1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

installing side skirts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 12:09 AM
  #1  
joemkr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: michigan
installing side skirts

i just picked up a pair of side skirts for my 84 gsl-se and was wondering how most people go about installing them.
are they just screwed on like my front ground efx or are they glued on or something?
thanks
joe
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 12:23 AM
  #2  
BigJim's Avatar
trainwreck
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 2
From: Lake, Michigan
No clue, where in michigan are u
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 08:11 AM
  #3  
joemkr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: michigan
hi bigjim
i am in manistee where are you?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 12:59 PM
  #4  
MarkPerez's Avatar
Tennis, anyone
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 4
From: SoCal.
screws !! no glue. are they fibre glass or plastic and if you can try to find an area out of sight to place screws that way someone won't be able to take them very easy.
door jambs, door sills,wheel wells.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 02:02 PM
  #5  
perfect_circle's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 1
From: Land Of Confusion southern MI, USA
i'd glass em on,(can you do that) i would, just because i always have to make things harder...
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 06:27 PM
  #6  
joemkr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: michigan
they are fiberglass.
i believe they are the kaminari style/brand or whatever.
what about using pop rivits? like in the wheel well areas.
i would not option out glassing them on if someone can give me some of the pro's and con's of doing it that way and not the other way like with screws..
thanks for the input
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 08:39 PM
  #7  
perfect_circle's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 1
From: Land Of Confusion southern MI, USA
ive never done it, but this is what i can imagine. pros...better smooth look, no tacky screws. cons...you cant take them off to repair them, if you damage them. they may flex a little better, with just screws (not fixed all the way around) so if you went over something, it may give a little.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 08:56 PM
  #8  
rotor vs. piston's Avatar
Function > Form
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,890
Likes: 3
From: Catonsville MD (baltimore suburb)
I've "HEARD" that just normal flex can caus e cracks where you fiberglassed. I've read this also a while back on a manufacture site.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 09:24 PM
  #9  
LongDuck's Avatar
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 542
From: Phoenix, AZ
First off, I have Mazda Factory Race skirts (fiberglass) on my 84SE and I used 3 sheet metal screws in each fenderwell, 2 sheetmetal screws into the 'supports' that extend from the bottom of the skirt at the middle, and then 1 small sheet metal screw on the inside of the door sill where the top 'lip' sits. These are very secure and you could use pop-rivets if you really wanted to. I use pop-rivets on the rear spoiler since they'll never be coming out and I used a lot of them to make the rear whaletail very sturdy.

All in all, with an electric drill and all the right parts, you can have them installed in about an hour. It's very straight forward. Test fit first. I would avoid 'glassing them on, however, since the flex that they might see from you or your passengers bumping into them when you get in and out could lead to stress cracks where it's glassed, plus, you'll need to repaint it all after you glass them in.

As it stands, a straight installation with body color, or contrasting color, would look good and get you back on the road quickly. For about 2 years, I had the stock beige color on my SE with black front spoiler, black sideskirts, and black whaletail. Very strange combination, but looked pretty cool. HTH,
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 09:55 PM
  #10  
RotaryRyan's Avatar
DSM
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 1
From: Milton, FL
i put rivets on around near the wheel, and screws underneath
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Th0m4s
Build Threads
25
Feb 26, 2019 02:04 AM
gabescanlon
Interior / Exterior / Audio
1
Aug 11, 2015 05:59 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:24 PM.