !  I hadn't even thought about that aspect. 

[70SS396]

2 hours ago, Rob Peters said:

Paul, if you bought a pair of NOS plastic Inner Fender Wells you will need to keep in mind that they could be close to 50 years old already and may have become brittle, depending upon how they were stored during all of these years.  

rob

You are correct.

These were properly stored and still have the new like shine.

If my chevelle wasn't a Baltimore car and an original restoration I would have used metal. 

The theory goes that Baltimore cars, chevelles and Montes used plastic due to the winter weather conditions which required salt and chemicals on the roads.

Of course that's not a problem when we don't even drive our classic cars in the rain🙂

[Jeff Dodson]

On 10/27/2024 at 9:21 PM, Paul D Valle said:

Haha. Most Baltimore built cars had plastic and they plastic fenders were made in Canada. Too bad they didn't have a better structural support for the battery. The passenger side will always Crack in the middle of the wheel opening.

That's exactly where mine is cracked

[Leghome]

I am on my 2nd set of inner fenders on my 72 and they cracked either late last year or earlier this year, sine it was down most of the summer I was busy with getting him running to pay attention to much of anything else. I have only had Ole Red for 13 years

[cbolt]

I replaced my inner fenders way back in 2001 with plastic ones and they are still intact. Back then the Monte specific ones were not available and I had to get the Chevelle ones.

I had driven my car as a daily driver for many years, up until at least 2008, and still rack up more miles than most. Not sure why others have had issues with them cracking. 

I am hoping the crack at some point so I can get the Monte ones but so far, nope. 

[70SS396]

18 minutes ago, cbolt said:

I replaced my inner fenders way back in 2001 with plastic ones and they are still intact. Back then the Monte specific ones were not available and I had to get the Chevelle ones.

I had driven my car as a daily driver for many years, up until at least 2008, and still rack up more miles than most. Not sure why others have had issues with them cracking. 

I am hoping the crack at some point so I can get the Monte ones but so far, nope. 

That's great yours haven't cracked.

It's hard to find OEM replacements anymore. 

You may have explained why yours are OK.

Possibly the warm weather in Florida and less chassis stress from a small block.

Drag racers need to box chevelle and monte frames because they flex so much under stress.

Could be you helped explain why it happens that the battery side cracks the most.

It would be interesting to hear some comments from a structural engineer. 

Best, Paul

[Jeff Dodson]

On 10/14/2024 at 5:17 PM, Jeff Dodson said:

I need a passenger side inner fender. The driver side has been replaced. OPG only sells them in pairs, Summit only sells in pairs and is twice the price of OPG. 

Any other places to find them that may sell them separately?

Well, I got the inner fenders and am working on them, the AC Delete and the body bushings all at the same time. 

First,  let me say the quality is great. They are twice as think as the 1 good ( DECENT ) one that I had.  Question... on the blower motor, there is a hose going to the box on the original box. Do need to put that on the Delete plate. ? It's just a matter of cutting a hole about 3/4"  

Also.... the AC wiring. What do I need to keep that goes to the blower. PURPLE hot and BLACK ground. What about the any of that other wires. I am going to, sooner or later, put Vintage Air. I just to clean up all the wiring

[70SS396]

On 11/17/2024 at 1:06 AM, Jeff Dodson said:

Well, I got the inner fenders and am working on them, the AC Delete and the body bushings all at the same time. 

First,  let me say the quality is great. They are twice as think as the 1 good ( DECENT ) one that I had.  Question... on the blower motor, there is a hose going to the box on the original box. Do need to put that on the Delete plate. ? It's just a matter of cutting a hole about 3/4"  

Also.... the AC wiring. What do I need to keep that goes to the blower. PURPLE hot and BLACK ground. What about the any of that other wires. I am going to, sooner or later, put Vintage Air. I just to clean up all the wiring

You need reuse some of the existing wiring.

Any modifications needed are based on the wiring instructions for the vintage air requirements. 

The factory AC harness penetrates the firewall near the ignition coil and the AC relay and fuse for the compressor is at the end of the wire tray next to the evaporator enclosure. 

Hope this helps to save you some work.

[Jeff Dodson]

1 hour ago, Paul D Valle said:

You need reuse some of the existing wiring.

Any modifications needed are based on the wiring instructions for the vintage air requirements. 

The factory AC harness penetrates the firewall near the ignition coil and the AC relay and fuse for the compressor is at the end of the wire tray next to the evaporator enclosure. 

Hope this helps to save you some work.

I knew all of that.  I was wondering what needed to be kept. It will be awhile before I get to the Vintage Air, but i want to retain the heat, therefore I need to keep the blower motor.  I have isolated the wires that go through the firewall. Is there any of those wires I need to retain now. When I so the Vintage Air, I will do the complete kit for Monte carlo.

 

Sorry, I'm just not the type that just cuts wires. 

[70SS396]

34 minutes ago, Jeff Dodson said:

I knew all of that.  I was wondering what needed to be kept. It will be awhile before I get to the Vintage Air, but i want to retain the heat, therefore I need to keep the blower motor.  I have isolated the wires that go through the firewall. Is there any of those wires I need to retain now. When I so the Vintage Air, I will do the complete kit for Monte carlo.

 

Sorry, I'm just not the type that just cuts wires. 

Didn't think you removed any wiring.  Just saying  you need to see the power and control wiring for the vintage air system to know what modifications are needed.

Not all wire nuts know that🙂

If there are any questions or further information needed, please provide the the model number of the Vintage Air system and I will be happy to help you.

[Jeff Dodson]

33 minutes ago, Paul D Valle said:

Didn't think you removed any wiring.  Just saying  you need to see the power and control wiring for the vintage air system to know what modifications are needed.

Not all wire nuts know that🙂

If there are any questions or further information needed, please provide the the model number of the Vintage Air system and I will be happy to help you.

Oh ok, I gotcha, thank you

[70SS396]

54 minutes ago, Jeff Dodson said:

Oh ok, I gotcha, thank you

Your welcome 👍

[Jeff Dodson]

Oh man these inner fenders are no joke.  They take some finesse to get them in

[Canuck]

7 hours ago, Jeff Dodson said:

Oh man these inner fenders are no joke.  They take some finesse to get them in

Yes, I had to take my time. A few holes had to be opened up a bit to get them to fit. I started by putting in the two bolts at the top that go upwards into the fender but left them slightly loose then worked outward from there loosely installing all the bolts. I did buy new hardware to install these also. Our cars have so much play with how our front end is put together that every car is slightly different. Installing these is an adventure but look great once done.

[Jeff Dodson]

52 minutes ago, Canuck said:

Yes, I had to take my time. A few holes had to be opened up a bit to get them to fit. I started by putting in the two bolts at the top that go upwards into the fender but left them slightly loose then worked outward from there loosely installing all the bolts. I did buy new hardware to install these also. Our cars have so much play with how our front end is put together that every car is slightly different. Installing these is an adventure but look great once done.

Adventure is not the way I describe it.... I started at the two top and then fought the front four bolts then it rained again.  I'm not real sure the fender lip are going to reach but I'm working my that way...