Recovering 41 ford running boards

[bill41ford]

I am back for some advice on installing Vintique covers on my original reworked and repaired running boards. I have test fit covers and they seem to fit pretty good. My first question about making a smooth surface is , what about the little holes in the original surface? They will get covered up with any type of filler. Also I have seen a couple different suggestions for type of filler and adhesive. Would appreciate some info on these issues. I am going to prep with epoxy primer on the bare metal. Thanks, you guys usually give great ideas and info.
My boards also have raised rectangles across the middle of it - almost looks like the underside of the original covers were made to match these raised areas - do I fill this all in?

[Kurt in NJ]

I have used “right stuff” gasket maker and squeezed a little through the hole so it looks like the rubber was vulcanized on

[bill41ford]

I read somewhere about using right stuff - does that work?

[TJ]

If the 41's have small braces underneath you may need to run your hands over where the braces are located. Sometimes there are dips in the boards that will need bondo or another filler so the dips do not show up in the new covers when glued down..

[signsup]

Don't mean to hijack the thread . . but, here gores. . . doing a military staff car on a budget, so I'm looking to do my running board covers on the cheap. If i were to purchase some ABS plastic sheet or some similar product and cut my own to fit, what thickness would you think these pads would be?
I've got the 42 Mercury, so the pads are covered by the flared doors until they are opened, so original appearance or ribs are not needed for this application. I'm seeing ABS sheets for sale and would make a paper template and then cut out. But 1/16? 1/8?

[Als48]

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Pond liner or EPDM rubber roofing might work. Most is around 1/16" thick.

Al Hook

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by bill41ford

I am back for some advice on installing Vintique covers on my original reworked and repaired running boards. I have test fit covers and they seem to fit pretty good. My first question about making a smooth surface is , what about the little holes in the original surface? They will get covered up with any type of filler. Also I have seen a couple different suggestions for type of filler and adhesive. Would appreciate some info on these issues. I am going to prep with epoxy primer on the bare metal. Thanks, you guys usually give great ideas and info.
My boards also have raised rectangles across the middle of it - almost looks like the underside of the original covers were made to match these raised areas - do I fill this all in?

Bill,For clarity here, the original boards were vulcanized under pressure and heat, until the raw rubber was cured. Those imperfections present on the original metal surface did not transfer to the exterior surface of the cured rubber, while the holes on the board were filled with the raw rubber as it softened, thereby making adherance tom the boards more secure.
The reproduction rubber boards today are pre-cured, and will show every imperfection of the bonding surface on the topside after installation, including any sloppy application of glue. Simply put, what you see and feel on the metal boards will be seen and felt on the rubber overlay.