This may be a dumb question but I'm trying to put a fender back on that I took off a couple years ago. My question is does the fender tabs slide in between the light housing part on the core support? I believe my core support is bent a little and I want to be sure before I keep prying any messing up the paint. Thank in advance Do the tabs slide between these peices of metal?

 

Just the way you have it.

 

The tab should sit behind the core support.
See picture below. Yes, I know I am missing a bolt... ;-) 1972 Forward fender attachment