installing Splash Aprons...... ARGH!

[Jason Edge]

When I detailed my engine bay last year after the engine rebuild I never went back and installed the new set of inner fender splash aprons I ordered. I've just installed the larger rear apron because it is partially held on via 3 inner fender bolts.  I think I've got the drilling the holes out slightly to 1/16" and clinching the new staples to give it the original look but man that is slow going. I've ended up installing just one staple on both sides for now. With the other 4 pieces (2 per side) and the remaining staples on the rear it looks like I have about 28 more to go to completely replicate the original staples.

Man, this is slow going haha...but it was rewarding to get the new rear splash aprons installed.

Anyone else tackled installing the inner fender splash aprons recently?  I think I would rather pull and rebuild the engine again! LOL

I do know this would be much easer with the inner fenders off the car!

[Jason Edge]

What would really help in the clinching would be a set of needle nose pliers that comes down to a very tight narrow end but BIG handles. I've probably got a dozen needle nose laying around the garage, but it seems that a regular medium size quality needle nose works best.  I will say a trick I quickly learned was that when you first push the staple through to grasp one leg of the staple on the inside with a smaller flat edge vice grip while you start to clinch the other side. If you don't hold the other leg, it tends to try and come back out when clinching the first leg.

[Jason Edge]

Sounds like a much easier way to attach. I came close to trying something else on the first one. For a quick turnaround car I would definitely do something different ...and easier.