1964 fan shroud staples

[Greg H.]

I did a search for "staples" but did not find what I am looking for. Today I removed the fan shroud as I am now working on the mechanical portion of body removal. I believe I have the original flexible splash shield attached with staples to the steel shroud. As I remove do the staples, I noticed a couple of them were not installed correctly. One leg of the staple was collapsed upon assembly, much like what happens with a paper stapler if the paper is too thick. So I was hoping to learn how these were installed originally and if it is expected to have some bent like this. Two of my staples had failed to penetrate the shroud on one leg. They were also not evenly spaced.

Is this typical?
Greg

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

It was a large staple machine and it often misfired just like a staple gun, especially when shooting through metal.

[John H.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

One leg of the staple was collapsed upon assembly, much like what happens with a paper stapler if the paper is too thick. So I was hoping to learn how these were installed originally and if it is expected to have some bent like this.

Is this typical?
Greg

Greg -

That was done with an air-powered pedestal-mounted Bostitch industrial stapler, fed by spools of 14-ga. steel wire; the stapler formed the staples as it shot them. The same device was used to staple the rubber dust seals to the inner fender, around the upper control arm opening. It was also used in the steel car plants to staple the dust seals to the steel inner fenders on cars and trucks.

[Greg H.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

Greg -

That was done with an air-powered pedestal-mounted Bostitch industrial stapler, fed by spools of 14-ga. steel wire; the stapler formed the staples as it shot them. The same device was used to staple the rubber dust seals to the inner fender, around the upper control arm opening. It was also used in the steel car plants to staple the dust seals to the steel inner fenders on cars and trucks.

Thanks John... I was removing the splash shields last night and noticed them there also. So now I'm wondering how best to recreate these staples once I get replacement rubber. They seem to have no real control over how many staples and location is all over the place. Should I plan to recreate the defective ones that did not penetrate both sides? It's not going to be easy to create the bend as original. This will be on my list to investigate what people are doing at the next NCRS meet.

-Greg

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

Greg,
If it helps any, I made all the staples for my 67 out of SS safety wire. I wasn't impressed with the repo ones and they came out great.

DOM

[John H.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

Thanks John... I was removing the splash shields last night and noticed them there also. So now I'm wondering how best to recreate these staples once I get replacement rubber. They seem to have no real control over how many staples and location is all over the place. Should I plan to recreate the defective ones that did not penetrate both sides? It's not going to be easy to create the bend as original. This will be on my list to investigate what people are doing at the next NCRS meet.

-Greg

Greg -

I've always made my own staples, using 14 or 16-ga. steel wire (hardware store blister-pack item) and a pair of pliers; the stainless staples many vendors supply are very difficult to work with, and are incorrect.

[Bob R.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

There are several vendors that sell the staples. I reused the old staple holes in the metal shroud and I used a 1/16" drill bit to punch through the rubber material. Hand feel the staple through and fold over with a pair of pliers. I believe the original staples were steel and magnetic so if you are trying to keep original the stainless steel ones are not correct.

[Greg H.]

Re: 1964 fan shroud staples

Greg -

I've always made my own staples, using 14 or 16-ga. steel wire (hardware store blister-pack item) and a pair of pliers; the stainless staples many vendors supply are very difficult to work with, and are incorrect.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like this is a hand crafted solution which is what I suspected.