Fender covers

[kelpaso1]

I was watching Overhaulin today and wondering. They paint the car/truck all nice and $expensive$ looking, and then they install the nice engine. But when they are doing this and leaning/bent over the fenders, they don't put any kind of protector or cloth/blankets to protect the paint. Guys are wearing jeans with metal buttons/rivets and belts. How do they not seem to scratch the paint during assembly?? I see this on many other car show also

 

[rburke65]

It's a trick Billy! There are tons of things like that that are just blown over, and not mentioned. You are not supposed to notice or question things like that. You should start watching with one eye closed.

 

[Cyberbear]

I suppose the show producers regard what you're talking about as a no brainer, and no doubt expect all to know about fender paint protection before lifting a wrench. If not, they will soon recognize their over looking an important first step to auto repair when they then require some paint repair as well.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Another thing you see a LOT that I never understood is installing the engine after the bodywork and paint has all been done.

Tommy

 

[coljar]

Back in the late 70's, I worked in a speed shop/service station, and the owner bought our clothing which included not marring leather belts that had the hook built in a leather covered belt buckle. We also used fender blankets liberally. I carried this practice over when I took over my grandfather's shop in '80 and bought these items for my techs.

 

[rodster_67]

What does everyone use for fender covers? (Other than fender covers)

 

[CJM8515]

Another thing you see a LOT that I never understood is installing the engine after the bodywork and paint has all been done.

Tommy

Yea I can never figure out why they do that a lot of the time. If they so much as miscalculate there goes your nice paint job??

 

[unslow1]

What does everyone use for fender covers? (Other than fender covers)

Blanket, moving blankets and lately yoga mats. If it's nice you want to keep it that way.

 

[justanengineer]

Another thing you see a LOT that I never understood is installing the engine after the bodywork and paint has all been done.

I dont see what the big deal is, its not like youre still doing fabrication work simply bc you have the engine out for final paint/assembly/test. Ive actually found its often necessary to have the engine out to get the front sheetmetal aligned decently on older cars. I'll stick a friend in the empty engine bay, close the hood, set the gaps, and have him tighten everything from the inside while making sure everything stays put on the outside.

 

[PCO6]

What does everyone use for fender covers? (Other than fender covers)

I use bath towels. To keep them in place I sewed Velcro tabs/loops in the corners that hook onto something under the hood (anything will do). Although not in this picture I have ones that go over the fenders too.

View media item 34826

 

[rodster_67]

I use bath towels. to keep them in place I sewed Velcro tabs/loops in the corners that hook onto something under the hood. Although not in this picture I have ones that go over the fenders too.

Good idea...washable too!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I dont see what the big deal is, its not like youre still doing fabrication work simply bc you have the engine out for final paint/assembly/test. Ive actually found its often necessary to have the engine out to get the front sheetmetal aligned decently on older cars. I'll stick a friend in the empty engine bay, close the hood, set the gaps, and have him tighten everything from the inside while making sure everything stays put on the outside.

I understand your point of view, but the car is manufactured with the driveline in place. Is it really that much harder to do it the same way?

Tommy

 

[Weekend_warrior]

It's likely that they buff any fine scatches out last (a step they don't focus on) as or might use a cling type clear plastic on the fenders and once they fire things up and get under the hood buttoned up they remove it and buff the car out.

 

[autonaut]

I understand your point of view, but the car is manufactured with the driveline in place. Is it really that much harder is it to do it the same way?

Tommy

Leaving the drivetrain out during painting gives the painter better access to paint the enginecompartment etc. I've built many cars. I really cant see what the big deal is. It is not like that installing a drivetrain scratches the paint. Unless you're clumsy and dont know what you're doing.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

What's the big deal. It's not like they are doing any actual work while the cameras are rolling or that the scratches will show up on TV.

 

[PCO6]

Good idea...washable too!

With Jeeps it's always good to have a few towels around to mop up the mess.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Leaving the drivetrain out during painting gives the painter better access to paint the enginecompartment etc. I've built many cars. I really cant see what the big deal is. It is not like that installing a drivetrain scratches the paint. Unless you're clumsy and dont know what you're doing.

Every resto/rebuild I've ever worked on the body guys have done the engine compartment before the engine goes in and the fenders go on. Most of the time the engine compartment is not body color. I guess it's just a 20/20 view of what you're used to.

Tommy

 

[warmpancakes]

Most of the time the engine compartment is not body color. Tommy

stop working on chevys, doing Mopars engine bay is body color , usually wet sanded and polished too, drivetrain goes in from the bottom Just like Ma Mopar did it

 

[Tim37]

When building hotrods usually the car is built then blown back apart for finish then reassembled then the interior is done. Its probably how the crew is accustomed to doing it.

 

[PAToyota]

When building hotrods usually the car is built then blown back apart for finish then reassembled then the interior is done. Its probably how the crew is accustomed to doing it.

I agree with what you’re saying. What gets me is when they get something back from paint/powdercoat and immediately start grinding the finish off to weld something on...

 

[LS6 Tommy]

stop working on chevys, doing Mopars engine bay is body color , usually wet sanded and polished too, drivetrain goes in from the bottom Just like Ma Mopar did it

It's not just Chevy. It's pretty much EVERYONE but Mopar. Ma Mopar also did things like not paint under the car much past the rockers or under the vinyl roof. She was CHEEEEP! Just because I don't own any doesn't mean I don't like 'em!

Tommy

 

[MoparTrucks]

I dont use fender covers because they make more rust flake off


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[gregtwojeeps]

I dislike shops that won't use fender covers. I took one of my 2000 Jeep GC in for a rocker arm cover gasket replacement and when I got it back the chrome grill and tops of both fenders had scratches all over them... from belt buckles and whatever...

One of my pet peeves for any "restore" is the engine bay not being painted to match the body paint. It was a lot of extra work for me, but I never regretted doing it as it "finishes" the restore. JMO

 

[Robby321]

Simple solution me. Get some "movers blankets" and always keep one side down. Plus in the pic when I was building my little drag boat? Get some 1/4 inch "R-Tech" foam made for insulation basement walls. Cheap and a 4x8 sheet is **** and WAY better than a blanket when crawling under a cage!

 

[James E]

One of my pet peeves for any "restore" is the engine bay not being painted to match the body paint. It was a lot of extra work for me, but I never regretted doing it as it "finishes" the restore. JMO

That's funny, 'cause one of my pet peeves is people "restoring" their cars and painting the engine bay the body color when it's not supposed to be. Isn't your engine bay supposed to be galvanized like the rest of us Ford truck guys?

 

[gregtwojeeps]

That's funny, 'cause one of my pet peeves is people "restoring" their cars and painting the engine bay the body color when it's not supposed to be. Isn't your engine bay supposed to be galvanized like the rest of us Ford truck guys?

Nope, only the inner fenders on a 79 are galvanized from the factory, I stripped mine and zinc coated them. The original factory color was white as noted in the center pic, but I changed the body color to a metallic frost with a medium toreador red metallic .... so the firewall got the main body color.. the metallic frost with PPG 2021 clear.

 

[DC73]

My favorite fender covers:

http://www.fendergripper.com/category/FC.html

I have a couple of this design:

They roll up nice and are easily stored inside a piece of PVC pipe to keep them clean.

DC