I am going to replace both sides due to corrosion at the bottoms. Has anyone bought aftermarket fenders? Are they flimsy/thinner than stock? It there a specific manufacturer that make a better/worse quality? I'm finding brands like Sherman, Alzare, and Replace. Or are they all pretty much the same? Thanks for any info..
If you're talking about an E series Ford I'd highly recommend doing a search online of your local junkyards. I had great luck finding a stock fender that way.
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Joe
2003 EB50 7.3L PSD Q4X4
2000 Chevy Express 3500 High Top EB37 - Sold
2003 EB30 - Sold
Whoops, yeah, econoline van. Not going the junkyard route because they are most likely rusting away. All econolines with rust here first, along with the drip rail, but it sounds like you found a nice one.
This brings up a related issue that I have been curious about. I am thinking about replacing the right front fender but for cosmetic purposes only. My E350 is a 2003 and looks exactly like yours.
For damage that is less than 12" in diameter, I've done the bodywork myself. Once the bondo and primer are dry, I've had a shop spray paint the area and top coated it with a clearcoat. To date, I haven't seen any rust develop anywhere and been curious how Ford alloys or preps its steel to prevent rusting. The primary difference between the exposures our vans have been subjected to is we spend most of our time in arid regions here in the US. There is one exception and that occurred when backing into a camp site in Canada. I did not see the 1" iron rod sticking 10" out of a nearby tree. It punched and tore a 10" hole in the panel about 18" above the stop/turn signal bezel. I did not have the time or tools to do the repair and traveled throughout BC and the Yukon for several months in drizzle almost every day. After another 10 or so months I got around to repairing the tear. Even though the area was left exposed for almost a year, there was no rust on the outside or inside of the skin. I am beginning to see a few small areas of steel where the paint has "popped off" but the metal underneath has not rusted.
Again, I am not sure why there is no rust on the skin of my van but I would not hesitate to at least look at fenders off of another van from this era. The steel on these vans is solid. Given that UPS was built on the E series vans, there has to be "several million" that have been parted out with pieces all around the US. If the stored fenders in NW WA are showing signs of rust, you might check for stock in eastern WA or OR. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.
Thanks for the replies. I saw those fiberglass ones! ... but, given the size difference, I'd then have to get bigger tires Thanks for the report on the Ford quality steel SierraHawk. I guess I'll keep an eye out for junkyard stock now...
I scraped and ground down my lower fenders and hit them with corroseal and bed liner in hopes that they last a couple more years before falling apart and forcing me to get replacements. Once my Bushwacker fender flares are on you can't even see my hack job
doublevan2- hoping that my hack job on my lower fenders buys me a couple more years before they fall apart and I have to replace them...
In regard to my original question, I wouldn't mind hearing how the new aftermarket replacements are in terms of fit/quality if anyone happens to come across this thread in the future (who has gone that route). Looks like Sherman brand might be the best???
Thanks for the report on the Ford quality steel SierraHawk. I guess I'll keep an eye out for junkyard stock now...
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