40's fender skirt installation

[gary griffin]

   I just picked my fender skirts up from the painter and have the rubber seal but I now realize I do not know how to install them.

   The question is that since the locking mechanism is not centered in the skirt but at about a 40% from one and 60% from the other end does the 40% go to the forward side?

   That is my guess but as hard as they are to find for the 1942's I don't want to put them on wrong and lose one because of that.

   Any hints as tohaow to install them more securely than the usual way?

[Bill Ingler #7799]

Hi Gary: Maybe this will help you and maybe not as there might be a difference in the fastening of the 42-67 skirt and the 46-47 62 series. As you see in picture 1 below, the locking bar is to the aft end of each skirt. With that in mind reach up on the inside of the fender lip about where you think the skirt latch bar would contact the inside of that fender lip and you should feel a flat spot in the lip where the top of the latch bar will turn an lock against that fender. Picture 2 shows the latch bar fully open. After you hang the shirt on the fender/skirt hangers, as you turn the latch bar counter clockwise, the latch bar goes up and since the top of the latch bar is offset, as you turn the top of the latch bar, it presses against the flat spot in the fender lip, and after turning bar as far as it will turn , the skirt is locked in place.  I hope this procedure is the same as the 42.  Bill

[Steve Passmore]

The 41 and I think 42 skirts are much larger and have some sort of fixing at their lower front and rear extremities. I cant tell you what these are as my car was modified for after-market skirts. I have an original skirt which has brackets at these points which look like they have to be bolted on. Don't know if thats original.

[gary griffin]

Thanks Steve,
 
  My skirt openings are 32" and the skirts are a little less allowing for the rubber seal. They look quite like the picture you posted.

[Steve Passmore]

So your skirts are more like the 46-47 skirts that Bill posted then Gary and nothing like the 41 type?

[55 cadi]

Hello Gary,

Have you looked on the backside or inside of the fender?

There may be marks from where they were installed before, rubbed away more, scratches, etc.

Jason

[kkarrer]

Gary,
    Those skirt seals are a real booger.  I struggled with mine, but I did get them on.  I think I used the 3M black rubber cement.  I sprayed some in the cap and applied it to both the rubber seal and the edge of the skirt and let them set up for about 3-5 min.  (this was after test fitting of course).  Next, I got a bunch of clothes pins and clamped the seal as I worked my way around the skirt.  You'll make some mess, but it's easily cleaned up with 3M adhesive remover.  DO NOT USE LACQUER THINNER!  Let them set up for 12 to 24 hrs. and you should be ok.
Take care,
Ken Karrer
(formerly 1941 6227D)
1955 model 62 convertible coupe

[gary griffin]

I am resurrecting this post because I did not ask all of the question, I should have also asked about the ends of the skirt. There are 2 holes in each fender for a bracket and a sheet metal hook on each end of both skirts. There is some sort of bracket that bolts to the fender and the skirt hooks into. Where can they be obtained or does anybody have a diagram for them?

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

 Rob Robison in Delaware has a 1942 convertible with the same skirts as yours for the Series 67. I'm sure he would be quite willing to let you know all the problems you may have in getting your skirts on the car correctly.