1947 Fender Trim Clips

[ceresco]

I have bought the fender trim clips available at Dennis-Carpenter which I think are made by Mac's for the fender stainless trim. They are just square with a screw attached. All of the normal sources I know about show the same type. The part number for the original clips in my old Ford Chassis Parts and Accessories book is 358233-S7A for the clip and 355807-AS7 for the nut. The attached picture of the stock ones also shows these little wings that help locate them on the trim. The one with only one wing was on the end of the trim where that is all the room available in relation of the end of the trim to first hole. The new style ones will probably work but would like the originals if available. All my original trim down the hood, cowl, doors and quarter are gone but I suspect they look like these only larger. Are the original ones available? I have searched Google but no luck.

 

[waterboychuck]

I'm not positive on the 47 but I would think that those wings are there to hold the piece so that it would not spin when tightening the nut. When I purchased the trim clip on my 46 I also had just square clips and they do the trick.

 

[ceresco]

The after market square clips will keep them from turning just like the originals. The original clips with the wings tension the clip so that it does not move up and down the trim.

 

[51 MERC-CT]

The after market square clips will keep them from turning just like the originals. The original clips with the wings tension the clip so that it does not move up and down the trim.

The wings were to hold the clips in position fore and aft as part of the assembly process. Their location was pre-set in a separate operation so that on final assembly the assembler on the line had a minimum amount of 'fiddling' to do while attaching to the fender.
The wings are totally unnecessary as there isn't any production line time saving consequence involved.