[grd777]

took me one hour just to get one staple in what is the best way to do this

[grd777]

here is the photo

[ZnbOlds455]

Most people aren’t trying to recreate the staples. Special equipment is needed or, as you found out, a lot of time. I see a lot of cars without the splash shields. Some folks will drill new homes and screw them on. This is probably what I’ll be doing on my 65 GTO.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by ZnbOlds455

Most people aren’t trying to recreate the staples. Special equipment is needed or, as you found out, a lot of time. I see a lot of cars without the splash shields. Some folks will drill new homes and screw them on. This is probably what I’ll be doing on my 65 GTO.

maybe i should used rivets

[TROYBOYONE]

The flaps are intended to be on the Inside of the wheel well. I used heavy duty paper clips to puncture thru the rubber, then cut them to size and bent them over to hold rubber tight to the metal

[OG68]

Hold the rubber to the fender with some C clamps. Drill through the existing fender holes into the rubber for the staple holes. Remove rubber and insert staples. Replace rubber to fender inserting all the staples. Slightly bend the staple ends towards each other with a needle nose plier. Using a wooden block or dolly behind the staple, tap a staple end down with a small ball-peen hammer. Move on to the next staple.
This took me about 2-3 hrs/fender. The bending of the ends was the most difficult part along with the arthritic fingers lol.

[Formulabruce]

Flaps were not used in '72's I have only seen them on 70's and early '71 Firebirds.
To install the staples, drill holes and then bend over the staples after inserting them.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Flaps were not used in '72's I have only seen them on 70's and early '71 Firebirds.
To install the staples, drill holes and then bend over the staples after inserting them.

ok i did not know that if 72 did not come with them i guess i wont install them will save me a lot of headaches

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by grd777

ok i did not know that if 72 did not come with them i guess i wont install them will save me a lot of headaches

Bruce is correct. Pretty easy to tell if your car had them originally, are the holes for the staples in the steel? Another oddity is that Norwood cars have them mounted on the tire or inside and on Van Nuys cars they are mounted on the outside or engine side of the housing. Picture is of a Norwood car.