Repro Fenders

Been away a while. Any change in quality of front fenders? Jeep is at paint, would sure like a set of correct looking fenders of decent quality. Years ago the repro fenders were formed of thin gauge metal.

Thanks
Chilly

 

According to what i've seen and heard from other people, the general consensus is that the original fenders are better.

 

I had to replace my OEM fenders on the 79, they were pretty banged up and mostly bondo. I purchased Crown brand reproductions from Morris 4x4, I was very happy with the quality. 4/5 stars from me, drivers side fender required some trimming to clear the shock mount.

 

Good clean repops are far better then paying a body shop hundreds of dollars to cover originals in bondo.

 

This is an early but you can almost see the stamping on the front of the fender is not as sharp in the repro fender on the right. The stamping in the side was fine. The fender was a little lighter weight but overall I liked it and would buy it again.

If you are replacing both and painting you won't see it's a repop and you'll know what you have. The repop might be a good choice.

 

I guess this is the price for slow-rolling a resto-mod over a 12 year period. Hard to find serviceable steel fenders anymore. Not sure what I'll do. My originals are pretty thrashed. Lots of cracks, left fender nose pushed in, puckered and bubbled on the overlay sections. I have a set of used repro that I bought a long time ago and they are no prize, either. Maybe I can make something out of them.

Meanwhile I guess I'll send it to paint with tube fenders to get me by until I sort out proper fenders. Such a shame to put tube fenders on a 73 SuperJeep.

 

Are the new ones that much better? I'm seriously asking as I don't know. The older ones are garbage. I purchased two and one was an inch longer than the other. Richard had some reworked for his CJ-7 and the body man (very reputable street rod body man) told him to never bring him that paper thin crap again. He would have been better offer it pay a premium for good originals. But again this was years ago.

 

I have seen a few sets in the last couple years that were very good quality. Several people have pointed out the cost of the new ones vs. what I was asking for original fenders. It is very hard to get anything out of original fenders now.

 

Thanks Daryl, good info.

 

Well, I have goos news and bad news. Good news is I found some original later style fenders in remarkably good shape.

The bad news is theyre attached to this.

I guess I dont know how to post a photo anymore. Or its too big.

Anyhow, its a very "fence rowed" 1982 CJ7. Tried to buy the fenders, he gave me the entire Jeep. Hasnt moved in over 20 years. I'm concerned that I cannot responsibly handle so many Jeep seeds without wanting to drive it. Cool part is its my aunt and uncle's jeep, and my two brothers and I rode the back of this vehicle from W. PA to Kings Island amusement park when I was 13 yr old. We took turns sitting between back seat and tailgate.

 

Try again

 

All it'll cost you is a pair of repop fenders. Take the Jeep, take the fenders for your restoration, put the repops on the sentimental Jeep, and drive it till you find a suitable new owner. Somebody here might want it for a good price.

What's the engine and transmission?

 

258, T5. It was a fancy edition with silver amd red rays with stars on the ends or some such thing. That hood went away with a deer strike. Has stainless front bumper, grill cover (factory I think?), plastic center console, shiny wheels with chrome-ish center covers.