info transfer from old board.
Running Board rubber replacement
Just a propane torch and a good paint scraper is all I used. And a lot of elbow grease. But do it outside not in the garage. Every once in a while the rubber caught fire. It would soon make the garage uninhabitable. If the new repro set of mats do not have ridges on their backsides ,to fill the original grooves in the board, then use 'short fiber fiberglass body fill' to fill the grooves. Buy the best you can from UAP/NAPA or Carquest. I then rented the largest belt sander I could find and with the board held on 2 saw horses I belt sanded away. The belt sander had maybe a 14" or 16" 'foot print'. This made it overhang the board and I got a very level cut down to the metal board because I only used the centre of the sander. Being an amateur this alleviated the dip and cut that I would get with my palm sander or rotary disc sander. At the very minimum wear a paper paint mask and do the sanding outside as well. The clouds of fiberglass and mastic powder are quite impressive. I used 'Bulldog' brand floor tile glue to hold the new pads down. Hint: Roughen the back of the new pads with sand paper or emery cloth to give them some 'tooth'. This is IMPORTANT. The new pad is too shiny and smooth. Over the years I have always used STP 'Son of a Gun' to clean them and keep them looking like new. Never soap and water
The metal on my running boards were in such bad shape that replacement was the only option. The ones I got were from:
N/C Industries
301 S. Thomas Ave.
Sayre, PA 18840
Telephone: 1-570-888-6216
Fax: 1-570-888-1821
There are a number of spots on them where the pattern is not well molded but they are certainly presentable for a tour car. In every issue of the Plymouth Bulletin I see ads for reproduction running boards by:
Paul Bowling
Buckeye Rubber Parts
8308 National Rd
Brookville, OH 45309-9606
1-937-833-2885
As for re-using the old metal. I have heard of people using a body grinder to get the old rubber off. Once off, I hear that excellent replacement rubber is installed by:
Hunley Acuff
1423 Wilson Rd.
Rossville, GA 30741
1-706-866-4875