'38 6519 questions

[Matt 12861]

I am putting my front end together, It's been apart for a long time.  
1)  How much clearance should there be between the inside bracket and the top of the fender?  Or does the fender rest on it?  Note these fenders have the spare wheel carriers on them.
2)  there is an odd shaped hole at the front of the fender on the drivers side between the head light and grill but nothing on the passenger side.  does anyone know what goes in it?  I don't have any good photos.
3)  On the headlight trim strip aat the front there isnothing there.  Do I need to weld/solder/glue a stainless piece on?  What is it supposed to look like?  See blurry photo.
thanks

[Steve Passmore]

As long as its bolted to the outside edge of the fender is the important thing, I have seen these brackets touching all the way and sometimes a gap all the way. never ever seen any insulation in this position as there no way of keeping it there. So no real clearance setting.

[Phil Taylor]

I don't believe the support is bolted directly to the fender.  There is however clamp type bracket that does bolt to the support and provides a pinch fit to the fender flange.  At least that is what my 6119 with side mounts has.  Then again I also put a cut up 3" wide strip of a intertube between the support and the fender to prvent excess vibration and to act as somewhat of a cushion if it ever comes lose - I hate rattles  ;-)  
Phil

[Steve Passmore]

I suspect the original plate welded to the fender of your other car has broken off in the past and the "pinch" arrangement was a repair. All the Cadillacs Ive owned right up to 1947, in fact all GM cars Ive had have a 2 or 3 inch plate welded to the outside edge to take the bracket, this plate has a square hole that uses a coach or bumper bolt fitted from the inside and held in the square allowing you to just fit a nut on the outside and tighten it up, they would never rely on a pinch fit to hold a fender on.

[Matt 12861]

Here is a photo of the funny hole, and end of the trim.  Thanks for the other answers.  I welded a plate to the fender lip and am getting ready to bolt the bracket now.

[Matt 12861]

here is the hole photo...

[Tom Beaver]

The odd shaped hole in the drivers side front fender looks to me to be the result of someone fitting a turn signal indicator or additional parking light at some later time.  There is no such hole in the front fenders of a 38 LaSalle or any 38 60 Special I have seen. 

The headlight trim strip looks like the one used on the 38 60 Special and in that application, if I recall correctly,  the front face is a flat piece of stainless which slops backward slightly and is integral with the rest of the trim strip.  Maybe someone has a picture of the correct trim.

Tom Beaver

[Bruce Berghoff - #1476]

Matt... Answer to Question # 3 - There is a stainless steel cap kit available from the Michigan Region - Classic Car Club of America that can be ordered from Lee Barthel, Michigan Region Projects Mgr., 21095 Halsted Rd. , Northville, MI 48167. Price used to be $15 per pair in 2003 .  The kit includes the bonding agent to affix the caps also. You just can't beat the bargains offered from those big ticket guys at CCCA can you ? bb.

[Matt #12861]

thanks, they are still 15.00, I just put a check inthe mail.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Matt,

I have a 38 65 Series, Divider Window.

Can we share pictures and restoration techniques?