Installing Side Skirts
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,594
Likes: 959
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Installing Side Skirts
I ordered the EOS side skirts for my 2015 from EOS and they are due here next Tuesday. So, before I go any further, I want to say that they are extremely fast on shipping. I ordered them yesterday and I received the tracking number within an hour of placing the order.
So, onto the installation issue. I have watched a few videos, and they all just simply go about screwing the skirts on with the screws provided and that is where I have a little concern. It is fine on the passenger's side, but if you have the A8 there are transmission colling lines that run inside an area in the rocker panel. I found on the forum here where GM instruction for the installation of the Z06 side skirts that not to drill deeper then 12mm or a little less a half inch so as not to take the chance of hitting a transmission line.
Anyone have any further info on this, and are the screws supplied short enough.
So, onto the installation issue. I have watched a few videos, and they all just simply go about screwing the skirts on with the screws provided and that is where I have a little concern. It is fine on the passenger's side, but if you have the A8 there are transmission colling lines that run inside an area in the rocker panel. I found on the forum here where GM instruction for the installation of the Z06 side skirts that not to drill deeper then 12mm or a little less a half inch so as not to take the chance of hitting a transmission line.
Anyone have any further info on this, and are the screws supplied short enough.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 2,153
From: Schaller Iowa
First off in my opinion don't use any screws to secure the skirts, but use split rivets. I know ACS provided two different lengths but I can't recall the sizes. I mounted full length skirts on both of my C7's with no issues. I marked a spot on the drill bit for the driver side rear drill points, then proceeded SLOWLY with little pressure and it went well. Take the time to do it right and you'll be happy you did 👍
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 582
Likes: 221
From: Manasquan,New Jersey
I watched several different You Tube videos to get ideas. Screw vs rivet seems to be a wash , but ASC says rivets and , even though I bought cheap, I trust their opinion. Nobody seemed overly concerned about hitting trans lines. Maybe if you are very heavy handed? I may do screws provided and tap, and if I love them, I will consider replacing the screws with rivets. That's todays plan. Tomorrow may change. Too cold to do now anyway. I bought $160 Ebay side skirts but in the spring I may just buy the Carbon Flash ASC.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,587
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Detail shop used the screws provided with the skirts along with some 1" double sided tape.
There were no issues. Mine is also a Z51 A8.
There were no issues. Mine is also a Z51 A8.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 346
From: SC
This is what I did with mine. There are factory screws on the underside of the body panels. Two or three in front and back I believe. Clean the bottom panel well, wipe with alcohol and apply 3m double sided tape the whole length. I also used some adhesion promoter as well. Over 6 years and still good as new.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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I installed side skirts on my 2014 using a couple of screws and the rest in rivets. Solid as a rock. I have the A6 and was just careful on the driver’s side -I pulled the rear fender liner on the from wheel area back and did not see anything that would be a problem with installing the skirts.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 118
Likes: 42
I installed mine with no knowledge of trans cooler lines on the driver's side. My instructions only said don't drill deeper than 12mm. I set a collar roughly 12mm on the bit and drilled. Toward the middle of the door there is metal right behind the fiberglass. I drilled through it but wish I hadn't. It was about a week later I learned about the trans lines and I panicked. I lost a lot of sleep over it. I tried to run an inspection camera down the rocker to make sure I hadn't hit them but it only went down a short way and was blocked. I never had any fluid on the bit when I pulled it out and I've driven the car about two hours since with no issues so hopefully I'm fine. Like you I watched 3-4 videos on installation and not one of them mentioned the danger of the trans line on the driver side. I bought a rivet gun and some rivets and I'm planning to replace all the screws with rivets. Best of luck on your install.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
I did the drill collar thing too. Just no reason not to. You can also use a section of any hose that will slip over the drill bit like vacuum hose or w/s washer hose. I used other screws than provided because I saw the same thing 96GS007 mentions. Seemed the threads stopped 1/16" inch away from the underside of the head.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 676
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From: Chester SC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16, '21,'24
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