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Is the fender to body "lace" the same as a Beetle? Are the cutouts for bolts the same width apart? Two of my fenders are missing the lace; I suspect the fenders where removed at one time, and the lace was tossed.

Are the fender bolts as stubborn as Beetles? I recall breaking off two of the welded bolts on my 73 when I removed the fender bolts....Can I expect the same with the 181's?

Bucko: Beetle "fender beading" will not work on the Thing. It ain't big enough. I tried Beetle beading from JCW but had to get the real thing from the Thing Shop....although I would now get it from Mike Basso. Replacing it is a slow job if you want it right...but worth it at the end.

Sorry I forgot this: Use lots of penetration oil before working the bolts.....once removed, electric wire brush the bolts with some WD40. EASY is the key. Spray and let them rest overnight...GENTLE...and then wire brush before they go back in. Thirty years old is Thirty years old!!!.