Backboard nails for rear quarters

[Mark McCombs]

A detail question as I am getting ready to install the nails on the rear quarters as they lay flat against the rear backboard:

It looks like, in a perfect world, these nails pass thru the backboard and then engage into the centers of the end panels of the side curtain box, directly behind the backboard.

As I am using my original rear quarter panels, with the existing nail holes, the original holes are either VERY near the outside edge if the side curtain box sides, or just miss it. It will be very close to even have room enough on the flat part of the rear quarters to move the holes over enough to engage the curtain boxes in several spots. The factory didnt cut these very wide in the overlap area (or super straight, for that matter, for such a critical overlap).

So:
Am I correct in these are nails in this location, and should they engage in the curtain box ends? I think the TC used the same nail size (3/4" long) for everything, and with the backboard being 1/2" thick, they will extend too far.

I can either slip a piece of copper flashing behind the original nail holes, weld them up, and move the nail holes over to where I can just catch the sides of the curtain boxes. Or I could use a 1/2" nail that would not extend past the inside of the backboard. Or I could use small flat-head screws that are 1/2" long. As this area is behind the gas tank, its not visible but still need to think long and hard before proceeding.

Thoughts, please?

Thanks-
Mark

[bloodysalmon]

Hi Mark, did these have nails or was it not wood screws? The new bodies I bought made by Andy Denton(Yorkshire, UK) he used wood screws to enhance strength; these being countersunk then. As they are covered, perhaps good idea to use screws. Now, fastening the 2 rear quarter panels to the underside of the rear wheel arch then yes, flat head nails, pre-drilled pilots 1.5mm ... been doing this work in the past few weeks.

[Mark McCombs]

Chris- Now that I stare at it, I wonder if these weren't 1/2" long nails, contrary to the rest of the tub being 3/4" long...The long row of them that nails the bottom edge of the rear panel against the 1/2" thick backboard has nothing behind the backboard in this area; Using 3/4" long in this string would have 1/4" sticking into the side curtain box...That's not right!

[Mark McCombs]

Speaking with Craig Seabrook, he has confirmed the rear quarterpanels use the same 3/4" long nails and they should intersect with the sides of the sidescreen box. Looks like I can just make this happen.

However, I may chicken out and just use #4 c'sunk woodscrews, 1/2" long, also along with the row of (7) holes that hold the bottom of the top rear body panel against the backboard.