Fender welting install question

[busmania]

Been a while since I bugged y’all with a probably dumb question. Forgives it was time again.

When installing the fender welt between body and fender, should I cut holes or triangular slits around the bolt holes? Triangular slits seems easier but maybe the cheap and easy way out? What say you? Please keep in mind this is not a restoration but a patina preservation (and frame off resto, haha) and I don’t need factory correct or anything like that. I’m accepting any and all tips to this simple task. Thanks!

[swoopNZ]

Slightly oversize holes IMHO.

[fordor41]

well, the way I did it, on our '41, was lay out the bolt pattern on the welting, up against the body. then punched the holes. I glued the welting to the body with contact cement, keeping the welting tight to the body line of the fender. corrected any holes that were not correct as I went. at the bottoms the welting can tend to not stay in place so I pop riveted it at the ends with the smallest rivet I could find, then installed the fenders. It worked for me and stayed in place, nice and tight.

[29spcoupe]

I cut V's in the welting so I can tighten the welt as I go along if the holes are not quite right.

[19Fordy]

Here's some good reading re: fender welt installation.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...hrome&ie=UTF-8
and
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/searc...rchid=32830589

I have found the "V" cut method works best as it allows easy install.
DO NOT GLUE IT IN PLACE.

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by busmania

Been a while since I bugged y’all with a probably dumb question. Forgives it was time again.

When installing the fender welt between body and fender, should I cut holes or triangular slits around the bolt holes? Triangular slits seems easier but maybe the cheap and easy way out? What say you? Please keep in mind this is not a restoration but a patina preservation (and frame off resto, haha) and I don’t need factory correct or anything like that. I’m accepting any and all tips to this simple task. Thanks!

Originally there was a "V" cut at about every inch or so for the length of the welt. That helped the welt mate to the curve of the body as necessary.

[blucar]

I have used fender welt on many vintage vehicle's. I generally have found it to be easier to loosely fit the sheet metal piece to the body with all of the fasteners in place, then I cut an oversize U and/or V at each fastener location. I then carefully push the fender welt into place, tightening the fasteners as I go, once the fender/panel is in place and the fender welt is properly lines up with the body and panel I tighten the fasteners.
If the fender welt is SS capped it will require a more precise fitment of the welt before the fasteners are secured.
I always keep several rolls of fender welt, in several colors on hand, it is very handy when fitting panel/window moldings, etc, in place.

[kurt v]

where can i get the good welting with the cord and not that plastic tube ?
thanks kurt

[Kube]

Originally Posted by kurt v

where can i get the good welting with the cord and not that plastic tube ?
thanks kurt

Yikes. Good luck. Roy Nacewicz made it at one time. Beautiful product.
Sadly, Roy is gone

I don't believe Michael Driskell took this up when he'd acquired Roy's business. Still, might be worth asking Michael.

[Angledrive]

Mike has the correct welting.

[busmania]

Originally Posted by blucar

I have used fender welt on many vintage vehicle's. I generally have found it to be easier to loosely fit the sheet metal piece to the body with all of the fasteners in place, then I cut an oversize U and/or V at each fastener location. I then carefully push the fender welt into place, tightening the fasteners as I go, once the fender/panel is in place and the fender welt is properly lines up with the body and panel I tighten the fasteners.
If the fender welt is SS capped it will require a more precise fitment of the welt before the fasteners are secured.
I always keep several rolls of fender welt, in several colors on hand, it is very handy when fitting panel/window moldings, etc, in place.

This is probably what I’ll do since I’m a one man show. Difficult to find anyone to help me hold the fender while I install welt.

The “welting” I have is rubber. It’s wide (like 2-2.5”). Is there a better product?

[29spcoupe]

Originally Posted by kurt v

where can i get the good welting with the cord and not that plastic tube ?
thanks kurt

Go to any trim shop or upholstery shop and they can sew it up for you. I sew my own welting out of black vinyl. Allow about 1 1/2 inches of vinyl hem to allow it to grab onto the metal parts.

[35fordtn]

Originally Posted by Kube

Yikes. Good luck. Roy Nacewicz made it at one time. Beautiful product.
Sadly, Roy is gone

I don't believe Michael Driskell took this up when he'd acquired Roy's business. Still, might be worth asking Michael.

We still make the welting. The material we import from Germany and the cost nearly doubled after Covid. Rather than selling in a kit form we sell both sizes by the foot on our website and sew it to order.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Angledrive

Mike has the correct welting.

Wonderful news indeed!
Problem solved.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

We still make the welting. The material we import from Germany and the cost nearly doubled after Covid. Rather than selling in a kit form we sell both sizes by the foot on our website and sew it to order.

Thanks Mike.
Anyone that cares to do this job right, would be wise to purchase this welt from you.

[blucar]

Originally Posted by busmania

This is probably what I’ll do since I’m a one man show. Difficult to find anyone to help me hold the fender while I install welt.

The “welting” I have is rubber. It’s wide (like 2-2.5”). Is there a better product?

If you loosely attach the fender/panel as I suggested in my earlier response, then slip the welt into the space between the two panels, the job is very simple and does not require any assistance.
Trying to glue the welt in place prior to installing the fender/panel is a waste of time.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by blucar

If you loosely attach the fender/panel as I suggested in my earlier response, then slip the welt into the space between the two panels, the job is very simple and does not require any assistance.
Trying to glue the welt in place prior to installing the fender/panel is a waste of time.

Darn, I glued ours on our '41. was a piece of cake. I wish I'd known that gluing was a waste of time, and it would last for 25yrs! don't know how many 41-48's I've seen where welting has come loose and worked up from just the bolt holding it.

[blucar]

The one and only time my 36 Ford coupe was repainted was in 1961. I loosened the fenders, pulled out he original fender welt before the car went to the paint shop.
When I got the car back I installed fender welt with the SS cap in lieu of fabric.
The welting is still securely attached in perfect condition 61 years later.