Save This Fender Or Go Aftermarket?

It is rusted between/around the layered area (of course, what a bad design). My friend that is in the bodywork business thinks I should just replace the whole fender. I'm not opposed to that, but I'm concerned about the metal thickness and overall quality of aftermarket. Plus I have a '74 so I think an aftermarket one would need reworking near the shock area... I can sandblast it for a better idea of what's going on, but it's a pain with my setup so I need to see if it's even worth going that far.

 

Well, maybe, but it replaced/reinforced a weaker earlier design, on a vehicle that was only intended to be used briefly in combat. They may not have been anticipating a 60 year life cycle.

 

What's your location in the USA? I'd suggest you look for a better used fender. Since this is the long fender, you should be able to use any fender from '72 through the end of the CJs. I don't know the exact fit of all years here, but a change to the inner fender should be trivial compared to patching of the fender you have.

 

What Timgr said. You might do a search about the issues people have had with the aftermarket fenders (me included). Definitely try and find a used unit.

 

Pete you make a good point, as usual haha. And thank you for the input timgr and nickmil, that sounds like what I'll do then!