The butternut bomb is slowly coming back to life. Had to remove the passenger side fender and fenderwell a few months ago for some firewall work. Now it's time to *attempt* reinstall. Should I secure the fender well first (two bolts at radiator mount) and work back and up from there installing the fender? Or should I put the fender and fenderwell together and try to install as a unit?

My recollection of the removal was that I removed about as many bolts at a time from the fender-to-frame as I did from fender-to-fenderwell and it all kind of came off apart.

Also, I would appreciate any thoughts on inner fenderwell splash guards versus not. I really don't like the look of them and without them you can see my shiny new Bill Mitchell aluminum head small block 427 (w/Doug ceramic headers). But the vanity bug has turned into a humility stick for me mroe than once - I know the splash guards serve a purpose - just don't know how much I'll suffer without them.

Thanks,

Capt. E

I have had my fenders & fender wheelhouse panels on & off multiple times. I have had very good success installing fender first, fit carefully at all locations. Easiest to install wheelhouse with vehicle on jack stand, elevated slightly, wheel off car. Install all foldover nuts in fender and core support. Set wheelhouse in place start ALL bolts into mounting fasteners, leave all loose until all bolts started. Use a center punch to position foldover nuts in holes if required. Tighten bolts to core support first, work back to middle of wheel opening, go to bottom rear lower fender to wheelhouse bolt, position lower fender so gap to rocker is correct, and bottom of fender is in line with rocker, tighten that bolt and then tighten remaining bolts. Very easy to install this way. Karl

I drove my car daily for 10 years without the splash guards on the inner fenders. I never noticed any negative effects. Mine were old and crappy so I pulled them off and never looked back. IMO you'll be fine without them.

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1967 Malibu
406 cid / 350 TH

Thanks, guys. As always, I can count on the message board to help me out.

Capt. E