53 fenders on a 54 chevy???

okay so I got a set of clean 53 fenders to go on my 54 belair

and when I started to bolt them on I noticed that the axle center line was off???

it looks like the wheels are about an inch or two too far forward in my wheel wells?

wtf?

I always thought that the 54 53's where always interchangable.

has any one else experienced this problem?

I don't think I can adjust the fenders to make up the difference and my 54's are long gone...

 

Uh, you sure you dont have Olds fenders or something? I've swapped 53 and 54 fenders back & forth on both a 53 and a 54 car...they fit the exact same.

If you measure at the peak down the side of the front fender, from the door jamb to the edge where the headlight bezel meets the steel, you'll have 51.5"

 

49-54 Chassis are all the same as far as wheelbase.

stock suspension? if not someone boogered it up somewhere along the line.

not sure what it is you are doing but 53 fenders need 53 inner fenders as well as the the splash pan and grille unless you are going to do some modifications to the front end

 

nope positive they are 54.
A buddy of mine was sectioning his 53 and had super clean fenders and he didn't care which year they were so we swapped.

 

no thats what I am saying,
the wheel base is fine.
looked perfect with the 54 fenders.

 

Well, I just measured 51.5" just 10 seconds before I posted that above off my '53 Chevy 2dr.. I just went to measure a pair of fenders I pulled from a 4-door '54 just now, and they are the exact same.

The wheel wells on both 2 & 4 door fenders are the same opening, same distance from end to end, and the trim molding holes match as well.

You've got other issues. Measure your wheelbase again.

 

hell maybe I am crazy???

I will try to post pics tom.

just looked kinda weird to me.

thanks for looking at yours for me

 

hell maybe I am crazy???

that's probaly it.

 

yeah post a pic, sounds like there maybe somthing up with your wheelbase. The fenders are the same with the exception on the grille, splashpan area.

 

This is what a screwed up chassis looks like...the previous owner installed a camero front clip and it wasnt lined up...after measuring it was 118" and not 115". good luck.

 

Do you have the lower apron on? Without it and the bumper it will look off a bit. I have run mine for years and never noticed a thing, then this year I pulled the bumper and lower apron/splash pan/ whatever you call it. And people (and me) have noticed the front end looking to far forward about a inch.... Creates a illusion I guess.

 

I hope these pictures show what I mean ....

With and without pan:

 

The problem is obviously the wheels and tires, send them to me, and go buy new ones! Might as well send that hood scoop also. But seriously, it looks O.K. to me. Butch/56sedandelivery.