weak upper portion of fenders

Does anyone know (or maybe it's just mine) why the top part of the fenders are so weak. Seems as though if you sit on the car or lean on the top part of the fender with something as light as a finger, the fenders push in. Can this be strenghtened somehow underneath or is this a sign of just weak metal and maybe even rust settling in. Please advise. I hope this make sense. I also have a Mustang and the upper portion of the fender is much harder metal and does not give as easily.

 

My '74 Grabber used to be like that. I see you have a '70. Both fenders on my '74 were off a '70 according to a previous owner. None of my other Mav's are like that. Probably just has something to do with the way they stamped the metal.

 

Just the shape and design of the fender.
Never sit on a Maverick fender! Then again they really only designed the seats to be sat on.

 

Thin thin metal, Only designed to hold shape. If you want to lean or sit on something, buy a 74-77 and use the bumpers.

 

just about all the mavs. i have had did that ...frank...

 

I presume you can sturdy them up by welding in something underneath them? I will try. Not sure what I will use, but I don't like that. Hell, my pinky finger pushes them in very easily.

 

You guys let people lean on or touch your Maverick? Not me .... They touch the seat when they sit down and that's about it ...

 

although they are usually fairly bendable, yours do sound to be moreso. exactly where are you pushing and where is it moving? you may have some bolts loose or missing from the fender bracings, mount points.maybe you should have one of the other south cal guys look at it with you.

 

Someone mentioned Big bumpers, in keeping with being wierd, (so everyone tells me), I love my Big bumper '74 , Yeah they are a product of governement regs, but they tell the story of an era.
Anyway, don't need a tailgate.. get a nice card table and a couple more chairs and you've got seating for 4 at the ball game! Plus I live in deer country so gives a little more confidence late at night too!

 

it's a repop fender, I have an original on my dr. side, it's real sturdy, and a repop on my pass. side, flimsy as tin foil, looks the same, just no ford part number on the lip. anyone have a pass. side fender they want to sell?

 

I have the same situation as shaunh82 but reverse sides. I know the drivers side on mine was replaced in the mid 80s. When I put a fender cover over it to lean into the engine bay it will flex much easier than the passenger side

 

If you weld something to the bottom side of them be prepared to spend time making them look straight again.

 

You saying there was a company that produced reproduction fenders for Mavericks sometime in the past?

 

My other Mavericks still have the factory mounted fenders on them and they feel solid. Both had been replaced on my '74 in the past after minor wrecks and they felt flimsy. Strange.

I know they certainly didn't stand a chance against a Lincoln Navigator! I'm going to hang that passenger fender on my wall. You'd be hard pressed to find one smashed flatter.

 

Sure was. Used to be able to get them from Shermans. When I was redoing the Sprint I bought what I thought was an NOS fender off of evil bay. Turned out to be NOS reproduction.