Fender sticking out further than door.

Bdubbs

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Maybe I have ocd. But I first noticed this last summer. I don't remember it sticking out more than the door. Now I know it's there, my eyes are drawn to it.

And look how far off the lines are. Drivers side is perfect. Clean title, even had original sticker on front bumper that had part number and said terminator. I'm the 3rd owner, owned since 2010.

Anyone else's look like this? Worth having a body shop fix it?
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3b02c95291f279df374b6a0ea014617d.jpg


IMG_20200227_175916321_zpsid8ktss6.jpg

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Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
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IMG_20200227_175759977_zpsv3grrksv.jpg


IMG_20200227_175822403_zpsdg2f7bdw.jpg


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Rambro

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My door to fender gap was wider on drivers side. It wasn't bad, but I always noticed it. Took it to a body shop and had it adjusted.
 

03' White Snake

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Called mass production.

You can adjust it yourself pretty easily. Open the door and you will see 1 or 2 bolts attaching the fender. Loosen them. Bottom of rocker, 2 more screws, loosen them. Slide fender up or down and tighten these back up.

I think it is more caused by using the stock jacking points, the fender hangs slightly below the pinch weld. If the jack is in the wrong spot it causes the fender to slip these attachment points and you will see what you are seeing. I adjusted mine years ago and it wasn't that bad.
 

Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
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Called mass production.

You can adjust it yourself pretty easily. Open the door and you will see 1 or 2 bolts attaching the fender. Loosen them. Bottom of rocker, 2 more screws, loosen them. Slide fender up or down and tighten these back up.

I think it is more caused by using the stock jacking points, the fender hangs slightly below the pinch weld. If the jack is in the wrong spot it causes the fender to slip these attachment points and you will see what you are seeing. I adjusted mine years ago and it wasn't that bad.
So I want to adjust up or down? Not inward? I jack my car up using the subframe connectors.

I appreciate it.

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stang910

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Looks like it was jacked up by the pinch weld right under the fender. That's the correct place to jack it but the pinch weld isn't strong enough to support the weight of the car.

The fenders don't line up 100% correct, but they get a lot closer than that. Every one I've worked on it seems like you can get the top body line perfect, but the bottom one will be off or you can line up the bottom one perfect and then the top one is off. Yours doesn't look like sticking out that bad, but it's for sure too high.
 

98 svt

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So I want to adjust up or down? Not inward? I jack my car up using the subframe connectors.

I appreciate it.

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If you need to move a spot inward, remove a spacer after you loosen the bolt.
If there is no spacer to remove, you may need to add one to the other mounting location.
You'll see when you look at it.
 

03' White Snake

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If you need to move a spot inward, remove a spacer after you loosen the bolt.
If there is no spacer to remove, you may need to add one to the other mounting location.
You'll see when you look at it.

I agree, looks like the up down is off more than anything else.

You can also loosen the mounts in the door jam area, have someone lightly push on the fender and tighten it back up. Fenders are actually very flimsy until tightened into place.
 

fivelitrecobra

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Had similar issue's with the body panels and gaps being off slightly with my Terminator's, and have seen it on others. I think it's a combo of not so great QC by Ford back in 03 and 04 and jacking the car on the pinch welds. I have a buddy that does high end muscle car resto's, he helped me loosen and shift a few things around, it was near perfect afterwards. How it should be when it left the factory.
 

Black Gold 380R

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Everything looks good to me until I see this picture. If the rear of your door matches the QTR panel, then this picture tells me your fender needs to come down. Alignment is done from the rear of the car forward. QTR panels don't move or have adjustment. So, you align the door to the QTR panels. Then you align the fender to the door.

Maybe the fender was pushed up during jacking or from a lift arm or something. Not sure how to fix it as fenders are normally moved up or down by adding or removing shims. If your fender was pushed up by jacking or a lift arm it may be bowed in the middle causing it to stick out past the door and why it looks higher in this picture.

If the door isn't rubbing during opening and closing I would leave it alone, but if it bothers you then a body shop might be your answer here. Especially if the fender is bowed out.
 

Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
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Everything looks good to me until I see this picture. If the rear of your door matches the QTR panel, then this picture tells me your fender needs to come down. Alignment is done from the rear of the car forward. QTR panels don't move or have adjustment. So, you align the door to the QTR panels. Then you align the fender to the door.

Maybe the fender was pushed up during jacking or from a lift arm or something. Not sure how to fix it as fenders are normally moved up or down by adding or removing shims. If your fender was pushed up by jacking or a lift arm it may be bowed in the middle causing it to stick out past the door and why it looks higher in this picture.

If the door isn't rubbing during opening and closing I would leave it alone, but if it bothers you then a body shop might be your answer here. Especially if the fender is bowed out.
The door opens and closes fine. The only thing that bugs me is the fender sticking out a little further than the door.

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Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
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Had similar issue's with the body panels and gaps being off slightly with my Terminator's, and have seen it on others. I think it's a combo of not so great QC by Ford back in 03 and 04 and jacking the car on the pinch welds. I have a buddy that does high end muscle car resto's, he helped me loosen and shift a few things around, it was near perfect afterwards. How it should be when it left the factory.
I agree, seems it's somewhat normal. Either I'll try to adjust it myself or bring to a body shop.

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