step side fender help again

[Buddy]

Ok I am so close to sending this thing to the paint shop I can hardly stand it.... anyways here is my problem I need to fix before it goes there. My paint guy wants to paint my bed all apart ..meaning no fenders or steps on. I took everything apart as I only had things mikey moused together anyways. I decided I should try to mock everything up for a perfect fit just to make sure there was no issuse. Well good thing I did. I can't get all the holes on the aftermarket fenders to work out. I am off on at least 2 per side and almost all of the section where the fender mets the step.. The problem is that the fit and everything else looks great. So what do i do with the holes that are off. They all have a nut welded to them. Should i cut the nut off and drill out the hole a little on the fender and just use a nut and bolt for the re fit??? any help or advice is a big help thanks in advance. Little nrvous about this one for sure. I know i should have bought better fenders or OEM ones but I didnt have the cash and I  was a little more green back than, I also dont have the cash to get new ones as they where more than a few bucks

[txchainsawgogi]

sure they arent backwards?

you seem to have the right idea on the fix though... unless anyone else chimes in with a better idea.

they might be meant for a different bed length than yours, or even the wrong year range.

[Buddy]

I was told they are pretty much all the same for the step side with the only diff being the marker light. And no I don't them on backwards as the step has to go to the front. Funny you ask though I have done worse!!!

[beastie_3]

I would re weld the nuts or just leave the nuts loose. Its not crucial the nuts have to be welded. Its the downside of having something reproduced

[Blazin]

I would probably hog out the holes that the bolt goes through first providing they aren't going to show when all bolted together before cutting nuts off, and re welding them back on.

[VileZambonie]

I would probably hog out the holes that the bolt goes through first providing they aren't going to show when all bolted together before cutting nuts off, and re welding them back on.

This

[Buddy]

I can't do it that way because it will show on the box insides. the only way I can think to do it is to remove the bolts on the inside of the fenders because that is the only area you cant see when complete

[Captkaos]

There shouldn't be nuts on the inside of the bed...  Confused.

[Buddy]

The nuts are welded to the inside of the fenders. They are nut matching up when I place the bolt through the fender. So I am going to remove the nut on the inside of the fender and re drill the hole on the fender tab so it excepts the bolt that I am puting on the inside of the fender

[80stepsideguy]

So you basicially answered your own question here then.