Can someone tell my why you must replace the fenders for a 98+ front end swap. I got my hood today and it seems to be alright with the 93-97 fenders despite some fiberglass problems. I don't have a bumper cover yet though. Is this where the problem is?

 

I know one difference... 93-97 the front part of the fender is enclosed... The 98+ has a small opening for the headlights.

 

yes, that is right

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i think they "could" be used

it might look weird tho.

 

If you used the stock 93 fenders, you'd have to cut them to make room for the headlights. You could do it that way, but it'd probably be easier to just buy new fenders unless you're very comfortable with doing custom body work.

 

Well I discovered another difference other than the headlights. There is a lip on the fenders that runs the length of the engine bay that the hood sits in. Without out it a hood (glasstech pin on) sags in the middle without it. Sucky.

 

i dont know if thats really the difference, my hood sags in the middle on my 94 anyway unless the shop ordered the wrong year... but since it doesnt hvae the bubbles coming back from the headlights ill assume they didnt. anyway gl with the conversion!

 

Hmm, that might be a specific problem with that type of hood. If the 98+ fenders have it and the 93-97 don't, then wouldn't all of the 93-97 hoods sag in general as well? I've seen conversions done where the only modification was the changing of the front clip's body panels & hood, and his bolt-on hood fit ok (atleast I haven't heard any complaints of sagging).

Edit: in re-reading my own post, i realized I didn't really make sense, and rethinking about it if they did a conversion from a 93-97 to a 98+ frontend, then they have the 98+ fenders that have that necessary lip which supports the hood, and hence of course wouldn't have a problem sagging.

 

The hood is a pin on glasstech so it is a lightweight race hood and not very strong to begin with, but it appears to need that lip for it to sit in. Anyone know where I can find some fenders?

 

From what I understand I think the height of the fenders are different between the two front ends as well, not just the way the headlights fit into the hood.