I'm planning on temporarily removing the rough-textured rubber seals in the engine compartment of my '70 that are stapled in place. Before I do that, I'd like to source the staples for replacement. I'm not sure if it's necessary, but I'm considering using a correct gage stainless steel wire, and bending them myself. I have removed a staple to measure the gage ... and it looks to be close to 0.05" wire. I'm not sure if all the staples in the engine compartment (or elsewhere) are all the same gage wire.

I've searched some of the vendors websites, and haven't found much so far. Doc Rebuild offers a 2' length of wire for home fabrication, but doesn't mention the wire material.

What have you guys done in this area, and if you made your own, who was your wire supplier? Does anyone have any leftover wire that they may wish to sell?

Thanks so much for everything.

 

Thanks.

Zip can't provide the wire size used, and Willcox is going to call me back.

Anybody making their own?

 

I DO KNOW that the staples that GM used are the same design of WIRE STAPLES that are used when companies staple in the inner felt seals in door panels and such. SO...it technically is not a staple as like you have in an office stapler. The machine makes the staple out of round wire and bends it .......cuts it and crimps it. Which is why the backside of these staples and a curve to them and are not just bent over.

YES...I make my own....because I can buy the wire and I have a die that I fabricated so I can get them the same...then it is the trick on getting them staked. I also have purchased some.

On some parts I send them out so the wire staple machine can staple on the rubber or whatever....but that is rare that I do that due to my customers often items change their mind when they have to spend more money on an area that they feel it no longer as important as it was before I told them how much it was going to cost to have factory perfectly staked wire staples.

DUB

 

I bought the staples from a vendor ( Can't remember Zip or Corvette Central) then made a die of sheet aluminum with holes spaced as wide as the staples. That let me pre drill the holes, then I just pushed in the stapels and bent them over. Sounds like a lot of work, but they look & function OK.

 

I made my die out of thick steel so the holes stay put and not get enlarged my accident...because that is more than likely what I had at the time when I made it. And...YES...it takes some time to do this...that is for sure.



DUB

 

Other than trying to be "correct", I wonder if using a strong adhesive like weatherstrip adhesive or RTV would hold the seals in place, OR, bag the seals all together. Other than preventing water incursion and rust, what good are they? And since I am not driving the car in the winter, and avoiding rain as much as possible,....why bother? If I am wrong about the purpose of the seals, educate me.

 

Don't think the RTV or adhesive will work because there is a lot of flexing going on. ANd there is also a lot of dirt, not so much water coming in there. I suppose you could do without, but dirt and water will find it's way into your electrical sysstem connections, that's not good. I was really tempted to just drill a hole and use the plastic push pin type fasteners.

 

I make my own. I use a small block of aluminum to form the staples out of stainless steel wire and hammer them flat or bend them over.

 

Using an adhesive is a waste of time and when it gets attempted...it looks all JACKED UP...and in every case where someone tired to glue a seal on where the staples were installed.

These seals have a purpose. Like in '69FASTFUN's' photos...the flexible rubber is used at the bottom of the core support area to better direct the air to the radiator.

I use the staples for a couple of reasons. They look good and acceptable when the job is done...quite clean and discreet in appearance....and quite effective. And I have tried to think of other fastener methods that just do not look good and attract the 'eye' right to it. And the tests I have done with windshield urethane to bond the rubber seals in certain areas just took way too long...the set-up was a ROYAL PAIN and when it all set up....the time I spent was total waste and I ripped everything off and stapled it as it came originally.

You have to think about AIR FLOW DYNAMICS in some areas....and not so much about water, etc. Even though water can be a contributing factor in their placement and design....NOT every car is in an area where it is always going to be in the rain. But when it is driven...will ALWAYS encounter air flow. In my opinion is somewhat deals with BOTH....and the way I look at it....IF GM spent the money on it....there is a reason....regardless if many think that GM does not know what they are doing from time to time in the design aspect of a car....and 'something' installed is a waste of money.

DUB