upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

[Sander B.]

the 64 and up use upper inner fender seals how or what seals it of on a 63 ?

thanks Sander,

[Timothy B.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

Sander,
1963 had a bonding strip and is bonded to the surround panel. The 64 = had a rubber gasket without bond.

[Michael H.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

Yup, Tim is exactly right. The fully bonded skirts used for the 63 model were replaced for 64 and later with skirts that were not bonded to the upper fender surface.
The problem with the 63 fully bonded skirt design was the fact that the hot bond was causing a visible line, or slight depression, at the area of bond that showed after the car was completed and delivered. The area was especially bad because it was highly visible from inside the car, looking through the windshield.
The fix was to completely change the design and eliminate the bond section in the areas that would be so visible.

[Wayne W.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

Yup, Tim is exactly right. The fully bonded skirts used for the 63 model were replaced for 64 and later with skirts that were not bonded to the upper fender surface.
The problem with the 63 fully bonded skirt design was the fact that the hot bond was causing a visible line, or slight depression, at the area of bond that showed after the car was completed and delivered. The area was especially bad because it was highly visible from inside the car, looking through the windshield.
The fix was to completely change the design and eliminate the bond section in the areas that would be so visible.

Most 63s were not bonded at the top of the bonding strip though. There was a non setting material there. I guess they changed that after they experienced the bonding problem.

[Mike M.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

i had an early(first week in december 62) 63 swc i restored years ago and it had its original inner skirts and top surround.on this 63, there were bonding stripsbetween skirts and top surround where the 64 up utilized rubber weather strips. mike

[Wayne W.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

i had an early(first week in december 62) 63 swc i restored years ago and it had its original inner skirts and top surround.on this 63, there were bonding stripsbetween skirts and top surround where the 64 up utilized rubber weather strips. mike

Yes they all had bonding strips. There were two styles for the front of the inner-fender, early and late. But, most had non hardening material, usually black, on the upper portions of that strip. The material is a lot like the gum-drops that were used on the hoods, but the texture and color is different.

[Sander B.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

ok thanks for the info
any one has a picture of how it looks like ? (the bondo strips)

thank you Sander,

[John H.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

ok thanks for the info
any one has a picture of how it looks like ? (the bondo strips)

thank you Sander,

Sander -

The illustration in the Assembly Manual (UPC 11/13, Sheet 6.00) shows the inner fender and surround, after the change Wayne mentioned; the front and rear bonding strips are bonded to the inner fender, and glued (not bonded) to the bottom surface of the surround. The only bond to the surround is along the hood opening line.

[Sander B.]

Re: upper inner fender seal 1963 ?

thanks John i will check the Assembly Manual

Sander,