Hello Experts,

1970 Cutlass S

Well now I am replacing the 51 year old Inner Fenderwell A-Arm Seal. It is installed with staples.

All I can see is push the staple through the old fenderwall holes, then push it through the new rubber seal (no holes) and hand bend the tabs closed.

This will takes days... Any tricks here to make this easier? If I use a staple gun, which won't fit under the hood, still will not close the two ends on the sharp side.

Help!

Re


gards,
Bill

 

I had the inner fenders out and I drilled each staple. It didn't really take that long. Count your staples. I didn't have nearly enough and ended up using my air staple gun.... and yes, you have to bend each one over

 

I also did what Mike did. Used a Dremel to drill the small holes

 

...or you can just do what I did and use zip ties...MUCH easier and still looks 👍 Just make sure you put the "lock" for the zip ties on the wheel side so they can't be seen from under the hood.

 

Just think. There were people at the factory who stapled the seals to the fenderwell all day long, every day... and made good money doing it!🤑

 

Yes they did and I am proud of them - I am from a Irish Chicago family who worked the Chicago railyards their whole life outisde in the cold and heat because that is the only job an Irishman could get back then...

But - it is easier to apply the staples with the fenderwell off the car then assembled with everything in the way. But as Muscle Car enthusiasts' we restore them as is...

As always - thank you for your time and patients with me - you are the best!!

Bill

 

I used an awl to poke holes in the flaps, then inserted the staples and folded them over. Didn't take long.

 

Some years early 60s use a push pin type fastener to hold the A-arm seals on... one of the few simple things on 64 Starfires. They made up for it other places.

 

As has been suggested, drill, or punch holes in the rubber with an awl. Doesn't take long, and looks factory/sano!

 

I had the front fenders and plastic fender liners off my car making it much easier to fit the new flaps to the fender liners. I carefully removed the old rusty staples and disassembled the old pieces. I used blue painters tape to hold the new flap material in proper alignment to the inner fender liners, while I drilled 1/16" holes into the new flaps using the existing holes in the inner fenders. I then used a small body hammer and dolly to fold the new staples into place. The kit I ordered did not have enough staples for all the existing holes in the fender liners, so I contacted the supplier and they sent me another bag of staples at no charge. I think I ordered my parts from AIM.

 

I bought 18 ga silvered copper jeweler's wire and formed my own staples.

They hold securely and are much easier to fold on the inner side.

 

I did similar to VC455. Fabricated staples from what's known in electronics assembly as bus wire, tin coated solid copper wire. Very easy to work with, folds over tightly, and secures the dust shield well. I drilled holes in the new dust shields using a dremel tool with the inner fender as the template.

 

We put lots of them in at my shop. Drill the fenderwell just big enough to push the staples through while holding the flap next to it. You will make a hole in both. Push the staple through then while holding the staple flat to the rubber use a needle nose pliers to curl one staple leg over like they were originally. That leg will hold the staple flat so you can curl the other leg over. Repeat for 20 more staples and you are done.
You can get staples from lots of vendors

 

Hello experts,

Well I am finished. Took me two days - one wheel well at a time, and I can say never again will I attempt this while the wheel well is attached to the car.

Holly Sh@#! My knees and back are gone...

By the way - since the wheel wells were still part of the car with all the plumbing in the way- I used #6 screws & nuts every two inches and it looks great. Looks like someone riveted on the seal.

Let me know if you want pictures...

Kind regards,
Bill

 

I’ve used zip ties on plenty of things, you don’t notice it until you see it.

 

Clever way to handle an in-situ install (that would be a tough job any you tried it).
Show a picture!

 

x2