i just got fresh gloss black on my inner fenders, and need a good way to install the new staples that hold on the flaps below the inner fenders, how do you all do it, and what kind of staples work best? thanks!-derek

i've read on this post (do a search) where guys have used bailing wire. i also read where somebody ground a groove in a flat tipped screwdriver to push the staples over. might lay some heavy tape around where the staples go just in case you do slip. the original or repro staples are very hard to bend i guess. good luck!!

I did mine with the staples and it was a major PITA!!

I drilled two holes for each staples a bit larger than the wire diameter the correct distance apart. I used a small leather punch (belt-hole tool) to put the holes in the splash guards corresponding to the staple locations. Bending the staples with a pair of pliers was the easy part!

The second side went easier as I figured out that I could mark and pre-punch the splash shields and then drill a set of holes and insert the staples one at a time, working my way from the center to the front and then center to the back!!

Next time I might try bailing wire!! graemlins/clonk.gif

Paul D.

I made my own staples with about 1 1/2" legs from bailing wire. The staples that came in the kit were just too hard to work with. I glued the (GM upolstry glue) flaps in place on the wheel side of the inner fender, drilled out existing holes to be just a tad larger and went through the flap at the same time holding a block of wood against the flap so the it wouldn't pull off of where it was glued.

I tried to shorten and fold the wire over like a staple but didn't feel it would would hold. I ended up twisting the ends together and snipping the twisted ends real close to the fender. This left a bit of wire sticking up that I hammered over with a punch to flatten it out some. You can't see the wire very well throught the tire and wheel but I wanting to cover it so I put a dab of black gasket sealer over each twist. Looks good from the engine side and you don't see anything from the wheel well.

I did about like Dennis, except that I used stainless wire. Looks new for eternity.

I went to a small engine shop and bought a length of throttle cable for a lawn mower. They sell it in bulk lengths and it is about the right size. I bent my staples from it and left the legs a bit long. This gave me a lot more leverage in bending them over and then I cut them to the length I wanted after they were folded over with a set of side cutters.

Ed

thanks to all, just what i needed to get me going on that project, it was holdin me up on some of the assembly of the car, i appreciate it- derek