Topic: 1968 GT 390 Fender Skirt/Shield installation Help

[bullitt68]

I am not sure what guys are using when replacing original fender skirt/shields, but I ordered what I have been told are the best reproduction units. They are from Scott Drake. Obviously they are nothing like the originals at all. Also curious what guys are using for staples as the staple gun staples they sent with the kit won't be getting used as they look nothing like originals. I am wondering what the best way is to install the reproduction shields on the skirts

I have tried laying them out hoping that it would be obvious, but no such luck.

I think that some of the skirts are for the headlight buckets, but not sure if only one shield goes on the bucket and the other 3 sheilds go on the fender skirts. The kit does not indicate.

Any photos would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[67gtasanjose]

I had similar issues when I did my 67 SJ built car. The kits I received were for not only for the shields but also the headlight area too. At least the material I received looks more like original than what it appears yours do but the same issue with the staples. I made other staples out of wire stock that was the same size as the originals. It was very time-consuming but this allowed me to re-use the original holes in the sheet metal which I drilled out slightly to enlarge the holes, this helped to ease the insertion step.
Line up the rubber, drill a couple holes in the rubber and then clamp in a staple. Bend over the staple ends over 90 degrees and repeat till finished. A second set of hands helps a lot with bending the staples.

The staples did not curl over like original, that would be the only critique I would give to the process I used. Perhaps somebody else has a good way of  curling the Staples like originals.

You may have noticed another thread on this topic a couple years back where it was discussed that different time frames of the 67's and 68's and/or different assembly plants, the rubber was positioned either in front of or behind the metal. Be sure you install yours onto the correct sides of the metal panels.
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=2498.msg75344#msg75344

[bullitt68]

Thanks Richard I did a search and I did find a post that perhaps you were referring to. Here are some photos of my original fender splash shields for reference. I know how the originals installed but it id the aftermarket kit that is confusing. I also noticed in another post that it looks like there are 2 splash shields used on the headlight bucket, so perhaps on 2 shields provided in the kit are for the fender apron. Perhaps someone else will chime in on the subject. I also saw the post regarding using the key ring to make staples. That was a great idea and I think that I will try that and use my original holes. FYI most of my original staples were bent up quite a bit when they were installed, it was by no means a clean staple job at all. Also judging by the orientation it looks as though my shields are installed on the back side of the fender skirts, at least it looks that way to me given the mounting orientation to the car.

[RoyceP]

I would install the new ones the way you found the originals installed. It's sort of tedious, you have to remove each staple with diagonal cutting pliers, bead blast and paint the metal parts, then hand drill all the holes in the new rubber. The new staples are inserted and bent over with needle nose to resemble the originals. Very rewarding when it's done.

[bullitt68]

I would install the new ones the way you found the originals installed. It's sort of tedious, you have to remove each staple with diagonal cutting pliers, bead blast and paint the metal parts, then hand drill all the holes in the new rubber. The new staples are inserted and bent over with needle nose to resemble the originals. Very rewarding when it's done.

Thanks Royce. I have already media blasted and painted my originals, I just need to install the reproduction rubber now. I just wasn't sure which pieces of the kit are for the fender shields and which ones are for the headlight buckets as the shapes of the reproduction rubber is no where near what the originals were and they did indicate that anywhere. I think I have it figured out now, but I always prefer to be certain before doing anything as I really only want to do things once if possible. Hopefully when I give it another stab it will become more obvious to me.

[J_Speegle]

Sorry don't have any clear pictures showing 68 San Jose front and rear splash shields in perfect condition or showing them fully but I hope that you can use clues and detaisl you can see to help with your project. Some of the rubber has become detached in places

[Bossbill]

You could be confused by the rubber piece in my pic 1.
It is installed to the splash shield and to the car, but only after the metal shield is installed.
 Pic 2 shows the left front front shield.  Two of the holes are hidden under the big rubber piece (top right and hidden by rubber).
When installed in the car with 3 self tappers, you then attach the rubber piece in pic 1  to the shield and into the headlight bucket.
The remaining 3 holes also go into headlight bucket, but not into any part of the shield, see pic 3.

[Bossbill]

Part II.

When my car was stored for a decades long sleep, some of the "dirty pieces" seem to have wandered off. Like all 4 of my splash shields. The pic above of the front shields is from my parts car and we'll see if they can be restored or not. One is currently in Evaporust, so we shall see...

The rear shields on the parts car are toast, so I found some really nice rear shields on ebay. One of those shields is a 68 and has the rubber on the front; the other is still in transit and has the rubber on the rear.

Here are a few pics of the 68 shield.

[J_Speegle]

..................... One of those shields is a 68 and has the rubber on the front; the other is still in transit and has the rubber on the rear.

IMHO   rubber installed to the front face of the shield would not be typical of a 68 San Jose built car. Got a fair number of pictures for data points.  Haven't looked at allot of Dearborn examples to compare.

[Bossbill]

I should have noted that the pics were only to help demonstrate where the rubber pieces went and this one is unmolested stock Ford and is out of the car. Regardless of whether stapled to front or rear, this does show placement.

Thanks for the clarification on SJ use since I didn't know before this thread.
I will flip the orientation on this shield for my SJ car.

[bullitt68]

Part II.

When my car was stored for a decades long sleep, some of the "dirty pieces" seem to have wandered off. Like all 4 of my splash shields. The pic above of the front shields is from my parts car and we'll see if they can be restored or not. One is currently in Evaporust, so we shall see...

The rear shields on the parts car are toast, so I found some really nice rear shields on ebay. One of those shields is a 68 and has the rubber on the front; the other is still in transit and has the rubber on the rear.

Here are a few pics of the 68 shield.

Thanks Bill those photos are perfect and help a great deal

[bullitt68]

Sorry don't have any clear pictures showing 68 San Jose front and rear splash shields in perfect condition or showing them fully but I hope that you can use clues and detaisl you can see to help with your project. Some of the rubber has become detached in places

Thanks Jeff those are great photos

[bullitt68]

You could be confused by the rubber piece in my pic 1.
It is installed to the splash shield and to the car, but only after the metal shield is installed.
 Pic 2 shows the left front front shield.  Two of the holes are hidden under the big rubber piece (top right and hidden by rubber).
When installed in the car with 3 self tappers, you then attach the rubber piece in pic 1  to the shield and into the headlight bucket.
The remaining 3 holes also go into headlight bucket, but not into any part of the shield, see pic 3.

Thanks Bill togs photos are great and really help a lot.The first photo you posted is similar to the reproduction kit I have except the repro comes with pre drilled holes and plastic fasteners. The second photo also shows a similar shield, but show exactly where the piece that goes that I was not sure about. With the photo you posted I now know exactly where everything goes. Thanks for the photos and your help. Appreciate it.

[J_Speegle]

Interesting or odd thing I now notice in the couple of pictures I posted is that on the 68 San Jose forward splash shields both cars are missing the upper plastic push in rivets/retainers. Wonder if this is a fluke or typical practice at that plant. Will have to check that out