Otter LRC CM4647296 comes home

[Jordan Baker]

I also started on getting the left rear fender fitted in for welding up the flares. These original fenders all had the flares badly smashed in. It was suggested to me to make all new fenders but with this vehicle still being so original I figured I owed it ti keep as many original pieces as possible. The last picture shows what I started with. I’ve still got to cut out and replace where the metal has rusted right through but that sill be for another day.

[Jordan Baker]

It’s been a while since I’ve worked on the Otter. This afternoon I decided to tackle another of the original fenders. This one had taken a beating with entire fender flare rolled into and under the upper surface. The original bend crease was still there but a new edge had been rolled into it. This made it quite the challenge to get the upper surface flat again and not loose the original bend. Below are two pictures of what it looked like when I got the Otter.

[Jordan Baker]

Here is where I am at after a few hours of work. A lot of work was done previously with the fender off the Otter trying to get the pieces close. Once the fender was bolted onto the hull I was able to do the final fitting. Ball peen hammer and a chunk of heavy metal were the main tools. I also made up a plywood jig to continually check my profile to keep everything in place. I’m quite happy with how it turned out. It had been suggested to me to simply replace them as they won’t look as nice as the rest of the vehicle once everything is restored. However I just couldn’t toss them considering how complete this vehicle is.

[Mike Gurr]

Well done Jordan, well worth the effort to keep it as original as possible.

[Jordan Baker]

Last fender getting the rebuild treatment. I had to cut out the rear edge as it was badly rusted out in spots. I also had to weld up the bend along the front edge. The metal had gotten very thin and then was cracking along the bend when the flare was bent back to shape. Lots of weld, grind and repeat.

[Bob Carriere]

Just looking at some earlier fender pictures...... what where the original fasteners...... they look like large slotted screws...... were they machined screws...... 5/16 size x 1 3/4 ???? .....I have spares if you want some.

I have spent the last few very cold weeks in the barn sorting out nuts and bolts and making new bins........ and learned that you can't sort bolts with gloves so I froze my right thumb enough to crack and go numb.

Cheers

[Jordan Baker]

Mig Wire in bulk, funny you should ask as i checked my spool yesterday to make sure there was still some in the machine. Thankfully there is still lots. I buy the largest spool that will fit in the machine.

Ill have to check but I believe they are 3/8 dome headed machine screws. I tried to save as many as I could but in the end most were rusted away too much along the neck to reuse. Ill order some new ones at some point.