Why Does My TF Have Freakin' Staples in the Sheet Metal?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I think I mentioned this before and never got an answer.

On my front fenders near the grill opening, my sheet metal has factory "staples" - for lack of a better description - IN the sheet metal. Why would this have been done? What were these staples holding in place?

[dwcsr]

They hold the fender seals on that you no longer have. you should also have those staples on the inner fender across the top and down the back at the cab floor

[_Ogre]

gm used staples to hold rubber in place before assembly on the vehicle
they used the same staples to hold the rubber filler strip in between the inner fender and cab
those staples are not on the 58-59 trucks, there may have been a rubber around the radiator

[_Ogre]

ok, dwcsr types faster than an ogre

[OrrieG]

My 59 had them

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys. So what do I do? Pull them, fill the holes?

I know about fender seals between the firewall and inner fenders but I have no idea what these seals at the front ever looked like. I'll assume repops of them are made/needed?

[OrrieG]

originals were a flat piece that was stapled to the inner fender and held against the firewall. Repops are a channel configuration to slip over the inner panel edge. Here is a sideways photo of the repop.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Orrie!

That shot is the firewall to inner fender joint? Anyone have a photo of the front or grill side of the outer fender with these seals installed?