MGB: 74 MGB fender - on again, off again

Has anyone experienced fustration on getting the front wings to fit right? I could use some guidance on the best approach to getting the fender to fit against the fender bead and under the windshield(removed). I have tried to fit three times so far with less than perfect gap. I have installed shims provided in new hardware and so on.

Any thoughts or tips from you more experienced MBG'rs. Thanks

Is it a new fender or used? The fit of new fenders (even Heritage fenders) is not perfect and will take some fiddling (sometimes medievil fiddling) to get the panels to line up.

I had both front fenders (wings) off my 74 last winter. I didn't have any real trouble getting things back in place. Seems like I remember having to "pop" the fenders toward the rear by smacking the fender backwards with the palm of my hand. I did this at the headlight socket (headlight had been removed). "Popped" in place fairly easily, though.

Like cfrench said, are you re-installing the original or intalling new?

What exactly isn't fitting right? I understand that it's not snugging up against the fender bead and windshield position...but when you get that far, how is the fit everywhere else? Is the fender "snugged up" anywhere else, or is it just a little off everwhere?

So far the fender fits tight except at the fender bead under the windshield mounting area. This fender is an existing fender that has been off for a few years, cleaned and repainted in the fender inside. I did do a new patch panel from the chrome trim line down and that patch looks like it is too far toward the door. I will proably re-do the patch some the panel fits better. The driver's side panel has had no patch work and I installed with shims, however it seems as though the panel may fit up better w/o shims.