I'm finally in the process of re***embling my '56 Chevy after having it torn apart for 20+ years, so obviously my memory is a bit fuzzy. I am currently ***embling the park light panels, fender extensions, etc. All these pieces are reproduction. I have just one fastening point that I am questioning. On the front edge of the fender extension there is a tab at the top. My initial inclination would be to place that tab behind the park light panel(as the inner piece is). However, it seems to fit much more naturally with this tab to the front of the park light panel. So which way is correct?
Does this photo help? Its been a few years since I put mine together so I don't remember exactly how it went.
It mounts to the fender with two 5/16 washer head bolts. It just goes one way. Then the outer grille extension covers the tip.
I just moseyed down to the garage and it looks like that little part thats more narrow goes behind the hood bar extension. maybe 3/8 1/2 inch of it.
All the Tri-Five vendors sell reproduction ***embly Manuals, and they don't cost much. You'll be glad you bought one. Butch/56sedandelivery.
does the aftermarket products fit as well as OEM for the '56 ....?? i mean some models out there, some panels or parts fit better than others ....
I do have an ***embly manual. But, of course, the one part of this fender extension ***embly that I actually have a question on is about as clear as mud. It shows a very clear picture of the screw that fastens it and the back side once all the pieces are together but the cutaway which is supposed the show which piece goes on top of the other seems very unclear to me.
Most of the aftermarket sheetmetal and trim has not fit worth a darn. But after getting used parts from a couple different cars, it seems that there is a pretty big variance in the OEM parts too. I got a complete floorpan/brace ***embly and rockers from Danchuk. Also got a hood bar from Danchuk. The top edge of the hood bar was too low in the center and so the edge of my hood and the hood bar don't match in the center. The p***enger side rocker had to be altered because it was not quite as tall as the driver side. On the floor ***embly, the transmission tunnel was way too flat at the front edge and had to be cut apart, spread and have a piece of metal welded in(over 1" at the front tapering back about 12"). I've gotten other parts from some other places since then, but have not had the opportunity yet to see if they fit better or not. I got tail lights from Gene Smith and they also do not fit quite as good as the originals, but they do fit well enough that I can say I am pretty happy with them.
the quality control was not much then, everything has to be fit on 80 percent of thr tri 5s. most of these were family/ work cars that have been beat and banged around. if you want it nice take your time, sheet metal aligment will effect the trim fit.
Adjustment will be needed. Try to make sure you hood bar and the upper fender extension fit. Unibit/step drill is a friend.
I got so busy I forgot I had started this thread. I put most of the front trim together a few days ago. The trim fit together pretty well ultimately. The biggest problem was the hood bar extensions. Since I am using NOS hood bar extensions I made the mistake of thinking I could use the old ones to check fitment when I was doing the bodywork on the fenders(the NOS ones were buried in a box of parts in my attic). I figured OEM should be the same as other OEM, but I was mistaken. The old, bumpy ones fit great, but the NOS ones have a couple spots where there is approximately 1/16" of gap between the top edge of the hood bar extension and the fender. At this point I am just trying to look at this whole project as a good learning experience. I knew quite a bit about the work I am doing going into this project but am continuing to learn a ton more. There are so many little things that are different between working on this car and the muscle-era stuff that I am used to working on, it's just crazy to me.
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