Front fenders interchangable

[abe_lugo]

I thought they are all the same,  , but Hardtops of the same series share the same trim, even the club coupe
also see attached.
From the tech images posted here.

[RICH MUISE]

I've never heard that before. I've always been told, and reiterated to others, that everything forward of the firewall is the same on all models, except for trim holes.

[Ecode70D]

really ? why would that be? when all hoods, front panels and cowl panels are the same on all models?

X2  What dj stated 
  Been switching front end parts for years.  So far the only problem that I found was difference in holes or no holes for stainless.

[mustang6984]

X2  What dj stated 
  Been switching front end parts for years.  So far the only problem that I found was difference in holes or no holes for stainless.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    Ditto...always bought what ever I could find and went with that. Never had any problem...other than people hitting my damn car!

[Lgcustom]

Greaseball, please advise how you came to this information. It is counter to all available information.

[SkylinerRon]

The rear quarters are different, maybe someone got their facts mixed-up.

The front mount under the radiator is different on Skyliners.

Ron.

[greaseball]

I was told the fenders were shorter on the 4-door Fairlanes because they used the same dimension doors up front in the 4-door, but they bumped the door forward a few inches. That's why a 4-door hardtop door fits a 2-door, because the fenders don't fit, "there's a gap".

I think John at Big M told me that a long time ago.

[brushwolf]

Very interesting proposition, but IDT it is correct. There would have to be a Ford part listing for 2 different 57 and 58 Ford fenders and never seen or heard of one while being a 57 afficienado for half a century. Where is Kultulz these days, he should have or be able to pull up historical info like that if it exists. 

Big M deals mostly in Mopar stuff, right? Could he have been talking about a 57 Dodge 4 door hardtop perhaps?  But, even with Mopar that seems like it would be a very odd approach for the mfctr. (Not flaming Mopars, I have several).

Never had a 4 door hardtop anything, so idk. But the very few 4 door hardtop Fords I have seen, the fenders appear the same as every other 57 or 58 model. You have a long door and a short door, door top frames varying by body style and model.

Stamping a whole new large panel like a fender for a low volume body style seems an unlikely approach though. Somebody here must have a 4 door hardtop 57 or 58 Ford, so go measure your fender length if you have one.

But the 57-58 cowls are basically the same below the windshield frame and cowls also have the door hinges which determines front of door location and rear of fender location. So, a shorter fender would seem to also require different inner fenders and who knows what else.

It is possible that a regular fender could be factory modified to be a special purpose unique fender though.  An example would be a 57 Desoto Firesweep fender which is really a 57 Dodge fender that the section ahead of the wheel was partially cut off at the factory and a different leading edge of fender welded on and having a different headlight mounting panel welded to it. 

I have both those Mopar cars and it appears to be true, but it was done to essentially make a Dodge that looked like the more costly Desoto. You can graft the front 12" of either of those fenders to the fender of its sister brand along with the appropriate headlight mounting panel and it will work on the other brand. But, that was a unique situation to Mopar. Still the same overall length though a different front profile.

[59meteor]

I am positive all models of 57 Fords used the exact same fenders, only difference is trim holes . 2 doors have longer doors than the front doors of a 4 door. Rear 1/4 panels are certainly different between 2 door and 4 door, as well as Custom/Custom 300 vs Fairlane/Fairlane 500, but all the front sheetmetal is the same.