Front Fender Lip

All

This past weekend I pulled an original fender from a 1982 CJ7 that I intend to use on my 1973 CJ5. The 5 os a Super Jeep, which came from the factory with rubber flares that were a universal type with steel wire reinforced beaded edge. The belting was affixed by panel clips and crews. The clips attached to steel strap that is welded to the underside of the fender lip.

I now see that the steel strap is lacking from the 1982 fender and would be unnecessary given how the molded plastic flares attach.

TimG has informed us that the generic rubber flare belting was a common add-on before the molded flares came about. I am curious how they were attached, and whether any other front fenders had the strap welded to the lip.

 

Super Jeep fender lip

 

1982 fender. No steel strap welded to underside of the fender edge.

 

I wonder if the welded lip might be a feature specific to the 1973 Super Jeep? In any case I'm feeling inclined to spend the efdoet to make them serviceable. They are not in a condition befitting the rest of the Jeep's refurbishment right now.

 

I've never seen the strapping present on the SuperJeep fenders. Interesting detail. I'll try to look theough the parts books to see if there is a difference.
-Donny

 

As I recall, they just screwed through whatever lip was there. I don't think that was totally satisfactory, since I recall some with pucker in the flare material - you could see where the screws were. The flange is an interesting detail which I too was totally unaware of.

 

The '72 up Renegades had that lip as a provision for the flares on the front fenders and the wheel wells in the tub. I was not aware of the SuperJeeps having it but am not not surprised. I had arguments about this many years ago with members here when I was told it didn't happen, yet I owned a tub with them that was obviously factory.

 

My tub has same straps in rear frnder wells. Never gave it a thought until I got the 82 front fenders and found that they were lacking the straps Id need to affix the original rubber flares.

So SuperJeeps and Renegades of the intermediate era had straps for the flares. After all, the SuperJeep is just a funky Renegade, having solid back panel and flares (but not those awesome wheels).

 

Look carefully. Rear fender appears to have molded flare. See the extra contour near the end of the flare? That wouldnt exist if the flare material came off a bulk roll.

Also look at the front. That lacks that feature, amd looks just like my flares. All four of my flares are bulk material from a roll with wire reenforced lip.

Another curiosity of my SuperJeep is it has black visors, dash, and back seat. Front seats were from a Trans Am, I think. But the stuff looked to be the right age, and so I figured someone hated the white and cinnamon vinyl enough to change it all? But then I read another forum post where a man received his blue superjeep with black seats and was told the white and red seats werent ready yet.

Im doing a title history search to aee ifnI cam find the original owner, maybe some original photos. That would be super cool.