A-Arm Dust Shield Install

[Joe S.]

Sometime in my 63's life the right front had some work done and the dust shield on the right had been riveted in with very small plastic rivets.

To get it back to staples, (and I probably already know the answer), would you replace the inner fender or just use the existing holes where possible and remount a new shield with staples? Assuming this will be difficult to detect (you won't see it from inside the engine compartment and the black-out/undercoat would cover it from the inside the wheelwell. Is it worth the bang for the buck from a points standpoint to replace the inner fenderwell.

Thanks




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[John H.]

Re: A-Arm Dust Shield Install

Joe -

Hardly worth the massive effort involved in replacing the inner fender; just replace the dust shield and use staples, then dust it with some blackout paint.

[Jack H.]

Agree,

with John...replacing the inner fender is OVERKILL for this fix! Once you've removed the existing dust shield, the holes in the inner fender drilled to support plastic push-in-fasteners are exposed and you have access to both sides.

Consider taping the lower/inner side of these holes, mixing bond, and filling them. You can either color the bond to try and match the hue or your existing inner fender panel, or 'hide' the repairs with a spritz of black out paint on the wheel well side of the inner fender after the bond/fill has set up.

Then, like John said, simply install a replacement dust shield using conventional staple wire. Be careful to pre-drill the individual holes for the staples so you don't overstress and perhaps pop-out (lose) one of your PIF fastener hole repairs.

Once the replacement dust shield is installed, go back over it in the engine compartment with a spritz of black out paint. The dust sheilds were installed prior to engine compartment black out and judges will take a deduction for seeing shinny staples holding the shields....

[Joe S.]

Re: Agree,

Thanks guys. I like this idea better than the alternative.




Joe's 63 FI Convertible