Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hankk17 on October 11, 2011, 10:22:21 AM

Title: fender skirts won't cinch up tight
Post by: Hankk17 on October 11, 2011, 10:22:21 AM
so on my '72 eldorado the fender skirt on the driver's side won't cinch up tight when I try to put them on.  I've also noticed that the body above the wheel well seems like it's bowing out a bit.  I took a look underneath and it seems like the rear body bolts have failed.  one on the passenger side is just floating and the one on the drivers' side has rotted and is starting to bend upwards.. so I'm thinking the whole rear is twisting now and it's showing up by misaligning the skirt itself.

Anyone know the best way to attack this?  I'm thinking I'll jack up the body carefully and then pop-riveting some new sheet metal around where the rot is to give the body bolt a new place to support the body again..  I'll try to post some pictures later if I can get to it.
Title: Re: fender skirts won't cinch up tight
Post by: "Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364 on October 11, 2011, 12:10:52 PM
The skirts on your car "cinch" on the (inward turned) lip of the fender and the "upper" end of the closure rod.  If either of these are either damaged or rusted away, or the pivot of the rod on the skirt itself is not un damaged, the skirt will not close tightly.
There is also adjustments at the fore and aft attachment brackets at the lower corners of the skirt which adjust the skirt's orientation into the fender opening.  All this has to be correct for the skirt to close and line up.
Send us a few opictures and we can perhaps offer some suggestions.
Greg Surfas
Title: Re: fender skirts won't cinch up tight
Post by: Hankk17 on October 11, 2011, 02:22:35 PM
yeah pictures are going to help immensely here.  I'll see what I can do tonight.  Thanks!