dogleg fender bolt access

[rmk57]

The one that has to tightened by opening the door. The capture nut broke off and can't figure out how to access it to put a regular nut on the back.

The one on top by cowl broke off too, but can accessed by removing the blower motor.

Or any other tricks to fastening the fender with some adjustment built on in would be helpful.

Randy

[RICH MUISE]

"The one that has to tightened by opening the door."
If you are talking about the one about 1/2 way up the side panel, it is accessed by removing the inner kick panel. I'm not sure what you mean by capture nut though. The fenders have studs that protrude thru the hole and are attached with a regular type nut and washer.
If you are talking about at the top under the leading edge of the door, my car never had capture nuts there. It takes a large sheet metal screw...hard to find #14 I believe. Both sides of my car had those, so I believe it was oem. I don't think my car was ever disassembled or in an accident. 

[canadian_ranchero]

my wagon has the captured nut with bolts

[RICH MUISE]

On the top under the door? That's odd. I remember looking at that area surprised they were just large sheetmetal screws, and only holes big enough for those screws under the thick layer filler/seam sealer material. No square holed caged nut like on the cowl near the hood bumper stops.

[rmk57]

Through a little homework I found out they also call them cage nuts. I also found out you can buy new ones from Fastenal.

Mine had cage nuts on the top cowl and by the windshield dogleg, no studs anywhere to attach fenders.

I'm not sure about large sheet metal screws, that just doesn't seem right.

[Limey57]

My Ranchero just had what look like large self-tapping screws (with a hexagon head) screwed straight into a small hole as mentioned by Rich, from what I can see there's hardly any access underneath to use a cage-nut.

[Ecode70D]

Mine is set up with a cage nut  and the self tapping one with the hex head.  Without looking I can't remember what order they are in.  My guess is that the cage nut one is on the cowl and the self taping one  is under the leading edge of the door.

[Ford Blue blood]

There are four fasteners that hold the fender to the cowl.  One under the hood, has a caged nut under the cowl.  One under the door opening, a large hex head sheet metal screw.  Center for the hinge post, access through the interior, is a stud mounted on the fender inner brace.  And one under the rocker panel, has a caged nut with a slide on clip, the large rubber plug will allow access to remove the remains. 

All five 57s that are here or have come through here are configured this way.  The Ranchero and the wagon were San Jose cars, a 2drht was a TX car, a 2dr 300 was a MO, the Retractable I think KY.  My 58 Edsel is also a Louisville car and is configured the same.

[RICH MUISE]

agreed

[djfordmanjack]

very interesting ! I always thought it was wrong, but both my Canadian built Courier Delivery and my late August 57 Del Rio have the hex head metal screws in the doglegs. did they use shims in that area ?

[RICH MUISE]

Yes, mine had a pile of washers under the fender on each side.

[Ecode70D]

Yes, mine had a pile of washers under the fender on each side.

Mine is the same as what Rich just said.
I also took a good look at my car today and the large sheet metal bolt with the hex head is under the leading edge of the door.

[rmk57]

Yup, had a look at mine again and it's a hex head sheet metal screw and a stripped one at that.
Next size larger I guess.

[pepfalcon]

i replaced that sheetmetal screw with a nut and bolt. i welded in a nut to the dogleg and used a regular fender bolt for more holding power

[Ecode70D]

i replaced that sheetmetal screw with a nut and bolt. i welded in a nut to the dogleg and used a regular fender bolt for more holding power

   Welding a nut in that spot is a great idea.  Anyone doing this job should give this some thought because it is very easy to strip out that one hole in the sheet metal.    .