Wrecked my fender! - Dumb mistake - Anyone have a replacement?

Guys, today I learned that no matter how many times you do routine work on your car, its still possible so F'up!! Please DONT make comments on my mistake, I take blame, and lesson's are learned. I dont need "retard" comments. I always cross my T's and dot my i's but today my mind was just elsewhere.

I friend and myself worked on the front springs about two weeks ago, and hand tightened the lugs on the driver side wheel. After the garage got too hot we called it a day and went inside. Next day I decided to work on the distributor (It was shot and worn out so I pulled it and replaced it) I went through two distributors over the last few days (had a defective one) and over the last week had my mind on the way the engine was running. I got her running good, and was excited to test drive the car.

I went up to freeway speeds and got a bad gut feeling and decided to pull off the freeway...at that time I noticed the front end wobble and heard a horrible knocking...I realized that the lugs we're not tight and the wheel was about to come off, I eased her as much as I could off the side of the road when It was too late and the car crashed to the ground. Wheel went rolling off. I felt like the biggest idiot.

You can see what the wheel did to my fender. I almost cried. So many hours went into body work on that fender. On a good note it didnt damage the me, the door, hood, or suspension components. It did however bend up the fenderwell, fender, and the drum has a nice flat spot on it. I was very very lucky. The studs we're OK, and I was able to bolt on the wheel and drive it home. DONT walk away with loose lugs thinking you'll do it later!!

So anybody have a driver side fender for a 69?? I need one.

Dude that sucks.....
Well youll NEVER do that again.
When i was just a kid (12 or so) i was always detailing the cars in the family. One day i was getting real nitpicky with the wheels and decided to pull them so i could wax the black portion of the wheels on my moms 76 skylark. Well my mom got in a hurry to go and i then put it all back together so we could go somewhere. We got all of around the corner and something started clunking and the car started wobbling. We almost got on the FRWY. Pulled over and tightend them down.
I got in some serious **** that day, But i havent done it since.

Youll get another fender and start over. Dont let it get you down too much..
GL

Man 'dula, I hate to see that happen, especially to your beautiful car. Hope you find a new fender soon and get everything straight before too long.

Sorry bro, only compassion for ya.

Try this link.

It might help...


SearchTheEntireCraigsList.com Results

Thanks, I consider myself mechanically inclined at best, its pretty embarrassing admiting to a mistake like that. But hey on the bright side, the car was too low, and the 16x8 wheels always rubbed and and the fender had a little dent in it already.... . AND I can use the wrecked fender to practice polishing....I dunno trying to think positive.

I need to make sure the guy who sprayed the base / clear is still around, its not just black, it has a little blue in it, to give it a darker raven look.

Bummer...im sick about it. Ive been concentrating on finishing my 9" and gathering parts for the 460 and now im back to doing body work..

FE, thanks, nice site for craigslist...havent seen that yet. No fender yet either. 69 Fenders arn't exectly common.

Don't 9's and 8's have the same front fenders, or does the grill and bumper change the shape between them?

Dang...

BTDT, twice... Once the rear lugs on my '69 cougar (Mags) loosened, noticed it getting squirrely when i changed lanes. luckly, i got her stopped, AND i had the proper lug wrench on board... The second time during a rainstorm, I turned and the car went straight in a parking lot and hit a curb, which took the entire left front suspension off and put it under the car.. I did not help that i was drunk at the time, either. That was the last time i drank and drove, back in 1982...(dumbass kid). At least it damaged a body part you can unbolt....

No need to feel like an idiot.
It happens to all of us.

Not long ago I did my brakes... on my newly painted car (yes, the stang). Late into the night I decided to gravity bleed my brakes, so I filled hte MC and left the cap off to simply return in the morning.
The next morning I walked right by it... closed the hood and took her for a rip. Didnt even get out of the driveway... when I stepped on the brake it went right to the floor... and all the fluid srayed everywhere in my engine compartment.
It took me 2 hrs to clean it...dropping f-bombs the enitre time.

Ahhh, the stories do help some...Yes FE the 68, 69 fenders are the same. Just the trim would be different, which wouldnt matter since I'd be shaving it.

When I realized what was going on I had to get over 3 ro 4 lanes, and wait to exit since the freeway didnt have a shoulder. I couldnt stop in the middle of the freeway. I was SO SO SO close in stopping it before it happened.

It could have been a lot worse if it happened at speed. I will keep an eye out for ya too. I am looking for some 68 parts. Especially a 4spd shifter hump. Well, now is the time to show others how to do bodywork. Come on out to Rowlett. I'll have pizza and beer.

Go look in the stupid things thread and see some of my mistakes...