Factory(?) Staples in the Grille Metal Work?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Took the grille off my '55 the other day and was shocked to see these staples with the remnants of some kind of material in them. They're on both the driver's and passenger's side. They were shot from the front above and from the rear below as you can see.

Anyone have a clue what these held? Why?

[dubie]

i have staples in the inner fender areas to. From what I've read, it was how they attached seals around certain edges to cut down on wind noise and keep the metal from squeaking together

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well, the makes SOME sense I suppose in the days before more effective adhesives.

Can anyone confirm this. Anyone own a true "survivor" '55-'59 with these seals in place still?
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[dubie]

when I got my truck, it had a canvas material hanging from staples in the same location as you've shown. It was also stapled to this pan on the cross member. Does anyone know what this pan piece is for? I assume it's not a factory thing. You can see the staples are still in it

[Dan in Pasadena]

Here's a guess: SOme kind of flexible material to direct air under the truck - in your case. Or toward the radiator for cooling in my case.

Remember that cars in those days didn't have the best of cooling systems (were they even pressurized? I know they didn't have coolant overflow tanks).

My Dad (and a lot of other people) hung those old canvas bags full of ice in front of their radiators when they knew they were gonna make a trip across the desert! I know he did it on his '59 Fleetside.

[OrrieG]

I'll look in the FAM next time I'm in the garage.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh good idea. Staples sound like such a dumb idea. But I think I'm bringing 21st century expectations to a manufacturer that might have still been using 19th century technology!
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[OrrieG]

FAM does not show anything, but as mentioned on the inner fender cab side the seal was stapled on. Replacements are a split design. It may have been a correction that did not make it into the manual. I do not recall ever seeing anything like you describe on these trucks and I have stuck my head under the front of a lot of them.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Well, the makes SOME sense I suppose in the days before more effective adhesives.

Can anyone confirm this. Anyone own a true "survivor" '55-'59 with these seals in place still?
Posted via Mobile Device

That is pretty much it! upholsters still use them on some headliners. the staple gun uses shop air and doubles as an assault weapon. that is if you have enough hose

[Stepside Jim]

Dan, I don't remember the exact details but my 57 did also use the staples in the same area. I believe I left them as is.

I'd have to take another look to recall the fit and why. I do remember thinking I might be applying some 3M adhesive before I was finished.

As more people see this post perhaps there will be more info.

Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

FAM does not show anything, but as mentioned on the inner fender cab side the seal was stapled on. Replacements are a split design. It may have been a correction that did not make it into the manual. I do not recall ever seeing anything like you describe on these trucks and I have stuck my head under the front of a lot of them.

Can you take a look at YOURS for tell tale staples or staple holes where I show mine in the photo above?

[Russell Ashley]

Section 11, sheet 6 of the FAM shows it. It just says "3718781 seal" and "468066 staple wire".

I picked up my FAM at my local old Chevy parts store a while back for $25. Wish I'd bought it when I first got my truck.

[dubie]

i checked mine again last night and there was a bit or a rubber seal left attached to a couple of the staples

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ah....HAH! The plot thickens! ha ha.

Okay, so I guess the bottomline is they used a bunch of weird schit to put these trucks together. 2x4's to bend the doors to fit their openings, these staples wire thingies, etc.

Thanks everyone for satisfying my curiosity!

[Daze57]

all we need is some chewin; gum and ya got a full truck

[sabre67]

And dont forget everyones friend Duct Tape! lol