This is part four of a series of posts on this highly custom 1938 Chevrolet Truck restoration, in post one we introduce you to the project and the custom features to be fabricated.  In post two, we look at the individual truck parts that make up the front end build.  In post three, we cover the chassis build and drip rail removal.  In post four, we show you the process of metal finishing the fenders. Post five takes us through the panel restoration of the original inner grille housing panel and a custom touch of deleting the cowl vent panel.  Post six takes care of the lower cowl metal and left hand front fender.  Post seven covers the toe board panel, door lock upgrades, and mainly the upgrades to the inner fender support panel; this panel has to be heavily modified to take the new location of the hood side panels.  Post eight looks at how the custom hood was created to open by pulling forward instead of the original butterfly design.

Metal finishing the right hand front fender was our first choice when restoring the truck, since the fenders are going to stay stock, non-custom this was an easy choice.

We went through the standard procedure of media blast, then scraping the remaining filler off.  We repaired all tears, splits, and the perimeter, followed by metal finishing to completion as shown in the photos.

Chevy fenders before restoration

Fender after media blasting.

This section is heavily clad with body filler also known as ‘bondo.’

Evidence of cracking was apparent when the truck was in paint, even more so now after media blasting.

Scraping to remove the bondo.

A close up of the damaged area.

Surface of the moon?!

Metal finishing process

The metal finishing process begins.

Taking down the ‘highs’ and picking up the ‘lows.’

Hand filing in process.

Ready for final clean after filing stage is complete.

Lower rear section of the fender shown here was done as a second part of this restoration.

Final Chevy fender restoration photos

Here’s that second part completed.

Ready to hang.

Completed as good as new!

This is part four of a series of posts on this highly custom 1938 Chevrolet Truck restoration, in post one we introduce you to the project and the custom features to be fabricated.  In post two, we look at the individual truck parts that make up the front end build.  In post three, we cover the chassis build and drip rail removal.  In post four, we show you the process of metal finishing the fenders. Post five takes us through the panel restoration of the original inner grille housing panel and a custom touch of deleting the cowl vent panel.  Post six takes care of the lower cowl metal and left hand front fender.  Post seven covers the toe board panel, door lock upgrades, and mainly the upgrades to the inner fender support panel; this panel has to be heavily modified to take the new location of the hood side panels.  Post eight looks at how the custom hood was created to open by pulling forward instead of the original butterfly design.