SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

[John G.]

How do you install the SS Staples through Fiberglass and steel Splash Shields

[Bruce B.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

The flexible splash shields I have used come with the staple holes punched in them. Hopefully your fiberglass inner fenders also have holes in them and everything will line up. If no holes in fenders use the shield as a tremplate and drill with a 1/16" drill.
To install just fit the staple through the holes in the shield and the fender , have someone hold a small wood block on the flat of the staple then reach in from underneath and bend the legs of the staples flat.
If you have long arms you might be able to do the job yourself.

[Jack H.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

Absent the factory original staple gun (NOBODY has one of these gems!), you hand drill holes in the replacement dust shields to 'mirror' the existing holes in the inner fender's fiberglass. Then, hand insert the staple material and hand crimp them down.

BTW, expect deduction(s) during judging for use of SS as the factory original staples were NOT stainless...

[Mark F.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

Hi John
I have installed a few sets of the rubber dust shields and have a system that works well, assuming your inner fenders already have staple holes in them. First, I tape the dust shields in place on the inside (engine side) of the inner fender using low-stick tape. Working from the wheel well side of the inner fender, I straigthen a staple and holding it with pliers, I heat the staple red hot in a propane torch. Then I pass the hot staple through the existing staple hole in the fiberglass and it melts right through the rubber dust shield. You end up with a perfect match this way.

On the staples, you can make your own by using wire from home depot. The stucco wire works and is about the same diameter as the original staples (thanks to GWS for this tech tip!). It's steel and will pass judging.

Cheers!

[John G.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

Absent the factory original staple gun (NOBODY has one of these gems!), you hand drill holes in the replacement dust shields to 'mirror' the existing holes in the inner fender's fiberglass. Then, hand insert the staple material and hand crimp them down.

BTW, expect deduction(s) during judging for use of SS as the factory original staples were NOT stainless...

How Much deduction already purchased SS was thinking these correct

[Jack H.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

These questions (how many points deducted?) seem to surface endlessly! A judging school or two should help a bunch regarding how judges are supposed to assess deductions where no specific guidance is given.

But, in this case, the issue is specifically addressed by the NCRS Judging Reference Manual.

See Section 4, Standard Deductions, Rule 11, Stainless Steel Replacement Components. The table cites originality point deductions as follows:

Deduct 50% -- All miscellaneous items.
Deduct 50% -- Stainless fuel lines.
Deduct 50% -- Stainless brake fluid lines.
Deduct 50% -- Stainless exhaust pipes.
Deduct 60% -- Stainless mufflers.
Deduct 75% -- Stainless exhaust pipes & mufflers.

[Gerard F.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

John,

They check the staples with a magnet. Some of the suppliers provide SS staples which are magnetic. So you might want to check yours with a magnet before you install them.

[Rich P.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

Here is a little trick you can do to make the staples look like the original style staple gun was used.
If you look at an original staple on a fender skirt or a splash shield you will notice on the "peened" end the staples have a bow to them. As the staples were installed at the factory they were pushed through the pieces they were joining and on the other side there was a die that would bend the ends back over onto its self. In doing this they develouped an arch.
Now most staples I have seen installed during restorations the ends of the staples are hit flat and you can then tell that they were replaced.

What I do is to put an 1/8" drill bit or a piece of a coat hanger under the end as I hammer it over and that replicates the factory look.

I have included a couple of pictures to show this. (sorry they are a little fuzzy)

Rich

[Jack H.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

A rule of thumb...when a given catalog describes their part with 'extraneous' information (e.g. SS) that's typically a giveaway (disclaimer) that the part differs in that respect from the factory original. If the part is truly correct/original, that's all they have to say in their description!

[Chuck G.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

The SS staples are almost impossible to bend.

Get "regular" wire staples. MUCH easier to work with.

Chuck

[John H.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

16-ga. steel wire (hardware store blister-pack item) works just fine.

[Jeff A.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

The staples that I removed from what I believed were the original splash shields were slightly flat (not round) in cross section - much like those used in a pneumatic stapler. Consequently, I took some staples from my air stapler and rebent them to the shape of the 'originals.' Perhaps that's not correct. Should they just look like bent 16 ga. wire as John suggests?
Jeff

[Rich P.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

The material used was round.

Rich

[Jeff A.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

The material used was round.

Rich

Rich,
As much as that's not quite what I wanted to hear, thanks for the clarification. More work .
Jeff

[Edward S.]

Re: SS Staples- Splash Shields 66 vette

Redid my shields and staples with product purchased from LIC - staples are stainless but do not react to magnets> Never lost a point. Good luck.