The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop bed splash aprons

I have a ?, when my truck arrived the splash aprons (bed to runnin boards)were in the tool box in need of some repair.
Since I didnt remove em, ANY TIPS???
Im thinkin I should at least make up a set of gaskets for between the mounting surface like the fender to runnin board has to help with rubbin of the paint.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
Tim

Hi Tim....good idea on some gaskets between the aprons and the boards. I stumbled onto some "gasket" material from NAPA....more like a sheet vinyl product that is absolutely great for making ALL the little cushions that protect the paint and help to eliminate squeaks and rattles. Check it out...it isn't cheap but it cuts like butter and wears like iron.

When you go to install the aprons, you'll be faced with a few alignment "issues" which more than likely will have you loosening up the running boards from their brackets as well as at the rear fenders. I even had to slack up the bed mounting bolts and do a little "fine tuning" to get everything tweaked into final alihnment. The PO of my core truck had managed to bend the running board support brackets (4 out of 6) and after struggling for a couple hours to bend them back into alignment, I wound up cutting the rivets and using bolts with shims to secure everything in alignment. Hopefully, you won't have these same issues but if you do...it might be advisable to bite-the-bullet and loose the rivets. Think I had about 8 hours in T&E before I finally was satisfied with the final fit.

From your album, it looks like you're doing an outstanding job on your truck.....getting the often maligned misalignment issues under control sure will make a difference in the final appearance of your ride.

Dave

You may also want to try something as simple as the black cloth tape you can get at any sportng goods store. It is used on handles of bats, etc...

Tim, it may not work for your truck unless you use one of the layers but something I have found to be VERY useful around the projects is an old firehose. I got my hands on one from a volunteer fire dept that was putting in some new hose and have used it under the bed blocks and elsewhere. It has two or three layers.....fabric/rubber layered sort of thing. I have plenty if you would like to have a foot or two. I split it and then cut it into sizes I need....just a thought!

Thanks Everyone for the replies.
Ill find out next weekend when the painter gets em done.
Ill see what I get into Alvin, I might take ya up on the offer.
Dave yup on the gasket sheets from NAPA been usin em to make all kinda shims between stuff like my homemade rear tailight mounts the tailgate hinges an such to keep from gougin the new paint.

Tim,
I've used strips of vinyl baseboard for a lot metal to metal contact and it's worked well. Your truck looks great!
Dan

Whatever you use, don't use anything that absorbs water or you will quickly get rust.